content:. .

Environment and Agriculture

In North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) more than half (15000 km2 ) of the area is agriculturally used, mostly as farmland (10603 km2 ). With about 200 livestock units per 100 ha agricultural land, NRW features the highest density of livestock units in Germany (119 livestock units per 100 ha). Furthermore nearly 25% of all German pigs are kept in NRW, therefore in NRW animal husbandry has a great commercial relevance.

With regard to possible effects on environmental impacts especially in areas with high regional concentration of livestock husbandry in the north-western parts of the country, several acceptors are impaired by agricultural land use and animal husbandry.

      North Rhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency 2006