Summary
In January the persisting draught led to the deterioration of grazing, with fatal effects on agriculture, in particular on livestock farming. In December 2004 slaughtering fell by 3.0% from the same month of the previous year, chiefly due to the decline in pig slaughtering. Chicken production decreased significantly in December 2004 (-17.1%), compared with the same month of 2003. According to the second estimate of the agricultural economic accounts for 2004, the agricultural income in Portugal is forecast to increase slightly (+0.2%) from the previous year.