Cereals and potato enterprises expand

Census: More sheep, fewer cattle, while pig numbers are little changed

Scottish farmers have expanded their cereals and potatoes enterprises in the last year by an overall 7,500ha, according to the Government’s latest agricultural census.

While the area of wheat remained similar to last year, the June 2017 census shows the barley area was up by 4,400ha, oats increased by 1,400 ha, and fallow land decreased by 4,500ha (10%) to 38,500ha. Potatoes saw an increase of 1,800ha (6%) to 29,000ha.

There was an 8% increases in the area of vegetables for human consumption and a 10% increase in the fruit area, but land devoted to crops for stock-feed decreased by 3%.

Sheep numbers increased for the fourth consecutive year, up 160,000 (2%) to seven million.

However, cattle numbers – both dairy and beef – continued their long-term decline to 1.78 million.

There was little change in pig numbers, which fell 1% to 326,000.

While overall poultry numbers increased 1%, there was a significant 8% increase in layers to 6.8 million birds, while broilers fell by 4% to 6.2 million.

The census also recorded significant changes in agricultural tenancy arrangements, with a fall in the quantity of secure 91 Act land of about 151,000ha.

This was offset by an increase in short duration limited tenancies or limited duration tenancy land of about 63,000ha.

Overall the proportion of land rented in Scotland was 23%, which was slightly up on 2016.

The number of people employed on agricultural holdings was up 3,600 on the year to 67,000.

Meanwhile the latest cereal and oilseeds figures from European farmers’ union Copa and Cogeca have confirmed that EU production recovered this year, despite the extreme weather events, although there are concerns about the quality of the crops.

Copa and Cogeca cereals group chairman Max Schulman, told a union meeting that this year’s EU cereals harvest is expected to be up 0.4% on last year’s levels, reaching 297 million tonnes.

However, he added that many countries had experienced extreme weather conditions ranging from frost and drought, with Spain and Portugal not seeing rain for several months, whilst Ireland and the Baltics were hit by severe rain and floods.

nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk

Cattle numbers continued their long-term decline, pig numbers were little changed, while sheep increased for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Government’s latest agricultural census.