Cereals drop as potatoes, pigs and poultry increase

The results of Scotland’s June agricultural census, published yesterday, revealed a considerable reduction in the area of cereals grown in the country – but an increase in potatoes, sheep, pigs and poultry.

The figures, which are drawn up by the Office of National Statistics also showed a reduction in the agricultural workforce and in the number of secure tenancies.

The cereal area – which stood at the lowest level since 2010, was back 12,400 hectares (3 per cent), with barley down 20,700 hectares (7 per cent). The area of wheat remained similar to last year, while that of oats rose by 5,600 hectares. Oilseed rape area was also back 15 per cent – but fallow land increased markedly for the second consecutive year, this time up 10,000 hectares to 43,000 hectares.

Potatoes saw a small increase, of 1,800 hectares (7 per cent) to 27,500 hectares, bouncing back from last year’s poor figures. However, the area is still the second lowest since 1994. Cattle numbers remained fairly constant at 1.8 million, but were at the third lowest level since the 1950s. There was very

0 Pigs are on the up according to the census little change in either dairy or beef numbers. Sheep numbers increased for the third consecutive year, up 125,000 (2 per cent) to 6.8 million, but are still lower than in 2009.

Pig numbers were up 12,500 (4 per cent) to 330,000, the third consecutive rise. Poultry numbers increased eight per cent, bouncing back after last year’s 11 per cent fall. The figure of 14.1 million, similar to the longer-term average, included 6.5 million broilers (up 15 per cent) and 6.3 million layers (up four per cent).

There were 63,400 people employed on agricultural holdings. This was down 1,900 on 2015, and is the lowest figure on record.

There were 430,000 migrant working-days reported during the year, down 7 per cent on 2015. The number of migrant workers is not collected. 23 per cent of land was rented, very similar to 2015, with a fall in 91 Act secure tenanted land of about 46,600 hectares and an equivalent increase in Short Duration Limited Tenancy (SDLT) land.

Commenting on the figures, rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing, said that the number of migrant working days reported during the year, clearly outlined the continuing importance of EU nationals to Scotland’s farming workforce.

He added: “Any move to limit migration, whether from within or beyond the EU, has the potential to seriously harm our rural economy and disrupt the lives of families who have settled here.”