The Agricultural Census | Each summer the agricultural census is conducted by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. For census purposes farms are classified into two categories. Main farms are those above a certain physical or economic size - broadly, those of more than one hectare, or where the net value of the crops and livestock is more than about one and two-thirds European Size Units. Minor farms are those which were below this threshold at the time of the last classification. The survey of minor farms is conducted over a 3 year cycle, about one-third being surveyed each year. In 2005, 26,900 mains farms and 7,500 of the 24,300 minor farms on the department's register were surveyed. Both the main and minor censuses collect information on crops, livestock and labour as at the beginning of June, although the minor survey is less detailed than the main survey. In addition, a sample survey (of about 50 per cent) of main farms is carried out in December in order to provide estimates of winter crops and livestock maintained for the next breeding season. The information is collected under the Agriculture Act 1947, and the surveys are conducted by postal questionnaire. Shortly before the June 2000 agricultural census was carried out, a major reclassification of all main and minor farms in Scotland was undertaken. The net result was that 1,700 farms moved from main to minor. Since 2000 all June census figures have been published on a main and minor farm basis, though the statistics shown for the December survey still relate to main holdings only. The surveys are conducted for a wide range of purposes. The statistics help the department to form, monitor and evaluate policy, and to assess the economic well-being of the different agricultural sectors. Most of the data collected is required also by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Equally important is the regular contact with farmers, which enables the department's register to be kept up to date. This means, for example, that information on new animal health requirements, or new subsidy schemes can be quickly directed to relevant farmers. Some of the tables shown in this section provide information for each of our 14 standard regions; these are groupings of local authority areas (see Map 1: Main Agricultural Areas). Data is also available in this format for the December census, from the 2001 results onwards. |
Land Sales Data Discontinued | Agricultural land sales data have appeared regularly in Tables C12 and C13 of this report in past years, but have been discontinued. It was considered likely that the coverage of land sales had become incomplete, and it was the case that the number of sales reported was too few to allow any meaningful analysis. The raw data collection was continued up to 2003/04, and land sales data remain available on request (for contacts see under Scottish Executive Statistical Services at the front of this publication) although latter years data should be treated with caution. However the data are not of publishable quality. A review is being conducted to try to locate a suitable replacement source which is both complete and can identify 'agricultural' land, and with sufficient accuracy and detail to provide the type of analysis the now discontinued series used to provide. |
Change to Farm Classification | From 2004, the farm classification groupings, which had existed since 1985, were slightly amended. The main change concerned the 'Pigs and Poultry' farm type which was split into 'Specialist Pigs' and 'Specialist Poultry' farm types. There were also some minor changes to the 'Mixed' farm type. Most farms (holdings), however, have retained the same farm type under the new classification. In line with other United Kingdom agricultural departments, the underlying economic measure (standard gross margin) which provides the basic data for the farm classification has been updated from a 1988 basis to a 2000 basis. The 2000 basis is a centred standard gross margin, averaged over 5 years. Table C39 provides 1995, 2000 and 2005 census data using the new 2000 centred Standard Gross Margin. Census year 2004 also marked the introduction of a new farm classification system - Standard Labour Requirements ( SLRs). Standard Labour Requirements assign farm types to agricultural businesses according to how much labour they use. Standards or norms have been calculated for all major enterprises. The total SLR for each farm is calculated by multiplying its crop areas and livestock numbers by the appropriate SLR coefficients and then summing the results for all enterprises on the farm. Table C39 details main and minor holdings by Standard Labour Requirements and farm type. Further details regarding Standard Labour Requirements and farm classification are outlined in the commentary to section B of this publication. |