| Introduction |
| |
| The
Agricultural Census |
| Each
summer, the agricultural census is carried out by the
Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries
Department. For census purposes, farms are classified
into one of 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 last classification.
The survey of minor farms is conducted over a 3 year
cycle, about one-third being surveyed each year. In 1996
33,000 main farms, and 6,000 of the 17,800 minor farms on
the department’s register were surveyed. Both the
main and minor censuses collect information on crops,
livestock and labour as at 1 June, although the minor
survey is less detailed than the main survey. In
addition, a sample survey (of about 40%) of main farms is
carried out in December in order to provide estimates of
winter crops sown, and breeding livestock maintained for
the next breeding season. The information is collected
under the Agriculture Act 1947, and the surveys are
conducted by postal questionnaire. |
| The
statistics shown in this section mostly relate to main
farms, although estimates for minor farms are also shown
in some cases. Minor farms accounted for less than 0.5
per cent of the total tillage area, about 1 per cent of
cattle, and about 3 per cent of sheep in 1996. |
| 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 also required 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. |
| In
1993, as part of the reform of the Common Agricultural
Policy, the Integrated Administration and Control System
(IACS) was established, and a new scheme, the Arable Area
Payments’ Scheme (AAPS), introduced. In order to be
eligible for aid under the Main Scheme of the AAPS,
applicants are required to set aside a proportion of the
land on which they are claiming aid, and this accounts
for the large increase at that time in the set aside area
(and the consequent decrease in the area of other arable
crops) shown in the charts. |
| |
| Weather |
| The
later months of 1995 were mild and dry although with
occasional wet and windy spells. Frosts were negligible
in the early part of winter with some snow falling on the
high ground. Winter conditions changed dramatically in
late December with severe, prolonged frosts and heavy
snowfalls. The remainder of the winter was cool but
generally dry, with heavy spells of snow falling at the
end of January and into February 1996, particularly in
the Border regions. Cold and wet weather persisted into
May which resulted in a late spring throughout the whole
country. It was not until mid-May in the east and south
of the country that temperatures began to rise. The late
spring gave way in June to settled, warm and dry weather
in the southern and eastern regions. The summer months
were more unsettled in the west and north, but from
mid-August, most of the country enjoyed an extended
period of warm, dry weather. |
| |
| Crops |
| The
total area of combine harvested crops on main farms rose
by over 4 per cent in 1996 to 501,000 hectares; together
with the estimated area on minor farms (about 1200
hectares), the total reached 502,200 hectares. The area
of cereals on main farms increased by nearly 6 per cent,
although the area of oilseeds fell again, and as a result
of a reduced minimum AAPS set-aside requirement of 10 per
cent, the area of set aside fell by 14 per cent to 69,000
hectares. |
| The
area of potatoes on main farms increased again to reach
over 29,000 hectares (the highest since 1986), while the
area of other vegetables for human consumption rose by 6
per cent to 12,200 hectares. Crops grown for stockfeed
fell by 3 per cent to 27,400 hectares. |
| The
area of grass and the area of rough grazing on main farms
were little changed although the proportion of young
grass continued to decrease. Including main and minor
farms, the total agricultural area was 6,180,000 hectares
in 1996, of which about 67 per cent was accounted for by
rough and Common grazing. |
| Farm
woodland continued to increase in 1996 to a total (main
and minor) of about 167,000 hectares. |
| |
| Livestock |
| The
total number of cattle rose by 2 per cent to almost 2.1
million in 1996. The dairy herd continued to fall, while
the beef herd continued to increase, albeit only
slightly. The number of other cattle aged 2 or more rose
by almost 21 per cent. |
| The
number of sheep fell again in 1996 to under 9.1 million,
over 6 per cent less than the peak in 1992. The number of
ewes for breeding fell by over 2 per cent to 3.6 million. |
| The
pig herd increased by 3 per cent to just over 570,000;
within this total, the breeding herd increased sharply -
by over 9 per cent - to over 62,000. |
| After
increasing in 1995, the total poultry flock fell by over
4 per cent to nearly 14.3 million in 1996. The number of
fowls for producing eggs increased by 7 per cent, but the
number of broilers fell by over 8 per cent to under 9.5
million. |
| |
| Labour |
| The
agricultural labour force rose slightly to almost 26,000,
the same level as in 1994. Full-time working continued to
fall, and part time and casual working to rise. The
number of occupiers and spouses working on farms remained
steady at almost 34,000. |
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