FINAL RESULTS FROM THE DECEMBER 2004 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS PUBLISHED
The main changes between December 2003 and 2004 are as follows:
For intensive livestock, the number of pigs rose by three per cent to 492,000, but the number of poultry fell by three per cent from 14.9 million to 14.4 million.
The area of wheat fell by 10 per cent from 104,000 hectares to 93,000 hectares. The area of barley fell by five per cent from 59,000 to 56,000 hectares.
The total number of regular staff employed fell by three per cent, however there was an increase of 13 per cent in the number of casual/seasonal staff. Overall, there was a slight fall in the number of staff employed (down by 200).
Table 1 Estimated number of cattle, 1995 to 2004 (thousands)
Table 2 Estimated number of sheep, 1995 to 2004 (thousands)
Table 3 Estimated number of pigs, 1995 to 2004 (thousands)
Table 4 Estimated number of poultry, 1995 to 2004 (thousands)
Table 5 Estimated farm labour, 1995 to 2004 (thousands)
Table 6 Estimated crops and grass area, hay and silage production, 1995 to 2004
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. The results relate to the annual December sample census of main holdings - i.e. holdings above a certain economic or physical threshold. The returns are completed by farmers, who provide information on the crops and livestock on the land which they own or rent on a permanent basis.
2. Since 2000, an annual reclassification exercise has been carried out, which results in a number of main holdings being reclassified as minor holdings and vice versa. As these statistics cover main holdings only, there are slight discontinuities in the data since 2000.
3. In 2004, the December Agricultural Sample Census covered around 10,000 of the 26,000 main agricultural holdings in Scotland. Since these results are based on a sample, the estimates are subject to a degree of uncertainty.
4. Media may obtain the statistical tables which accompany this news release by telephoning Lynne Edwardson on 0131 244 2687. Non-media may obtain copies by calling Nia Ball on 0131 244 5249.
5. All figures are rounded to the nearest 1000 except pigs and labour which are rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not, therefore, add to totals.
6. Percentage figures, which have been calculated using unrounded figures, have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent.