Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023

Final results from the 2023 June Agricultural Census on land use, crop areas, livestock and the number of people working on agricultural holdings. Estimates for 2022 are published in the supporting documents.


Key points

  • Cattle numbers continue to decline, following a long-term trend, with a three per cent decrease in 2023 from the five year average (2017 – 2021).  A decline in numbers of calves and female beef cattle contributed to the decrease.
  • Sheep numbers in 2023 fell by two per cent compared with the five year average. However, numbers remain in line with the long-term trend over the past 10 years.
  • This year winter planting rose by four per cent compared with the five year average. This was followed by a decrease of two per cent in spring planting. The area of land used for growing cereals remains stable compared to the five year average. The area used for planting oilseeds rose by 25 per cent compared to the five year average.
  • Growing areas of vegetables for human consumption, excluding potatoes, grew by seven per cent compared to the five year average. The amount of area used to grow vegetables for stockfeed decreased by five per cent. The area of potatoes dropped by six per cent compared to the five year average.
  • The total workforce on agricultural holdings remained stable, increasing by less than one per cent to 67,000 people in 2023 compared to the five year average.

Download detailed tables of the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023 results.

The following infographic displays a summary of the key results of the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023 

Key results for the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023. The infographic displays three tables: Crops and land use, livestock and workforce and the following note: The five-year average does not include data for 2022, due to a pause in data collection in 2022.  The Crops and land use table displays a column for the 2023 area and the percentage change compared with five-year average from 2017 to 2021.  The following rows are in the crops and land use table: Total cereals- 2023 area was 436, 644 hectares and percentage change was no change; Total potatoes – 2023 area was 26,594 hectares and percentage change was down six per cent; Vegetables for human consumption- 2023 area was 21,467 hectares and percentage change was up seven per cent; Soft fruit – 2023 area was 1,961 hectares and percentage change was down seven per cent; Total crops and grass – 2023 area was 1,928,165 hectares and percentage change was up two percent; Total agricultural area 2023 area was 5,329,957 and percentage change was down five per cent.​  The livestock table displays a column for the 2023 livestock numbers and the percentage change compared with five-year average from 2017 to 2021. The following rows are in the livestock table: Total cattle- 2023 numbers were 1,683,929 and percentage change was down three per cent; Total sheep-  2023 numbers were 6,610,706 and percentage change was down two per cent; Total pigs- 2023 numbers were 343,614 and percentage change was up five per cent; Total poultry – 2023 numbers were 11,685,339. Percentage change was noted as not applicable – estimates for 2023 were not comparable to previous years due to methodological improvements. ​  The workforce displays a column for the 2023 workforce numbers and the percentage change compared with five-year average from 2017 to 2021. The workforce table contains the following rows: total agricultural workforce – 2023 numbers were 66,753 and percentage change was no change; total working occupiers – 2023 number was 35,334 and percentage change was down seven per cent; total regular full time and part time staff was 23,112 and percentage change was up 11 per cent; total casual and seasonal staff- 2023 number was 8,307 and percentage change was up one per cent.

Contact

Email: agric.stats@gov.scot

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