June Survey Results From DEFRA

The preliminary estimates of the June Agricultural and Horticultural Survey of the UK for 2009 have been published by DEFRA. The final results will be published later in the year but the preliminary results still give a good estimation of trends in land use, crop areas and livestock.

Agricultural land areas in the UK have increased by 2% since June 2008 and the total croppable area is now 6.2 million hectares. Of the 36% of agricultural land that is considered croppable about half is under cereals, another 20% is temporary grassland. Unused arable land, including bare fallow and GAEC12 land, has increased by 25% to 244,000 hectares.

Arable returns show that the estimated total cereal cropping area in the UK has decreased by 5% to 3.1 million hectares since last year. Wheat accounts for 1.8 million hectares or 70% of cereals, 14% lower than last year and barley, which accounts for 1.15 million hectares, is 12% higher at 26%. The area of land under potatoes has increased again this year by 3.4% to 1.48 million hectares. Oilseeds continue to decrease in area, now at 6.02 million hectares, a 3.4% change on last year. Other field crops have shown a 21.3% increase in area to 6.39 million hectares largely due to large increases in the area of field beans, peas and maize.

Pease and beans have decreased in area to 403,000 hectares but all other vegetables and salads have increased in total area to 814,000 hectares.

National livestock herd sizes of cattle, sheep and pigs have decreased since June 2008. The total number of cattle and calves has decreased by 0.8% to slightly more than 10 million, the breeding herd has decreased by 3% to 3.5 million due to decreases of 3% in both the beef herd and in the dairy herd to 1.6 and 1.9 million respectively. Pigs decreased by 2% from June 2008 to 4.6 million. Breeding sows numbered 440,000, up 5%. The total number of sheep and lambs decreased by 4% to 31.8 million. There were 14.8 million breeding ewes, a decrease of 5% and other sheep and lambs decreased by 3% to 17 million.