LAST year’s collapse in potato prices across Europe has been reflected in a new record low for the amount of Scottish agricultural land being used to grow the crop.
The latest set of figures on Scottish farming show a 10 per cent reduction in the area growing potatoes over the last year as well as a large fall in the number of chickens being kept across Scotland.
Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday released the latest results from the June 2015 Agricultural Census showing there were small increases in the number of cattle, sheep and pigs.
Poultry saw an 11 per cent fall, however, down 1.7 million to 13.1 million. The reduction was in the broiler sector, which saw a fall of 2.1 million birds, or 27 per cent, to 5.7 million. The number of broilers is now the lowest on current records.
This fall was partially offset by a 7 per cent increase in layers, to 6.1 million, and the same percentage increase in fowls for breeding, up to 1.2 million.
Potatoes were down 2,700 hectares to 26,000 hectares, with reductions in both ware and seed. The area is now the smallest area on current records.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The headline figures about reductions in potato and poultry production are disappointing but should come as no surprise to anyone.
“What we are seeing is the impact of last year’s collapse in potato prices across Europe - caused by falling consumer demand for fresh potatoes - and restructuring in Scotland’s poultry processing sector, which have both been well documented.
“This market volatility underlines the need to build greater resilience right throughout supply chains in Scotland – and the action the Scottish Government is taking to support Scottish agriculture at this time is aimed at doing just that.”
The statistics showed that the increase in cattle numbers was less than one per cent, but that was the first increase since 2010. Dairy cattle numbers continued to show growth, up 3,700, or 1.4 per cent, to 278,000, though the number of beef cattle fell by less than one per cent some 3,700, to 710,000. There was a three per cent increase in calf numbers to 544,000 which boosted the total.
Sheep numbers increased for the second consecutive year, the first time that has happened since the 1990s, though the increase this year was only per cent to 6.7 million. Although the numbers of both breeding ewes and lambs fell, there was a nine per cent increase in other sheep. Pig numbers also saw a small increase of 1,500, or 0.5 per cent , to 318,000.
The area of cereals decreased by four per cent from 462,000 to 444,000 hectares, with a reduction in the area of barley, down 19,000 hectares to 308,000, and only very small increases in wheat (540 ha) and oats (560 ha). The area of oilseed rape decreased by 1,300 hectares or four per cent to 36,000 hectares. The area of fallow land almost trebled to 33,000 hectares.
The amount of agricultural land that was rented for one year or more fell again, by 6,000 hectares or 0.5 per cent to 1.32 million hectares. This means that 23 per cent of agricultural land is rented compared to 30 per cent in 2003. There were an estimated 6,616 holdings with tenancy arrangements, down 109 or 1.6 per cent since 2014.
Other figures released show that the area growing strawberries rose three percent or 30 hectares to 940 hectares, and raspberries increased by 40 hectares, or to 350 hectares.
There were 65,400 people employed on agricultural holdings, down just under 1,000 on 2014, with new data showing that one fifth of occupiers were female. About 78 per cent of the area of Scotland is agricultural land, in 52,160 agricultural holdings.
New data published this year shows that Limousin are the most common cattle breed in Scotland, followed by Aberdeen Angus, Simmental, Holstein Friesian, and Charolais. These five breeds accounted for 76% of cattle in Scotland.
Lochhead added: "These statistics provide a snapshot of Scottish agriculture and, as in previous years, they are helpful in highlighting important trends in the sector.
“I am pleased to see signs that livestock numbers are starting to stabilise. This suggests that our targeted support for beef and sheep through the Common Agricultural Policy, and our multi-million pound investment in the new pig processing plant in Brechin, are beginning to pay dividends.
“I also note there has been a further reduction in the amount of agricultural land that is rented out in Scotland, and the changes to agricultural holdings legislation contained in the Land Reform Bill should help to address this continuing stagnation in the tenanted sector.”
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