This is the first time December Agricultural Survey results have been presented in a Statistical Publication with commentary and graphics on the latest annual changes and trends over the past 10 years. The trend analysis for crops, livestock and labour has been placed in the context of more comprehensive results from the June Agricultural Census. A comparison of livestock population profiles between June and December has also been included. The publication contains background information on the December Agricultural Survey.

The results of the December Agricultural Survey are representative of main agricultural holdings only and do not cover minor agricultural holdings. The implications of this are covered in the commentary of the publication.

Key trends between 2009 and 2010 December Survey results show:

• An increase in winter crop areas for wheat (up 10,567 hectares or 10.2 per cent) to 114,183 hectares, for oilseed rape (up 3,861 hectares or 11.7 per cent) to 36,926 hectares and for oats (up 155 hectares or 2.1 per cent) to 7,547 hectares and a decrease for barley (down 1,584 hectares or 3.0 per cent) to 50,382 hectares. These results should be considered in context of spring crop areas which are reported on the June Agricultural Census
  
  
• Annual production of grass silage/haylage increased by 98,602 tonnes (1.5 per cent) to 6.59 million tonnes. There was also an increase in the production of hay of 29,744 tonnes (12.0 per cent) to 276,899 tonnes but a decrease in arable silage production of 12,622 tonnes (3.5 per cent) to 343,923 tonnes
  
  
• Total cattle increased by 8,045 (0.5 per cent) to 1.76 million, similar to the annual increase of 0.7 per cent reported in the 2010 June Census
  
  
• An increase in the beef herd of 11,111 (2.4 per cent) to 466,916, slightly higher than the 1.3 per cent increase reported in the 2010 June Census and a decrease in the dairy herd of 2,514 (1.4 per cent) to 182,602, similar to the 1.5 per cent decrease reported in the 2010 June Census
  
  
• The number of sheep decreased by 34,617 (0.7 per cent) to 4.58 million, a slightly lower decrease than the 2.5 per cent reported in the 2010 June Census
  
  
• The number of pigs increased by 15,618 (4.0 per cent) up to 410,218, similar to the 3.3 per cent increase reported in the 2010 June Census
  
  
• The number of poultry increased by 1.12 million (8.2 per cent) up to 14.67 million birds, similar to the 9.6 per cent increase reported in the 2010 June Census
  
  
• Increases in the number of working occupiers of 126 (0.7 per cent) to 17,229 and regular staff of 813 (5.1 per cent) to 16,819. Decreases in the number of working spouses of 147 (1.6 per cent) to 8,910 and casual and seasonal staff of 630 (17.5 per cent) to 2,964. Results from the June Agricultural Census should be considered for a more complete overview of agricultural labour
  
  
• An increase in the number of tractors of 193 (0.5 per cent) to 42,190.

Further Reading

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