Skip to main content

Farms

Volume 461: debated on Wednesday 6 June 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working farms ceased production in the last five years. (140490)

The June Agricultural Survey does not specifically collect information about the number of farms that have ceased to trade. The following table shows the number of registered holdings in England in June 2002 and June 2006, as well as information on the numbers of farmers, partners and directors. These indicate net changes only and therefore reflect gains as well as losses.

Direct comparison between these two years cannot be made, because of the number of holdings in this period which have registered for administrative purposes.

Total holdings

Farmers full-time

Farmers part-time

2002

187,871

103,782

121,739

2006

200,381

96,698

127,059

Note:

Farmers full and part-time includes farmers, partners, directors and spouses (if working on the holding).

Source:

June Agricultural Survey