The total area of agricultural holdings is about 41.619 million acres (16.843 million hectares), of which about a third are arable and most of the rest is grassland. Overview Wheat is a major crop in the UK. There is increasing awareness that farmers have an important role to play as custodians of the British countryside and wildlife. Biofuels present new opportunities for farmers against a background of rising fears about fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change.
Recently there have been moves towards organic farming in an attempt to sustain profits, and many farmers supplement their income by diversifying activities away from pure agriculture. The average (median) age of the British farm holder is about 60 (as of 2016). Low earnings, high land prices and a shortage of let farmland discourage young people from joining the industry. ĭespite skilled farmers, advanced technology, fertile soil and subsidies, farm earnings are relatively low, mainly due to low prices at the farm gate. There are 191,000 farm holdings, which vary widely in size. It is concentrated in the drier east (for crops) and the wetter west (for livestock). Īgricultural activity occurs in most rural locations. The UK currently produces about 60% of its domestic food consumption. Agriculture in the United Kingdom uses 69% of the country's land area, employs 1% of its workforce (471,000 people) and contributes 0.5% of its gross value added ( £11.2 billion).
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