A FEW FARMING FACTS

• There are approximately 3000 holdings in Cornwall & approximately 400 active farming units in Penwith.

• Over the years, 40% of farms have diversified into farm shops, Bed & Breakfast, tourism, off farm activities.

• Penwith farming activity is Dairying. Approx 46 million litres of milk is produced per annum.

• Half of Penwith is in an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and a large proportion in the ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area).

• In Penwith, new blood into farming is probably no more than 5%.

• Penwith has a large tenant sector and so they are the most vulnerable due to low commodity prices with their assets being tied up in their livestock.

• Farming businesses have been absorbed into larger units to spread costs and maintain viability.

• On quite a few smaller farms the owner/tenant may have a second occupation as a diversification.

• There are very few sheep farmers in Penwith, but small pedigree flocks and several are along the Zennor coastline. Dairying and vegetables have been the key activities with beef. Within the ESA it is predominately beef.

• The vegetable sector (potatoes/cauliflower) is very strong, into four packhouses supplying the multiples. Some farms survive by still doing a bit of everything.

• Total income from farming is estimated to have risen by 10% at current prices to £2.7 billion, which equates to a rise of 6.9% in real terms.

• Total income from farming per full-time person equivalent rose by 13% at current prices, a rise of 9.4% in real terms, to £13,840.

• The average age of farmers has risen from 55 in 1990 to 59 in 2005.

• Farm incomes are projected to increase by nearly 15% by 2010, assuming there is no change in the pound/euro exchange rate.

• In 2006 the total area of agricultural land was 18.7 million hectares, about 77% of the total land area in the UK.

Statistics from Farm Cornwall http://www.farmcornwall.co.uk

• There were 10.3 million cattle in the UK at June 2007, a fall of 2.5% on last year.

• The number of cows in the beef herd has fallen by 2.4% and the number in the dairy herd has fallen by 1.2%.

• The number of pigs fell by 1.0% on June 2006 to 4.9 millions.

• Total sheep and lamb numbers are down 3.3% on last year to 33.6 million.

Agricultural and Horticultural Survey: June 2007,
United Kingdom, DEFRA National Statistics.