§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy farmers there were in England in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. JackThe number of farms classified as dairy farms in England, is given in the table. The figures are taken from the June agricultural census; figures for June 1993 are not yet available.
Number of dairy farms in England1 (excluding minor holdings) Number 1985 28,300 1986 27,583 1987 26,138 1988 24,767 1989 23,849 1990 23,174 1991 22,701 1992 21,712 1 Up to and including June 1992, forms were classified as "dairy" if the dairy enterprise, including followers, accounted for over one-third and commonly over two-thirds of total standard gross margin and was the largest enterprise group. A new system of farm classification was introduced in 1993 under which farms were classified as dairy if the dairy cows accounted for over two thirds of total SGM. Under this new system the number of dairy farms in 1992 was 19,115.