§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of state for Environment, food and Rural Affairs how many farmers are working in(a) the north west, (b)Lancashire and (c)the Chorley constituency. [136919]
§ Mr. BradshawData for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
Figures for 2002 are as follows:
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part time) North west 27,392 LancashireCC 7,783 Chorley 569 Note
The north west region includes Merseyside.
Source
June 2002 Agricultrual Census.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers are in (a) dairy, (b) arable, (c) sheep, (d) beef, (e) poultry, (f) other and (g) pig farming in (i) the north west, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley. [136920]
§ Mr. BradshawAgricultural and horticultural holdings are classified annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census into nine different types.
294WFor 2002 the figures are:
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part time) by farm type FF farn type North LancashireCC Chorley Cereals 905 136 12 Generals 1,047 525 16 Horticulture 1,543 677 50 Pigs and poultry 1,060 408 47 Dairy 7,381 2,062 123 Cattle and sheep(LFA) 5,683 1,565 44 Cattle and sheep (lowland) 5,300 1,209 143 Mixed 1,231 272 40 Other types 3,242 930 95 All types 27,392 7,783 569 Notes
1.LFA—less favoured area
2.The north west region includes Merseyside
source
June 2002 Agricultural Census.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy cows there were in each of the last five years; and what the average size of dairy herds was in each year in(a) the north west, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley. [136921]
§ Mr. BradshawData for dairy cows are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
§ Mr. BradshawData for dairy cows are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
For the last five years the figures are:
Dairy cows and average dairy herd size North west Lancashire CC Chorley 1998 Dairy cows 354,937 86,178 4,984 Average dairy herd size 83.9 78.7 73.1 1999 Dairy cows 361,748 86,728 4,713 Average dairy herd size 88.5 81.9 71.7 2000 Dairy cows 348,150 83,150 4,658 Average dairy herd size 92.9 85.1 76.2 2001 Dairy cows 289,194 83,402 4,748 Average dairy herd size 94.9 88.8 80.3 2002 Dairy cows 315,908 78,498 4,628 Average dairy herd size 90.7 86.1 79.7 Notes
1. The north west region includes Merseyside
2. Dairy cows—holdings with dairy cows producing milk
3. Dairy herd—holdings with dairy cows producing milk and heifers in firsr calf.
4. 1993 to 1999 figures refer to main holding only.2000 onwards include main and minor holdings.
source
June Agricultural census
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers left the industry in the last five years in(a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley. [136922]
§ Mr. BradshawData for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total. Figures are not available for each item.
295WFigures for the last five years show net changes only and include gains as well as losses.
The available figures cover all holdings for 2000–02 and only main holdings for 1998 and 1999.
Farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part-time) North west Lancashire CC Chorley Main holdings only 1998 26,536 7,444 500 1999 26,024 7,364 508 Main and minor holdings 2000 27,538 7,949 595 2001 28,684 8,202 607 2002 27,392 7,783 569 Note
The North West includes Merseyside
source
June 2002 Agricultural Census
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the viability of the farming industry in East Sussex. [137275]
§ Mr. BradshawThe Government wants the whole country's farming industry to succeed. That is why we launched the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food on 12 December 2002. The Strategy builds on the work of Sir Don Curry's Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food and provides a clear and strategic long-term direction towards a more sustainable future. The Government will work in partnership with industry and other stakeholders to implement the strategy, providing the leadership to allow farmers to flourish by their own efforts and to become better connected to markets and consumer requirements.
We are making good progress towards delivering these objectives. Most recently through June's CAP reform agreement which represents a real shift in agricultural policy. It sets out a new course for agriculture in Europe: a sustainable future where farmers do not farm for subsidy but produce what consumers want to buy, delivering a key aim of the Strategy—reconnecting farmers to the market.
The Government has also established an Implementation Group of nine senior independent members, chaired by Sir Don Curry, to oversee delivery. Regional delivery plans have been drawn up to coordinate the approach within and between different areas of the country and the delivery plan for the southeast is now in the final stages of development.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers farm in East Sussex; and how many farmed there in 1993. [137251]
§ Mr. BradshawData for the total number farmers, partners, directors and spouses combined are collected annually from the June agricultural and horticultural census as a total.
Figures including main holdings are available only up to 1999.
296W
Total farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part-time) in East Sussex
Number Main holding only 1993 3,051 1999 3,066 Main and minor holdings 2000 3,112 2002 3,326 Notes: 1.Spouses are included only if they are working on the holding. 2.Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001, figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results. Source
june Agriculture Census