Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many upland farms have closed in each year since 2015 by region.
Answer
Defra does not hold any data on the number of farms that have ceased farming in any particular year. We produce statistical estimates of national crop areas and livestock populations each year, but we do not track changes in individual farms. Changes in national/regional activity can be seen in our annual publications and this includes the number of agricultural holdings with significant levels of farming activity* in England. Changes in the number of holdings could be for a number of reasons, in addition to ceasing trading.
* Data only covers holdings which are registered with the Rural Payments Agency for payments or livestock purposes and have significant levels of farming activity (as recorded in responses to the Defra June Survey of Agriculture or the Cattle Tracing System). Holdings are only included if they have more than five hectares of agricultural land, one hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.
Number of holdings by region are available here.
Number of holdings in the uplands (less favoured areas) are available here.
Number of holdings by farm type are available here.