Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the number of farmers and growers in business in England today compared to the number in March 2018.
Answer
The department does not hold a register of all farms. However, statistical estimates of the number of agricultural holdings with significant levels of farming activity* in England show there were 104,476 on 1 June 2022, compared to 106,035 on the same period in 2018.
* Data only covers holdings which are registered with the Rural Payments Agency for payments or livestock purposes and with 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.