Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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Ev 70 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Evidence 12. As Figure 2 below shows, trends in upland and lowland sheep breeding numbers are broadly the same due to the stratification of the sheep industry—both lowland and upland systems being reliant on each other. Upland sheep breeding numbers in England appear higher now than in the mid 1970s, shortly after the UK joined the EC, although direct comparisons are made diYcult due to definitional changes. Th. head 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Figure 2 SHEEP BREEDING FLOCK NUMBERS IN ENGLAND (a) Sheep breeding flock: England (b) (c) Lowland 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 (a) 1975 definition of LFA before widening to include Disadvantaged Areas, excludes minor holdings. (b) Current LFA, excludes minor holdings. (c) In 2006, the method of assigning LFA markers to holdings was revised and retrospectively applied from June 2000. All holdings. Source: June Survey 13. Figure 3 shows that suckler cow numbers in the uplands have maintained a far more consistent level throughout the period of European Community membership, unlike in the lowlands where numbers have fluctuated more significantly. Th. head 800 600 400 200 0 (a) Lowland Figure 3 BEEF COW NUMBERS IN ENGLAND EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 Lowland - CTS LFA LFA - CTS Suckler herd: England 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 (a) 1975 definition of LFA before widening to include Disadvantaged Areas, excludes minor holdings. (b) Current LFA, excludes minor holdings. (c) In 2006, the method of assigning LFA markers to holdings was revised and retrospectively applied from June 2000. All holdings. Sources: 1975–2006, June Census/Survey, Defra; 2004 onwards, CTS/RADAR, Defra. (b) (c) LFA
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Evidence Ev 71 14. Figure 4 shows that dairy cow numbers have remained fairly consistent in the uplands since the mid 1970s, shortly after the UK joined the EC, whereas national numbers have declined steadily, especially since the introduction of milk quotas in the early 1980s. Th. head 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Figure 4 DAIRY COW NUMBERS IN ENGLAND Dairy herd: England (a) (b) (c) 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 Lowland Lowland - CTS LFA LFA - CTS (a) 1975 definition of LFA before widening to include Disadvantaged Areas, excludes minor holdings. (b) Current LFA, excludes minor holdings. (c) In 2006, the method of assigning LFA markers to holdings was revised and retrospectively applied from June 2000. All holdings. Sources: 1975–2006, June Census/Survey, Defra; 2004 onwards, CTS/RADAR, Defra. Farming’s Role in Upland Communities 15. Farming plays an important role in the life of uplands communities. Although, as the CRC report identifies, the agriculture and forestry sector now employs a low proportion of the uplands workforce (5.2%), agricultural businesses are the second most common, accounting for 16% of all businesses in the uplands. 16. Although much of the income to the uplands regions is derived through recreation and tourism, with 40 million visitors to the National Parks in the uplands each year generating £1.78 billion, 8 farmers benefit from relatively little of this tourism income. 17. Farmers are often seen as the glue that holds the community together—which generates a strong protective feeling towards farmers from those living in the uplands—and a real fear that their subsequent loss would destroy the community. Evidence shows that the public sentiments are that local economies and communities would suVer if farming was allowed to decline and that there would also be a detrimental impact upon the way the landscape looks. 9 18. This is reinforced by views that farming in the uplands requires a special type of farmer with very strong links to family and custodianship. Often farming families have been living in the uplands for many generations and this long establishment has created local leaders from the farming community. The collaborative nature of “commoning” can also aid cohesion in upland communities. Role of Farming Practices in Managing the Uplands Environment Grazing 19. An appropriate level of grazing is needed to maintain and restore certain upland habitats such as upland hay meadows and calcareous grassland and their characteristic species. Having a mixture of livestock grazing types is important with cattle and sheep having diVerent grazing characteristics. There are also some habitats such as blanket bog that require very little or no grazing. Therefore, ensuring the appropriate balance of grazing through correct timing, stocking density, and species employed for the habitat in question is crucial for successful management. 8 Commission for Rural Communities (CRC): High ground, high potential—a future for England’s Upland communities 9 Farming in the English Uplands, Defra Agricultural Change and Environment Observatory
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Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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