e-Digest Statistics about: Land Use and Land Cover
Agriculture
Table 8 provides information on the amount of agricultural land under selected crops, under grasses and bare fallow and non-arable uses, including set aside, between 1986 and 2005. The reduction in the cropped area of over 450 thousand hectares between 1992 and 1993 is mainly as a result of the impact of EC Set Aside Schemes, which were established to reduce the amount of agricultural land in arable production. The first of these schemes, the Five-Year Scheme, was introduced in 1988. This scheme was superseded in 1992 by the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) which includes a compulsory set-aside requirement except for the smallest farmers. Under the AAPS, farmers are not eligible for payments for land, which on 31 December 1991 was under permanent crops, permanent grass, woodland or non-agricultural use. This acts as a disincentive to those farmers who claim under the scheme (the vast majority of arable farmers) to plough up permanent pasture for arable crops.
The reduction in the area of land set aside in the UK in 1996/7 is generally attributed to the reduction in payments made to farmers under the set aside scheme, however between 1998 and 1999 the amount of set aside increased by over 250,000 hectares as a result of the reintroduction of set aside grants.
Agricultural land use
Chart 5 shows total area of agricultural land fell by 1 per cent between 1986 and 2005. The area under crops fell by 9 per cent between 1992 and 1993, mainly as a result of EC Set Aside Schemes, and in 2005 was 15 per cent less than in 1986.
Variation of the land area set-aside is generally attributed to end of 5-year schemes and introduction of new schemes, and also to optional and mandatory requirements.
Agri-environment schemes
Agri-environment schemes (Chart 4) make payments for the adoption of agricultural practices to conserve wildlife habitats, historic, archaeological and landscape features and to improve opportunities for countryside enjoyment. Support is also provided for a variety of capital works.
The longest running of the schemes, the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme, was introduced in England in 1987 and covers 22 areas in England designated for their unique environmental features. The figures above show the number of thousand hectares paid for in the financial year following the same year. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS), which applies outside ESAs, aims to encourage farmers to conserve and enhance some key English landscapes, features and habitats. The figures above show the number of thousand hectares paid for in the financial year following the agreement year.
Since introduction of the ESA and CSS schemes, around 1 million hectares of land in England have been included in these agri-environmental projects. This is around 10 per cent of the total agricultural area in England.
Other schemes not shown in the table include: arable stewardship, countryside access, habitat and nitrate sensitive areas, each of which covered less than 10 thousand hectares in 2005. Land may be in more than one scheme.
The Moorland scheme has now closed, and there is currently only one landowner in the scheme. Most others who were in the Moorland scheme are now part of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
Further Information:
- Data Tables:
- 8 Agricultural land use and crop areas: 1986-2005 XLS
- Chart 5 Agricultural land use: 1986-2005 XLS
- Chart 4 Agri-environment schemes: 1992-2005 XLS
- Internet Links:
- DCLG: Planning statistics
- Defra: Rural Development Programme
- Defra: Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Your questions and comments about information presented on this page are welcome. Contact information and Email . Copyright of data and/or information presented or attached in this document may not reside solely with this Department. Please see guidance on Copyright.
Page last modified: 21 August 2006
Page published: 28 October 2004