The Agriculture Census 2021 is coming …
Defra will run a Census of Agriculture from 1 June 2021
The census will be sent to all active commercial farms in England and can be completed online or via paper form. we encourage all farmers to respond within two weeks. The Census provides a unique and comprehensive picture of the structure of the agricultural industry. The 2021 Census will capture detailed information on land use, crop areas, livestock numbers and the farm labour force. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential and will be used only for statistical purposes as per our privacy notice. Completion is mandatory under the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979.
Why it is important to complete the Agricultural Census?
The Census is an important data source that’s vital to many areas of research and government decision making. It provides the best opportunity for us to monitor long-term changes and identify trends and challenges withing the agricultural industry in England.
The data collected provides the government, farming industry, policy makers and stakeholders with the necessary information about agriculture to help plan future policies and priorities. The data is also used to enable research and investment in the industry, as well as to monitor environmental changes and the wider impact of farm activities.
Results will show levels of agricultural activity in all the counties and regions in England, enabling famers to see what is happening around the country.
A high response rate to the Census will help us get the most accurate picture of the structure of the agriculture industry.
Measuring agriculture over time
The Census of Agriculture has run in various forms for over 150 years. The first proper agricultural census was taken in 1866 and ran every year until 1995, when it decreased to an annual sample survey. We now only run the census every 10 years – the last census was in 2010.
What does the data tell us?
The census shows us how agriculture has evolved over time, such as the area of wheat in England in 1900, was around 700,000 hectares. It was 1.9 million hectares in 2000. And there were 15.8 million sheep and 2 million pigs in 1900, compared to 19.1 million and 5.4 million in 2000.
The census can be completed online or as a paper form.
If you receive a paper form, you can still respond online. Instructions of how to do this are provided on the front of the form.
Defra is extremely grateful to the farmers who complete the June 2021 Census questionnaire. Make sure you count in this year’s census by completing your questionnaire. For more information, click here.