Scottish Survey of Agricultural Production Methods

18th October 2012

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Results from the Scottish Survey of Agricultural Agricultural Production Methods 2010.
See - www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/10/7669

The survey covered farm practices relating to tillage and soil cover, manure and slurry usage, irrigation, and livestock housing and grazing intensity.

Among the findings were:

About eleven per cent of tillage was carried out using reduced tillage which leaves some crop residue cover
Ten per cent of holdings had newly established tree lines during the preceding three years, with hedges established in eight per cent of holdings
37 per cent of holdings with cultivable land applied manure or slurry on their holdings, though only a small proportion of these ploughed it in immediately
Off-farm surface water was the main source of supply for irrigation
57 per cent of cattle were housed in straw yard with a solid manure system, half of pigs were also housed in straw yards, and 58 per cent of laying hens were housed in cages