Lancashire Environment 2002
Landscape - Farm Size and Type
There has been a 33% decline in the number of farm holdings between 1988 and 1999. However as most of the decline has been in smaller farm holdings and there has been a slight increase in larger holdings, the amount of land in agricultural use has only declined by 7%.
The decline in numbers of different farm types is fairly evenly spread, although there has been in a slight increase in the land area used for mixed farming.
Agriculture has a major influence in shaping the landscape. Changing farming practices since the second world war have had a profound effect on our countryside with increasing intensification and mechanisation leading to the loss of landscape features and wildlife habitats.
In the last decade or so there has been an increasing emphasis on trying to work with farmers to manage their land for the benefit of wildlife and the landscape through grants and advice. At the same time agricultural economy continues to influence the nature and operation of farms.
What is the role of LCC and other agencies?
Lancashire County Council has played a leading role in the establishment of the Lancashire Rural Partnership which brings together all the major players with an interest in the future of farming and the rural economy in general. One of the Partnership's first task has been to draw up the Lancashire Rural Recovery Action Plan to determine how to spend Government monies allocated to those areas worst affected by Foot and Mouth, including Lancashire.
The impact of the Foot and Mouth epidemic and measures to deal with the aftermath will be a major influence on how trends in farming continue in the future. It seems likely that the rural economy will undergo rapid transformation and we need to monitor carefully how that is impacting on the landscape and wildlife.
The role of environmental enhancement schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, will be very significant in this process.
| Holding sizes per year | |||
| 1988 | 1999 | % Change | |
| Under 20 ha | 3239 | 2756 | -15% |
| 20 - 100 ha | 2457 | 2122 | -14% |
| 100 - 300 ha | 364 | 374 | + 3% |
| 300 ha and over | 57 | 55 | -3 % |
| Not Classified | 1770 | 0 | - |
| Total | 7887 | 5307 | - 33% |
Source: DEFRA
Includes data for Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities 
| Total Area (hectares) | ||
| 1988 | 1999 | |
| Dairying | 82,749 | 71,769 |
| Cattle & Sheep | 91,502 | 87,515 |
| Cropping | 25,625 | 23,641 |
| Pigs & Poultry | 6,503 | 2,351 |
| Horticulture | 4,712 | 2,541 |
| Mixed & Other Types | 15,620 | 22,903 |
| Total | 226,711 | 210,720 |
| % of Total | |
| Under 20 ha | 9.2 |
| 20 - 100 ha | 48.4 |
| 100 - 300 ha | 26.5 |
| 300 ha and over | 15.9 |
Source: DEFRA
Includes data for Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities
| Population per year | ||
| 1988 | 1999 | |
| Cattle | 265490 | 263844 |
| Pigs | 218202 | 124539 |
| Chickens | 4323943 | 3200384 |
| Sheep | n/a | 821512 |
Source: DEFRA
Includes data for Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities