From June Agricultural Census 2026 published today:

Results from the June Agricultural Census 2026 were published today and show that the number of cattle increased for the first time since 2021.

In 2026, there were 1.67 million cattle, an increase of 0.7% compared with last year and 1.3% below the five-year average (2021 to 2025).

Annual increases in male cattle, female beef cattle and calves offset a fall in female dairy cattle.

The number of pigs also increased for the first time since 2022 to 327,700. This was 4.9% more than last year and 1.2% below the five-year average.

Other livestock results show there were 6.50 million sheep, 0.5% less than last year and 2.2% below the five-year average, and 11.88 million poultry, 4.4% less than last year.

The area used to grow winter crops (wheat, winter barley and winter oats) increased by 6.9% compared with the five-year average, while spring planted crops (spring barley and spring oats) decreased by 16%. This was largely driven by a 17% reduction in spring barley compared with the five-year average.

The total soft fruit growing area was 1,800 hectares, 10% below the five-year average and its lowest level since 2015, largely due to a decrease in strawberry production.

Source: https://www.gov.scot/news/june-agricultural-census-2026/

How does Scotland compare with England in terms of agricultural output per head of popualtion?

Quantity	Scotland total	England total	Scotland per 1,000 people	England per 1,000 people	Scotland relative to England
Cattle	1.67 million	4.8 million	301	82	3.7 times
Sheep	6.50 million	13.0 million	1,172	221	5.3 times
Pigs	327,700	3.8 million	59	65	0.9 times
Poultry	11.88 million	133.0 million	2,142	2,261	0.95 times

Cereals and oilseeds

447,700 ha

2.63 million ha (cereals 2.36 million + oilseed rape 276,000)

81 ha

45 ha

1.8 times

Soft / small fruit

1,800 ha

9,800 ha small fruit

0.32 ha

0.17 ha

about 1.9 times

So per head of population, Scotland produces far more food in all categories other than pigs and poultry.

The English figures come from two Defra accredited official statistics releases, both from the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture.

Livestock (cattle 4.8 million, pigs 3.8 million, sheep 13.0 million, poultry 133.0 million), published 27 August 2026
Livestock populations in England at 1 June 2026

Cereals and oilseed rape (cereals 2.36 million ha, wheat 1.50 million ha, barley 673,000 ha, oats 129,000 ha, oilseed rape 276,000 ha), published 27 August 2026
Cereal and oilseed areas in England at 1 June 2026

Small fruit (9,800 ha), orchards (17,300 ha) and vegetables and salad (80,000 ha), published 24 September 2026
Agricultural land use in England at 1 June 2026

Population denominators are from the ONS mid-2025 estimates (England 58,834,800), published 1 October 2026: Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2025.

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