Number of English farms down a quarter in less than 20 years

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

• British farm numbers have fallen by nearly a quarter in 18 years, according to shocking new House of Commons data commissioned and analysed by the Liberal Democrats.
• The number of farms in almost every crop and livestock category has decreased since 2005. 

Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey has warned that “farms are on the brink” as the party urges the government to increase the farming budget by £1bn a year to support nature-friendly farming and rural communities and ditch their proposals to introduce a ‘family farm tax’.

The Library’s research shows a decline in the number of farms across the country, revealing that in the 18 years since 2005, there was a drop of over 30,000 farm holdings - a reduction of 22.7%. 

Dairy farms have been particularly badly hit. Since 2005, the total number of dairy farms has more than halved from 18,910 (2005) to 9,083 (2023). Worryingly, cereal farms have suffered with a drop of over 10,000 cereal farm holdings since 2005. Potato farms have faced a similar fate, with almost 7,000 farms in 2005 now reduced to 4,834 in 2023. 

The Liberal Democrats called for the government to change course and axe the Family Farm Tax, arguing that it may be the “final nail in the coffin” for local farmers and the small businesses who rely on them. 

Commenting on the data, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: 

“British farmers are the backbone of the economy, yet successive governments have done nothing but neglect them. Farmers look after our countryside and feed the nation, and without them we would be worse off. 

“Under the Conservatives’ watch, farmers struggled with botched trade deals and rocketing energy bills. Unfortunately, the current Government seems content on maintaining the Conservatives’ appalling track record on farming. The Family Farm Tax may be the final nail in the coffin for many farmers.

“The Liberal Democrats understand the importance of farming communities to the rest of the country, and will continue to fight tooth and nail to back farmers and rural areas.”

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

First reported exclusively by LBC this morning.

The House of Commons Library data on the Number & Size of Commercial Holding Farms, Since 2005 can be found here.