To view, print or download the most recent Agriculture Key Facts information sheet, please select the attachment on this page called 'e24-012-agriculture-in-Shropshire-2008'. The following information is a summary:
Agricultural land use
Agriculture is the predominant land use in Shropshire, amounting to 86% of the total land area. Over one third of the agricultural area is arable, while dairy holdings are mainly concentrated in the north and north-west, with livestock breeding and rearing in the south and south-west.
In 2008, there were 7,026 holdings in Shropshire, an increase of 77 holdings (1.1%) since 2007. The total area of holdings is 274,549 hectares, and of the area covered by holdings:
- 57.5% is grassland (mostly long-term permanent grassland)
- 36.0% is crops and fallow
- 2.9% is farm woodland
- 2.1% is rough grazing
- 1.5% is other (land converted to recreational use and for non-agricultural use such as paths, roads, yards, buildings and ponds)
Farm type
Of the 7,026 agricultural holdings in Shropshire in 2008, 'other' farm types account for the highest proportion of types at 44.9% of all agricultural holdings. These other farm types are holdings which either do not fit well with mainstream agriculture, such as 'specialist mushrooms', 'specialist goats' and 'specialist horses', or which are of limited economic importance, such as 'specialist set-aside', 'specialist grass and forage' and 'non-classifiable holdings'.
The next highest proportion is cattle and sheep (lowland and less favoured areas), which account for 15.6% of agricultural holdings in Shropshire.
Please note that many of the facts and figures available on these pages relate to the administrative area covered by Shropshire Council, and therefore exclude Telford and Wrekin. For information on Telford and Wrekin, please select the link on this page.