Agriculture of Great Britain

     Agriculture of Great Britain 

     Agriculture, one of Britain's most important industries, supplies nearly two-thirds of the country's food. British agriculture is efficient, for it is based on modern technology and research. Modern machines: tractors, combines and other equipment are used on British farms.

     Nearly 80 % of the land is used for agriculture( about 45.000.000 acres).

     Britain is self-sufficient in milk, eggs, to a very great extent in meat, potatoes, wheat. However, it needs to import butter, cheese, sugar.

     There are about 55 000 farms in Britain. They are not large. The main types of farming are: pastoral, arable, mixed(Small farms  are usually mixed farms on which farms grow crops and keep animals as well). 60 % of farms are developed mainly to dairying or beef cattle and sheep.  Milk production is of the first importance in the structure of British agriculture. Pig breeding is carried on in most areas .

     Arable farms are mainly in the eastern part of the country. The main cereal crops in Great Britain are wheat, barley and oats.

     Great Britain produces different kinds of fruit: apples, pears, cherries, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries and others. Potatoes are grown for sale, for fodder and for seed.

     The average age of British farmer is 59.British farmers are working hard to earn their living, to maximize the yield and minimize the cost of production, to supply the population of the country with various foodstuffs of high quality, to ensure further progress in all agricultural branches.

     The high cost of entry into farming presents a significant barrier. Land prices in the United Kingdom are high.