Structure of the agricultural industry: survey notes and guidance

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for collecting and publishing a range of statistics about the structure of the farming industry in England and the UK.

Land use and livestock data has many uses, from assisting with animal disease control processes to providing information which is used for management of UK and international cereals markets. The information we gather is used heavily by government and policy makers to help formulate decisions, plan future policies and priorities. The farming industry, stakeholders, local government, academics and others also rely on our statistics to help make decisions, plan for the future and conduct research.

We have a commitment to reduce the burden on data suppliers and where possible use administrative data, such as information from the cattle tracing system. However, where this administrative data is not available, we do run regular surveys of English farmers to collect the necessary information.

Farm Surveys Privacy Notice

Defra is committed to the responsible handling and security of personal data. Your privacy is important to us and protected in law through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA2018). For details of how Defra Farming Statistics manages your personal data please see our privacy notice below:

Farm Surveys Privacy Notice (ODT, 50.6 KB)

June survey of agriculture and horticulture in England

The June survey of agriculture and horticulture is run on 1 June each year across England. A full census is conducted every ten years when all active commercial farms in England are asked to complete the survey, in other year’s a sample survey is run.

The collection of the information is important and is mandatory under the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979.1979.

More information about how the June agricultural survey data is collected and analysed is available below.

June survey of agriculture and horticulture in England - methodology (ODT, 64.6 KB)

Farms are classified using standard farm types (e.g. cereals, dairy, horticulture) so the impact of changes that might affect some types of farm more than others can be analysed. From 2010 these farm types are classified using an economic measure called standard outputs. Standard outputs measure the total value of the output of any one enterprise per head for livestock or per hectare for crops. More information on standard outputs is available below:

June survey standard outputs and farm types (PDF, 180 KB, 13 pages)

Completing the June survey of agriculture and horticulture

If selected, you will receive your survey form by post or by email invitation on or shortly after 1 June 2024.2026. You should answer the survey questions as of 1 June 2024.2026.

Using our online system is an easy, secure and convenient option that can be used anywhere, anytime. If you receive a paper form you can still respond online, instructions of how to do this are provided on the front of your survey form.

The following documents will help you fill out your survey.

Frequently asked questions (ODT, 8382.9 KB)

Guidance notes (ODT, 12.2 KB)

If you need help completing the survey our helpline is available from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. Please phone 03000 600 140 or email surveys@defra.gov.uk

Users and uses of the June survey of agriculture and horticulture

More information about who uses the information from the June survey of agriculture and horticulture and what they use it for is available below:

Users and uses of the June survey of agriculture and horticulture (ODT, 6.89 KB)

December pig survey

This is a small sample survey of farms that keep pigs. It is used to estimate the size of the pig herd in England at 1 December each year. Information for cattle and sheep is taken from administrative systems to give an overview of livestock numbers in England at 1 December.

Farm structure survey

Defra will continue to produce structure of the agriculture statistics in line with the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Statistics and in accordance with other international statistical requirements. The June survey of agriculture and horticulture will remain the main source of information, Every three years or so, when more detailed information is required the June survey of agriculture and horticulture will again be extended to collect other information (e.g. on the workforce, farm practices or diversified activities), or additional surveys run.

Annual sheep and goat inventory

Defra conducts an annual inventory of sheep and goat keepers for livestock tracing and identification purposes. In England the inventory is held on 1 December each year. Sheep and goat keepers in England will receive either a paper form or an email request to complete their inventory in late November. The inventory can be completed online here.

Since 2010 the information collected by the inventory is used to estimate the size of the English sheep flock at 1 December. More information about the use of the sheep and goat inventory for estimating sheep populations is available below:

Use of the sheep and goat inventory for estimating sheep populations (PDF, 114 KB, 6 pages)

Cattle populations

The Cattle Tracing System (CTS), which records births, movements and deaths of cattle in Great Britain, is used to estimate the number of cattle on agricultural holdings on 1 June and 1 December each year. The information is published alongside other survey data to give a complete picture of the structure of the agricultural industry in England. More details about the use of the CTS data in estimating cattle populations is available below:

Use of cattle tracing system data for estimating cattle populations (PDF, 169 KB, 24 pages)