ABSTRACT
This chapter examines trends in key indicators of the structure and economic health of English agriculture, including farm size, farm type and income. The declining number of holdings is also indicative of a land consolidation process whereby farm sizes are increasing as farmers look to take advantage of new technologies and increase their economies of scale. Farm businesses face a number of challenges in seeking to ensure a profit from their operations. Low commodity prices and losses on agricultural products mean that, in many cases, the viability of the farm business is heavily dependent on income from the Basic Payment Scheme, agri-environment work and diversified activities. M. Shucksmith and V. Herrmann, for instance, explored differences between farm households based on a series of variables relating to farm and farm household characteristics, farmer attitudes and farmer socialisation. Low returns from agriculture are also driving many farm households to seek income away from the farm.
