The Best of the Bureau/The_Best_of_the_Bureau_Bureau_Development_Inc._1992.iso/dp/0050/00502.txt

Text File | 1992-08-07 | 29KB | 506 lines

$Unique_ID{bob00502}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{United Kingdom
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Subject{scotland
industry
million
oil
development
cent
per
scottish
wind
british}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Title:       United Kingdom
Book:        Scotland
Author:      Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Date:        1990

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Agriculture

     Some 80 per cent of the total land area of Scotland is devoted to
agriculture, but of this only about a quarter is suitable for cultivation, the
remainder being rough grazing. Hill and upland farms account for about two-
thirds of the agricultural area; the hill farms supply young stock for
fattening in the richer pastures of the lowlands and the lowland farms provide
winter feed for the hill farms. Dairying is concentrated in the south-west,
where rainfall is relatively high, and in parts of central Scotland. Most
arable farms are in the drier eastern areas, where the most fertile soil is to
be found. In 1987 the agricultural labour force numbered about 60,000,
including full-time, part-time and casual workers as well as self-employed
farmers. Gross agricultural output was valued at 1,380 million Pounds.

     The arable farms are highly productive; barley, used in the manufacture
of whisky and beer, is the principal crop. Scotland's cattle industry has a
world-wide reputation, both for the quality of meat and for pedigree breeds
such as Aberdeen Angus and Highland, and there are substantial sales of beef,
mutton and lamb to England and exports to other countries in the European
Community. The average dairy herd of about 80 cows, with Ayrshires and
Friesians predominating, is the largest among European Community countries.
Production of poultrymeat has been expanding for a number of years. There is
a limited area suitable for horticultural production, but the areas where
raspberries are commercially grown in the Tayside Region are among the largest
in the world.

     In 1987 the Government introduced a farm diversification scheme, which
was extended in August 1988 to provide farmers with assistance for feasibility
studies and marketing. A farm woodland scheme to encourage alternative uses of
farmland was introduced in 1988. In addition, the European Community 'set
aside' scheme offers compensation to farmers willing to take at least 20 per
cent of their land carrying surplus arable crops out of production for a
period of five years.

     Crofting agriculture, mainly in the Highland Region and the northern and
western islands, is carried out by some 14,000 crofters (smallholders), who
have traditionally supplemented their incomes from other forms of employment
such as fishing, knitting weaving, and, more recently, from tourism. The
Crofters Commission is responsible for the regulation of crofting and
administers a special system of grants. Crofters have security of tenure and
since 1976 have been legally entitled to acquire ownership of their crofts.

     Five farming areas in Scotland, which are of particular importance for
their landscape, historic interest and wildlife, have been designated as
'environmentally sensitive areas. They include Breadalbane (in Tayside) and
the Machair of the Uists and associated islands in the Western Isles. Farmers
in these areas are offered agrements under which they receive payments for
farming along traditional lines intended to conserve the character of the
area.

     An expanding food and drinks industry (see also p 22) includes jams,
soups, oatcakes and shortbread, and game p;at*es, which are exported to many
parts of the world.

     The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, founded nearly
two centuries ago, has been influential in spreding modern agricultural
knowledge and practice, and its annual Royal Highland Show, held near
Edinburgh, provides a showplace for the Scottish agricultural industry. The
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland finances the national
Scottish agricultural colleges, which carry out development work and provide
an advisory service in addition to their educational functions. Five Scottish
agricultural research institutes, also funded by the Department, make a
significant contribution to, and where appropriate lead, agricultural research
and development in Britain.

Forestry

     Forestry makes a significant contribution both to the economy and to the
environment. Most new planting in Great Britain, both by the Forestry
Commission and by the private sector, takes place in Scotland, much of it
in the upland and mountain areas. Because of the difficult nature of the
terrain - and because industrial demand is mainly for softwoods - the
planting programme consists largely of conifers. There are 996,000 hectares
(2.46 million acres) of forest in Scotland, of which about 546,000 hectares
(1.3 million acres) are owned by the Commission and about 470,000 hectares
(about 1.16 million acres) are privately owned. Conservation of the
environment and recreational provision are high priorities for the Commission,
and its four forest parks have proved an important tourist attraction. In
January 1989 the Government announced a major initiative designed to improve
the environment of central Scotland by encouraging the planting of a wide
range of new woodlands, particularly amenity and community woodland, in the
area between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Fishing

     The fishing industry has traditionally been of major importance to
Scotland and is still a significant source of employment, especially in the
northeast and in some of the remoter areas, where there are limited
alternative employment opportunities. Scottish boats land about 72 per cent
by weight and 62 per cent by value of all fish landed in Britain by British
vessels. There are about 8,500 fishermen, employed on some 2,260 vessels.
Many more people are employed in processing and other ancillary activities
such as boat building and net making. In 1987 the total value of the Scottish
catch was 274 million Pounds, mainly comprising haddock (72 million Pounds),
shellfish (56 million Pounds), cod (49 million Pounds) and mackerel (19
million Pounds). In terms of the value of landings the principal ports are
Peterhead and Aberdeen, both of which are very modern white-fish ports. Most
of the mackerel catch is landed or trans-shipped at Ullapool, and Lerwick is
the main herring port.

     The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland maintains a
civilian fishery protection fleet and two civilian surveillance aircraft as
well as using a Royal Navy vessel which operates mainly in the North Sea.

     Fishing for salmon and sea trout is also important to Scotland, both
commercially and in relation to tourism. Fishing for brown trout and other
freshwater fish is also a very popular sport. Fish and shellfish farming
continues to make a significant contribution to Scotland's social and
economic development. In particular, the salmon farming sector, which is
located mainly in the Highlands and Islands, has grown considerably over
recent years. It now provides more than 1,200 jobs, many of which are in
areas where alternative sources of employment are difficult to find. There
has also been significant growth in shellfish farming, based on mussel
production, but now developing in other areas, including oysters, clams and
scallops. The Government has provided over 25 million Pounds to the various
sectors of the fish farming industry through the Highlands and Islands
Development Board.

     Government fisheries research and development is carried out by the
Marine Laboratory at Aberdeen and the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory at
Pitlochry.

Energy and Water Resources

     Scotland is rich in energy, and important new sources have been developed
in the present century, including hydro-electric power, North Sea