The Scottish Government said the results from the June Agricultural Census 2026 have been published and they show that 66,100 people worked on agricultural holdings in Scotland in 2026, 700 fewer than in 2025.

The Census said the number of cattle increased for the first time since 2021 — but the total soft fruit growing area in Scotland was 1,800 hectares, 10% below the five-year average and its lowest level since 2015, largely due to a decrease in strawberry production.

In 2026, there were 1.67 million cattle, an increase of 0.7% compared with last year and 1.3% below the five-year average of 2021 to 2025.

Annual increases in male cattle, female beef cattle and calves offset a fall in female dairy cattle.

The number of pigs also increased for the first time since 2022 to 327,700. This was 4.9% more than last year and 1.2% below the five-year average.

Other livestock results show there were 6.50 million sheep, 0.5% less than last year and 2.2% below the five-year average, and 11.88 million poultry, 4.4% less than last year.

The area used to grow winter crops (wheat, winter barley and winter oats) increased by 6.9% compared with the five-year average, while spring planted crops (spring barley and spring oats) decreased by 16%.

This was largely driven by a 17% reduction in spring barley compared with the five-year average.