Livestock statistics for Fife: EIR release

Information requested

Farming data and policy information relating to livestock, crops and feed import in Fife.

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the spreadsheet format you asked for as detailed below.

• The total number of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry in Fife, as recorded in the most recent Scottish Agricultural Census (2023 or 2024).

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in Table 1, which is attached to this email.

• Any available data on the trends or changes in livestock numbers in Fife over the past five years.

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in Table 1, which is attached to this email.

• Information on the types of cattle and sheep (e.g., beef vs. dairy, specific breeds) being farmed in Fife.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in Table 1, which is attached to this email. The agricultural census does not holding information on specific breeds of cattle and sheep and therefore this information is not provided.

• Total number of farms in Fife

The answer to your question is that there were 1,343 agricultural holdings in Fife in 2023. A time series going back to 2017 of the number of holdings can be found in Table 1.

• The number of animals kept on each farm, if available. This includes data on various types of livestock such as cattle, sheep, poultry, etc.

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in Tables 2 to 7, which are attached to this email.

• Any reports or assessments related to the environmental impact of livestock farming in Fife.

Some of the information you have requested is available from UK local authority and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics, 2005 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
Within the link above Table 1:1 "Local Authority territorial greenhouse gas emissions estimates 2005-2022 (kt CO2e)", includes an estimate of GHGS from livestock for Fife.

• The quantity of animal feed imported into Fife over the past 5 years.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in Table 8, which is attached to this email. We do not know of data specific to Fife, however Scotland figures have been provided in Table 8. This data comes from HM Revenues and Customs (https://www.uktradeinfo.com/trade-data/).

• The primary sources or countries from which this feed is imported.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in Table 10, which is attached to this email. We do not know of data specific to Fife, however Scotland figures for this data has been provided. This data comes from HM Revenues and Customs.

• Any relevant reports or statistics on regional animal feed imports.

I enclose Table 9 which provides further information on the monetary value of animal feed imports, by quarter. As with the other import data we do not hold information for specific regions, however we can provide Scotland level information.

• A list of crop types grown in Fife that are used for animal feed.

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in Table 1, which is attached to this email.

• Any available statistics on the quantity of these crops produced in recent years.

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in Table 1, which is attached to this email.

• Information on any local or regional agricultural policies or practices related to the cultivation of these crops for animal feed.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing this part of your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The reasons why that exception applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

ANNEX

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

The Scottish Government does not have the information

Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), the Scottish Government is not required to provide information which it does not have. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because the main policy relating to land and crops is the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening, however there is no specific requirements on the crops grown or end uses. A link to information on the Basic Payment Scheme can be found here: Basic Payment Scheme (ruralpayments.org).

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about local / regional policies on the production of crops for animal feed in Fife, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

EIR 202400429730 - Information released - Annex

File type

Excel document

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92.5 kB