The Changing Pattern of Agriculture in England and Wales

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the changing pattern of agriculture in England and Wales. In England and Wales, the 1920s was a period of depression, while the 1930s is termed as a period of sober hope. The Land Drainage Act, 1930, amended and consolidated the enactments relating to the drainage of land and indirectly drew attention to the very serious loss of production, which resulted from large areas of undrained or poorly drained land. The introduction of the combine grain drill awakened interest in the use of fertilizers. Grants to societies for milk recording were taken up much more slowly, but by 1939, some 200,000 cows in 5,000 herds were being recorded under the official scheme. This chapter relates mainly to the last decade and covers a succession of years of unusual stress, a world war, and the earlier years of an uneasy peace. The chapter also presents a brief outline of agriculture in England and Wales from 1921 to 1938. The periods from 1939 to 1945 and 1945 to 1950 are covered. Some comparative figures are included to illustrate certain wartime changes in land use and livestock production.