<P> Agriculture in the United Kingdom uses 69% of the country's land area, employs 1.5% of its workforce (476,000 people) and contributes 0.62% of its gross value added (£ 9.9 billion). The UK produces less than 60% of the food it eats . Although agricultural activity occurs in most rural locations, it is concentrated in East Anglia (crops) and the South West (livestock). Of the 212,000 farm holdings, there is a wide variation in size from under 20 to over 100 hectares . </P> <P> Despite skilled farmers, high technology, fertile soil and subsidies, farm earnings are relatively low, mainly due to low prices at the farm gate . Low earnings, high land prices and a shortage of let farmland discourage young people from joining the industry . The average age of the British farm holder is now 59 . </P>

How many farms are there in the uk