History of countryside and agriculture 1960AD

UK Countryside history - 1960 AD

Another technological revolution was underway as agriculture pursued increased output and greater security of supply. With rationing still fresh in the public's mind, the industry responded to government initiatives derived from the 1947 Agriculture Act. Improved stock and plant breeding, the greater use of fertiliser and pesticides and a move away from more extensive forms of production saw yields rise.

Population
52 million largely urban based.
Crops
Plant breeding, machanisation and agronomy all led to improved yields with wheat up 35% in a decade to an average of 4 tonnes per hectare. Inputs of purchased fertiliser and pesticide complimented a growing understanding of the science of crop production. Operations were increasingly mechanised and the arable labour force declined. But in this climate of supported prices the quest for profit encouraged some farmers to turn their back on good practice and shelve rotations. Known as the barley barons they resorted to continuously grown barley - a practice that was common in the 1970's.
Livestock
Silage as a conserved feedstuff was replacing hay and breeding initiatives in the beef and dairy sectors saw the demise of dual purpose animals in favour of higher output specialised breeds. Grants for farmers encouraged mechanisation and the development of larger more intensive livestock buildings. The practice of most farms maintaining a few pigs and beef animals declined in favour of more specialised units and factory farming began.
Farming Systems
Agriculture was supported by various Acts, initially the 1947 Agriculture Act and grant funding and price support greatly empowered the modern era of agriculture with new technology, specialisation, improved breeding and management all pushing output in the new revolution. Not all was well however, and Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" paved the way for a wider concern about farming and the environment. In 1972 Britain joined the EEC and after a transitional period agricultural policy fell within the remit of the CAP which encouraged wasteful surpluses and amidst only slow reform widened the gulf between agriculture and consumer.
Woodland & Hedges
Ancient woodland made way for agriculture and forestry fueled by government initiatives and a significant proportion was lost between 1950 and 1970. Hedgerows suffered a similar fate and thousands of miles were lost in the search for an efficiency and food sufficiency that the post war policy makers sought. While the enclosure of land and planting of hedges centuries earlier had been often deeply unpopular, so the removal of the same hedges in the interests of efficiency was also to prove no less controversial. In 1965 dutch elm disease revisited and within two decades most of the countryside's most important hedgerow tree was lost.
Social Economy
Agriculture was still an important industry in the economy and represented some 3% of GDP, but where output was rapidly rising on the back of new technology and mechanisation the agricultural workforce declined and rural depopulation resulted.
Climate
Slightly cooler than today.

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