An analysis by LandSale has found that the number of agricultural holdings in England has fallen by 14.6% since 2005, highlighting the continued restructuring of the farming sector as some landowners exit the industry and others consolidate their operations.
The specialist property portal, which focuses on real estate including land and farms, analysed the latest UK government agricultural holdings data and compared the number of total holdings and holdings with croppable land between 2005 and 2025 to understand how the structure of England’s agricultural sector has changed over time.
The data shows that the number of agricultural holdings has fallen from 247,500 in 2005 to 211,500 in 2025, a reduction of 14.6%.
These figures highlight the continued movement of agricultural land through the market, with farmers making decisions to retire, sell land, expand existing operations or consolidate their businesses.
While the total number of holdings has fluctuated in recent years, the longer-term trend shows a gradual reduction in the number of agricultural businesses operating across England.
At the same time as farmers continue to make decisions about the future of their land, the closure of property portal UK Land & Farm after 18 years has removed a well-known online marketplace for advertising agricultural property and rural land.
The closure has left many landowners, farmers and rural property professionals looking for alternative ways to reach buyers.
Adam Morris, founder of LandSale, commented: “The agricultural sector has always evolved, with land changing hands as farmers retire, businesses grow and owners make decisions about the future of their assets.
“That process depends on having effective routes to market. When a recognised platform closes, it creates uncertainty for sellers who still need to advertise land and connect with potential buyers.
“What we are seeing is that the need has not disappeared. Farmers and landowners are still looking for ways to sell, and buyers are still looking for opportunities. The market simply needs reliable platforms that understand the unique nature of rural property.
“LandSale was created to provide a dedicated marketplace for landowners, farmers and agents to showcase agricultural land and rural property, helping ensure these opportunities continue to reach the right audience.”
