NFU Scotland combinable crops policy manager Peter Loggie said: “The cereals area, announced as being the highest since 1998, is up by just over half of 1% from 2013 not quite earth-shattering but certainly an improvement.
“The further decline in the protein beans area more than offset a small increase in protein pea plantings.
“The overall downward trend in production of protein crops is disappointing, and unlikely to improve in light of the Scottish Government’s proposals regarding the management conditions to be attached to such nitrogen fixing crops if they are to qualify for greening.
“The decline in ware potato area is likely to have been offset by higher yields.
“Compared to past years, the seed potato area is stable.”
MFUS poultry policy manager Penny Johnstone said: “Overall poultry numbers were up but the December census will present a far better guide to the health of our egg and broiler sectors.
“The massive restructuring of the chicken processing sector in Scotland in recent months is likely to have a huge short-term impact on broiler numbers going forward.”
NFUS livestock policy manager John Sleigh said: “The decline in overall cattle numbers is sadly a similar trend to previous years.
“The collapse in the beef price in the first half of 2014 along with the uncertainty created by some aspects of the future CAP regime has made a number of cattle businesses take a hard look at numbers.”