From the archives: Arable farming, 2 August, 1933

THE Scottish National Development Council within the past few weeks have published reports concerning the milk industry and the 
poultry industry in Scotland.

Following on these come a report on arable farming in Scotland. In a depression such as has overtaken the industry at the present time, the report points out that such practices 
as liming, fencing and drainage become less frequent, and that retrenchment, not development, becomes the watchword. 
Such a policy, it is stated, must lead to a greater difficulty in the preparation for a return to normal times. Part II of the report, which deals with home-grown feedingstuffs, states that there has been during the past few years a great shrinkage in the acreage of arable land in Scotland. Under present conditions there appears to be no possibility of material increase in the demand for home crops for human food or for use in industry.

• archive.scotsman.com