As land appreciated in value, these owner farmers were in a far better position than tenants who were wholly dependant upon their profits. Farmers introduced combine harvesters, electric milking machines and tractors. Those keeping cattle began to make silage for winter fodder. Unfortunately, this intensification also saw an acceleration in the rate of hedge removal. Today the Common Agricultural Policy restricts milk production and so more arable crops are grown, even flax, oilseed rape and maize.
Market gardening continues, although most produce is sent by road.
Daffodils and narcissi are sent from Mount's Bay farms to be sold in January and February, closely following those from the Isles of Scilly. Some farms produce thousands of tonnes of potatoes for crisp manufacturers. The designation of the northern part of the Penwith peninsula as an Environmentally Sensitive Area offers protection to the ancient field patterns and subsidies to farmers to operate their holdings in as traditional a manner as is feasible. Smallholdings also contribute to the area s economy by growing organic vegetables and keeping rare breeds such as Jacob sheep and Dexter cattle. Sadly, some farms have gone to the wall, the families concerned saving their livelihoods only by selling up or converting barns to permanent dwellings or workshops.