When asked what a "blackberry" was, 82% of 16 to 24-year-olds said they would be most likely to think instantly of a smartphone, the survey for the Environment Department suggested.

Farming Minister David Heath said there was a "huge level of disengagement from the countryside" as the survey found more than half of adults (55%) have not visited a farm in the past 10 years.

And just one in 10 (11%) of the 2114 adults polled saw farming as the career they would most like to work in, compared with 51% who favoured being a doctor, lawyer or teacher.

The poll was conducted as Mr Heath meets young people to talk about the barriers to their future in agriculture, as part of the Future of Farming Group which is examining issues affecting new entrants into the farming industry.

He said: "I want more young people to think about farming as a thriving, cutting-edge industry that values the bright ideas talented young people can bring."

The Future for Farming Group is set to report in the summer on issues such as the different entry routes into farming and the challenges facing new entrants including lack of training and access to capital.