Incomes from commercial farms in Scotland have gone up in 2017-18, however the latest annual figures shows that agriculture is still dependent on farm subsidies. The average farm income has risen 19 per cent to £35,400, the highest level over the last six years.
This upward trend from the previous year shows that the industry is continuing to recover from the low average income of £16,800 in 2015-16. Dairy farms experienced the largest increase of average income at £73,100. This increase in income was largely due to a 22 per cent increase in the average price of milk, to £0.28 per litre.
The latest statistics published by the Chief Statistician today also show the costs of raw materials to farms and the produce they sell both increased. Subsidy payments from the EU play an important role in farm incomes. Over 60 per cent of farms in the survey were making a loss without subsidy, with the average business making a loss of £7,400 without support.
Contract farming and diversification have helped offset losses from farming activity. Farms that had expanded beyond traditional agricultural work, such as renting out buildings or holidays homes and building small wind farms to generate electricity, had incomes that were around £19,600 higher compared to those that have not diversified.
However, for farms where diversification and contract farming opportunities are reduced, such as sheep farms and beef farms in Less Favoured Areas (LFA), they continue the historical trend of having the lowest incomes. For these farms subsidies play an important role and are estimated to be making a loss of £27,400 without support.
There was an increase in the percentage of farms that could pay unpaid labour more than the minimum agricultural wage (MAW). Incomes from 60 per cent of farm businesses in the survey were able to pay the minimum agricultural wage or more to unpaid labour.
The average net worth of Scottish farm businesses is estimated at £1.3 million. The amount of assets held by farms has decreased slightly over the previous three years, while the amount of debt has risen slightly. However, the average debt levels are fairly low with liabilities equal to 12 per cent of the value of assets, indicating no immediate concerns with the rising levels of debt.
These statistics are based on annual audits of nearly 500 commercial farms in Scotland called the Farm Business Survey (FBS). The survey collects a range of data on the financial health of the farm using the farms accounts. This report focuses on the 2017 crop year.
The financial information collected from the survey is used to estimate the financial health of the farms and the earnings of those who rely on the income from the farm, such as the farmer and spouse. This is called unpaid labour as they do not get paid a regular wage.
The survey only collects data on farms that are eligible for subsidies and does not include data from small farms or sectors such as pig, poultry and horticulture farming which do not get additional funding.
The figures released today were produced by statistical staff in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practise for Official Statistics.
NFU Scotland Director of Policy, Jonnie Hall said: “Although based on survey data relating to 500 commercial farms, the annual FBI figures always provide a very good barometer of how well Scottish agriculture is fairing in the face of a range of pressures.
“The headline figures of continued increases in average farm incomes is welcome news. However, scratch the surface, and the vulnerability of many farm types, notably beef and sheep producers in our Less Favoured Areas, remains a significant concern and underlines the fact that the Scottish agricultural industry continues to find itself in a dark corridor of uncertainty.
“Reliance on support payments, together with increasing diversification, are symptomatic of farming enterprises that cannot rely on adequate and stable returns from the marketplace to offset costs that continually creep upwards.
“Add in that increased farm debt is likely to be feeding working capital and cash flow needs, rather than investment, then questions have to be asked about the confidence and financial resilience of many farm and crofting businesses as they face what may be very turbulent times ahead.
“These FBI figures are also another clear indicator that all sectors of Scottish agriculture require a more certain and much fairer margin as the first and most important link in the supply chain to a food and drink sector that continues to grow steadily in value.
“What is unequivocal is that Scottish agriculture is in clear need of a new policy settlement that enables every farm business to adapt to a new operating environment, through innovation and investment, to deliver the highest quality food as well as a flourishing environment and thriving rural communities.”
Background
This publication is used to inform, monitor and evaluate European, UK and Scottish agricultural policy. It contains farm business level estimates of average incomes for the accounting year 2017-18, relating to the 2017 crop year. Other financial indicators are also presented.
Farm Business Income (FBI) is the headline business-level measure of farm income, or profit, in Scotland. FBI represents the total income available to all unpaid labour and their capital invested in the business. Returns from diversified activities are included in overall FBI. FBI figures are derived from the results of the Farm Business Survey (FBS). The Farm Business Survey does not include information on small farms or pig, poultry and horticulture sectors.
Total Income From Farming (TIFF) released in January 2019 is an estimate of national-level farm incomes and is based on calendar years.
The full statistical publication is available at https://www.gov.scot/stats/bulletins/01331/
An Infographic summary of this news release is available to download in .png and .pdf format. This can be viewed at https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Agriculture-Fisheries/Graphics
The primary use of FBS data is to inform policy decisions and to help monitor and evaluate current policies, especially their impact on different agricultural sectors. FBS results also contribute to the compilation of Total Income from Farming (TIFF) estimates.
The data is used to meet the European requirements of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The FADN is the only source of micro-economic data that is harmonised across all EU countries and is used for the formulation and evaluation of agricultural policy.
The prominent profile of FBS in policy issues relates to the nature of the information collected and the scarcity of alternative sources.
Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/About
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