Farming News - Rise in farming incomes as highest productivity ever is recorded

Rise in farming incomes as highest productivity ever is recorded

Total farming income and productivity are on the rise, latest estimates for 2017 show.
 
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Total income from farming is the profit from all UK farms in a calendar year, measuring the return to all businesses for their management, labour and capital invested.
 
First estimates published today show total income from farming rose by £1,683 million from 2016 to 2017, an increase of 41%. The £5,742 million estimated for 2017 highlights farming remains a profitable and rewarding business for established farmers and new entrants who are in a strong position ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU.
 
The increased productivity recorded in 2017 also shows farmers are producing more with less, which suggests they are using smarter more efficient methods and embracing innovation. The volume of all outputs increased by 3.6% compared to 2016 whilst the volume of all inputs increased by just 0.7%.
 
A strong harvest in 2017 helped to drive productivity higher for 2017, with a 7.3% increase in the volume of all crops estimated. Livestock outputs for meat and other products also rose by 1.8% from 2016. More productive farming across all sectors is directly benefitting farmers’ bank balances as the total income from farming per person engaged in entrepreneurial labour in the sector rose by 41% in real terms to £29,794 a year.
 
Farming Minister George Eustice said:
 
“Estimates show 2017 was a good year for the farming industry, in particular those in the arable and livestock sectors. Whilst the increase in farm gate prices has helped, it’s also encouraging to see signs that productivity is on the up.
 
“Farming is a volatile business and individual businesses will face many different challenges in a year, but these estimates show an industry that is ready to make the most of the opportunities leaving the EU will present.”

NFU Deputy President Guy Smith said: “This is positive news for the farming sector and very clearly demonstrates the significant contribution agriculture makes to the wider economy.

“As the NFU prepares to submit its consultation response to government on a future farming policy, these newly released figures provide further evidence that a new agricultural policy must allow farm businesses to be productive, profitable and progressive.

“The increased profitability of our sector is particularly good news, as farmers have experienced a full year of higher commodity prices due to the devaluation of the pound which occurred after the EU referendum.

“It is important to remember that this rise comes after three years of falling profits and margins, and increased price volatility for many across the industry. However, the NFU is concerned whether this performance can be sustained in future years.

“In addition to the effects of the recent wet weather, the cost base of the industry has been rising. Some farm commodity sectors are also witnessing falls from the recent historic highs seen in 2017. Milk price, for example, has fallen nearly 8% in the past three months.

“Lower farm gate prices will feed through to a lower bottom line for 2018 and it would be reckless to draw from these figures that farming is entering a period of sustained profitability.

“In order to put farmers in the best position to continue producing food for the nation, this sort of volatility needs to be addressed in future agricultural policies. The NFU believes that with the right government policies, Britain’s farmers can continue this impressive performance.”