Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture, 2016

4.3 Other crops

4.3.1 Income from oilseed rape ( Table A3)

Chart 4.7: Average annual output price for oilseed rape 2005 to 2015

The average output price for oilseed rape increased steadily between 2005 and 2012, from £126 per tonne to £370 per tonne, with a notable decrease in 2009. In both 2013 and 2014, the output price fell, with a partial recovery estimated in 2015 by £9 per tonne (up four per cent). The combined effect of both a small increase in production by 1,000 tonnes (one per cent) and price by £9 per tonne resulted in an increase in value of £2 million (up five per cent).

4.3.2 Income from potatoes ( Table A4)

Potatoes generally account for around seven per cent of total farm output, with sales in 2015 being estimated at £167m.

Table A4 shows the components of the output valuation for potatoes. In 2015, main-crop ware potatoes accounted for an estimated 665,000 tonnes (64 per cent) of output, and seed potatoes 272,000 tonnes (26 per cent) - both these tonnages show decreases from 2014, main-crop ware decreased by 94,000 tonnes (12 per cent) and seed potatoes were down 19,000 tonnes (six per cent).

Chart 4.8: Average annual output prices for potatoes 2005 to 2015

The free-market price of ware potatoes fluctuated between 2005 and 2015. The price rose steadily from 2005 to 2007 before stabilising in 2008. This was followed by a 35 per cent drop in price in 2009 to levels similar to 2005, around £100 per tonne, after which a consistent price growth followed, peaking at £200 per tonne in 2013. In the latest two years, the prices have fallen by about 31 per cent from their peak in 2013 to an estimated £140 per tonne.

The price of seed potatoes has been more stable, with a general upward trend and only small year-to-year fluctuations but with falls since 2013, giving provisional price estimate of £240 per tonne in 2015.

In 2015, the overall output value of potatoes decreased by £20 million (11 per cent), with decreases in overall production of 124,000 tonnes (11 per cent) accounted for mainly by ware potatoes.

4.3.3 Income from vegetables ( Table A4)

Vegetables generally account for around four per cent of total farm output, with sales in 2015 being estimated at £116m. The valuation of vegetables is comprised of many different crops. Table A4 shows information for the key crops.

Over the past ten years, the output value of vegetables has increased by £48 million (72 per cent) to £116 million in 2015. Carrots were the most valuable vegetable crop in Scotland, with a value of £29 million in 2015, double the 2005 value of £13 million, with increased areas (up 49 per cent) and prices (up 22 per cent) driving this longer term trend. Turnips and swedes were the second largest vegetable crop in 2015 in terms of production (55,000 tonnes) though not in value (£11 million, compared to peas at £12 million). After a sharp increase in 2013, the value of turnips and swedes halved in 2014 and remained low in 2015.

Chart 4.9: Average annual output prices for carrots and turnips & swedes, 2005 to 2015

4.3.4 Income from fruit ( Table A4)

Fruit generally accounts for around three per cent of total farm output. Over the past ten years the output value of soft fruit has increased by £68 million (112 per cent) to an estimated £128 million in 2015.

Table A4 shows that in 2015, strawberries accounted for £95 million (74 per cent of the overall value of soft fruit) and raspberries £15 million (12 per cent).

Over the past decade the value of strawberries has increased by £56 million (144 per cent). This was mostly due to an 18,000 tonne (127 per cent) increase in production, along with an increase in average prices of £212 per tonne (eight per cent).

The value of raspberries decreased by £0.5 million (three per cent) over the same period, with estimated production now lower than in 2005 and considerably lower than in 2007 to 2009, but prices are now 36 per cent higher, even after the large fall in price seen in 2014.

Chart 4.10: Average annual output prices for raspberries and strawberries 2005 to 2015