Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2020-2021

Livestock farms are more reliant on support payments

Support payments play an important role in farm income. Around 81 per cent of all farms made a profit in 2020-21. Without support this would decrease to 37 per cent of all farms.

The importance of support payments varies by farm type. With support there is less variation in the proportion of farms that break even (have income greater than zero). Without support far fewer livestock farms make any profit, especially those in less favoured areas.