Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2022-2023

Farm business level estimates of average incomes for 2022-2023. An Accredited Official Statistics publication for Scotland.


Average livestock farm income fell

The average livestock farm is the weighted average of Less Favoured Areas (LFA) specialist cattle, LFA sheep, LFA cattle and sheep, and lowland livestock farms.

In 2022-23 the income of the average livestock farm fell 10% from the previous year. The fall in income was largest for the average lowland livestock farm where income decreased by 43% to £19,600.

LFA cattle was the only type of livestock farm that saw growth in income. LFA cattle farms incomes rose by 8% to £30,700. A 286%, or £4,600 increase in crop by-products, forage and cultivations output along with increases in milk and milk products and cattle outputs contributed to an overall rise in average income for LFA cattle farms.

Figure 6: Average farm business income, livestock and all farms, 2012-13 to 2022-23. 2022-23 prices.

A line graph showing the farm income of livestock farm types over time, compared to all farms. LFA cattle and lowland cattle and sheep are shown, along with a line for the average livestock farm.

In 2022-23 outputs from other livestock farms were outpaced by rising input costs and decreases in support payments.

Table 6: Average farm business income (FBI) and ten-year average, livestock farms, 2021-22 and 2022-23. 2022-23 prices

Type of Farms

2021-22 FBI (£)

2022-23 FBI (£)

Percentage change 

Ten-year average

(2013-14 to 2022-23)

LFA sheep

12,200

11,300

-7%

14,700

LFA cattle

28,300

30,700

  8%

25,100

LFA cattle and sheep

37,800

27,400

-27%

33,100

Lowland cattle and sheep

34,200

19,600

-43%

25,600

Average livestock

26,700

   23,900

-10%

24,100

Livestock farms in less favoured areas (LFA) have low but stable incomes compared to other farm types.

Contact

agric.stats@gov.scot

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