Farm income falls by £20 million

Jan 28 2010

Low cereal and crop prices contributed to a £20 million drop in farm income across Scotland, according to official estimates.

The value of wheat, barley, potatoes and oilseed rape all fell, wiping out an increase in the livestock sector. It represents a 3% overall fall to £589 million in the past year.

But income has doubled since 1998, recovering to 60% of peak prices of 1995 - just before the impact of BSE and foot and mouth disease. The figures were disclosed in the annual Scottish Farm Income Estimates, which published trends from 1973 to 2009.