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Farmers: Income

Volume 489: debated on Tuesday 17 March 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average farm income was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. (261355)

Information on the average farm business income and net farm income in England, since 1997 is shown in the table.

£

March to February each year

Average farm business income (per farm)

Average net farm income (per farm)

1997-98

n/a

15,200

1998-99

n/a

11,500

1999-2000

n/a

8,700

2000-01

n/a

10,600

2001-02

n/a

14,900

2002-03

n/a

16,600

2003-04

36,800

29,500

2004-05

28,300

21,200

2005-06

28,600

21,100

2006-07

34,400

26,700

2007-08

48,100

38,600

Note:

1. Farm business income is the headline measure of the profitability of farm businesses. It represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings. It is not available for years before 2003-04 given the way that data were recorded in earlier years.

Source:

Farm Business Survey1

1 The FBS sample covers businesses with a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of at least 0.5, i.e. a size considered sufficient to occupy a farmer for at least half their time.

Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. It is net of an imputed rental charge on owned land and an imputed charge for other unpaid labour.