England
Defra has released its provisional estimates for farm business
income (FBI) by type of farm in England for 2012/13. It will come
as no great surprise that the 2012 year has not been as profitable
as 2011. The table below shows that all sectors (apart from
poultry) have experienced a fall in incomes. This is largely due to
the weather making it such a difficult growing season, but also
feed cost increases.
Although prices for cereals were higher, average yields were
lower and the issue over quality has been well documented, meaning
the income many received was lower. The wet weather meant spray
costs increased and also fuel due to increased field operations and
drying grain. General cropping farms will also have experienced
similar problems. The substantial increase in potato prices is
expected to offset the fall in yields and output is expected to
actually see an increase. However, growing and harvesting costs are
forecast to have increased by even more,
