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.


Dairy farm income continues to rise

Average income for dairy farms was £248,700 in 2022-23. This is the highest value in the time series and an increase of 42% from the previous year.

Figure 3: Average farm business income, dairy and all farms, 2012-13 to 2022-23. 2022-23 prices.

A line graph showing the farm income of dairy farms over time, compared to all farms.

Agricultural output increased by 26%, which was largely driven by increases in both average milk prices and average yields. Outputs from milk and milk products rose by 26%, or £182,700. Other contributors to the rise in agricultural output were cattle and crop by-products, forage and cultivations. Cattle output increased by £19,200, or 17%, whilst crop by-products, forage and cultivations rose by 234%, or £13,100.

Higher agricultural outputs more than offset large increases in feed and machinery costs.

Table 3: Farm business income (FBI) and contributions to FBI, dairy, 2021-22 and 2022-23. 2022-23 prices.

Measure

2021-22

2022-23

Percentage change

1  Total output (£)

837,600

1,054,100

26%

1a  Agricultural output (£)

834,500

1,051,000

26%

2  Support and grants (£)

44,000

42,800

-3%

3  Total input (£)

721,900

855,000

18%

3b  Agricultural input (£)

720,300

853,500

18%

4  Diversification income (£)

11,400

6,700

-41%

FBI (£) = 1 + 2 + 4 - 3

175,200

248,700

42%

Dairy performance has varied a lot in the last ten years. Dairy farms are sensitive to market prices and experience fluctuating performance.

Dairy farms have a high average income compared with other farm types. However, while some dairy farms make large incomes, others will make a loss. They also have the largest average business size. The average standard labour requirement (SLR) for a dairy farm is 8, compared with an average of 3 across all farm types.

Contact

agric.stats@gov.scot

Back to top