Scottish farm business income: annual estimates 2022-2023

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.

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

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