§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list at current and constant prices in respect of arable farming for each of the last 15 years for (i) wheat and (ii) barley the(a) cost of input with special reference to seeds, chemicals and fertiliser, (b) cost of contracting and machinery, (c) total variable costs ((a) + (b)), (d) average yield per acre, (e) average sale price per ton, ex farm at standard moisture, (f) average income per acre and (g) average margin before rent and overheads, interest and capital ((f) - (a) + (b)). [20912]
§ Mr. BaldryThe information is not readily available in the form requested. However current price estimates of the gross margin of wheat and barley production in England and Wales between 1986 and 1993 are contained in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1993–94" which was published last March. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Updated information, including some revisions to previous years will be contained in the 1994–95 edition which will be published on 19 March 1996. The estimates are compiled from occasional farm surveys together with information from a range of sources on prices and quantities of inputs and outputs for the intervening years. The yield per hectare, price per tonne and costs are based on the results from the sample of farmers included in the survey; prices are not converted to a standard moisture basis. Estimates in constant prices are not available.