Farm Incomes (Hansard, 4 February 2002)

§ Lord Whitty

Revised estimates of farm incomes, output and productivity of agriculture during 2001 were published on 31 January. These confirm the increase in farm incomes forecast last November and indicate a modest rise of 13 per cent (11 per cent in real terms).

This increase is due to improved prices leading to higher values of output for milk, potatoes and horticulture outweighing lower values of output for cereals and livestock. Incomes are forecast to show a further rise in 2002 as the volume of cereal production returns to more normal levels and the industry starts to recover from the effects of FMD.

Details have been placed in the Library of the House.