HC Deb 28 July 2000 vol 354 cc1124-5W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the contribution of sugar beet production to total farm income in each of the years from 1989 to 1999; and what was the gross margin for sugar beet in each of these years. [132524]

Ms Quin

[holding answer 25 July 2000]: Sugar beet gross margins and estimates of the contribution of sugar beet production to total farm gross margin for farms in the University of Cambridge's province of the Farm Business Survey are set out in the table. Estimates for 1999 are not yet available.

Sugar beet gross margins and the contribution of sugar beet to total farm gross margin for the eastern counties of England
Gross margin (£/ha) Contribution to total farm gross margin (Percentage)
1989 920 11.1
1990 1,116 12.1
1991 1,104 10.3
1992 1,436 11.8
1993 1,232 11.2
1994 1,153 9.6
1995 1,232 8.7
1996 1,187 9.9
1997 1,008 9.3
1998 951 8.8

Source:

Report on Farming in the Eastern Counties (University of Cambridge)