§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of dairy farmers have shown profits in the last financial year; and if she will make a statement. [185231]
§ Alun MichaelThe latest available data on farm incomes is for the 2002–3 farm accounting year from the Farm Business Survey. This survey covers around 2200 full time farm businesses in England, of which around a fifth are classified as dairy farms. Based on this survey data, the average net farm income of dairy farms in 405W 2002–was £8,300 and 80 per cent. of dairy farm businesses showed a positive net farm income. Net farm income is defined as the return to the farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. It does not include the cost of farmer and spouse labour.
Dairy farm incomes are forecast to rise slightly in 2003–4, principally due to an increase in milk prices although higher feed prices during the latter part of the year offsets some of this increase.