Accredited official statistics

Chapter 3: Farming income

Updated 9 July 2026

Summary

• In 2024/25, the average Farm Business Income (FBI) across all farm types in Great Britain was £66,500 compared to the UK average of £43,500 in 2023/24 (data for Northern Ireland were not available when Agriculture in the UK was compiled). The 2024/25 increase in FBI follows a fall in 2023/24, after the exceptional highs seen for some farm types in 2022/23.

• FBI varies greatly with 21% of farms in Great Britain failing to make a positive FBI in 2024/25, while 38% of farms had an FBI of over £50,000.

• In 2025/26, with the exception of dairy and lowland grazing livestock farms, average FBI is forecast to fall for farms in England, continuing the pattern of considerable variability seen in recent years. The picture is mixed in terms of key drivers, but lower cereal prices compounded by extremely variable yields in 2025 are forecast to be major factors alongside the reduction to the delinked Basic Payment.

Introduction

This chapter presents Farm Business Income. Total Income from Farming (TIFF) data can be found in Chapter 4.

Farm Business Income (FBI) is the output generated by the farm business minus total farm costs, essentially net profit. It is the preferred measure for comparisons of farm type and represents the return to all unpaid labour (farmers, spouses and others with an entrepreneurial interest in the farm business) and to all their capital invested in the farm business including land and farm buildings.

Total Income from Farming (TIFF) represents business profits and remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers. It is used to assess UK agriculture as a whole.

Table 3.3, found at the end of this chapter, provides more detailed information on definition, method used and similarities and differences for the two income measures.

Data notes

The estimates of Farm Business Income (FBI) are averages. It should be noted that across different regions and farm types, some farmers receive considerably more or less than these averages. 2024/25 data for Northern Ireland were not available when this publication was compiled.

Forecasts of FBI for 2025/26 (i.e. the year ending February 2026 and harvest 2025) at current prices are shown in Table 3.1a for England. These forecasts include the 2025 delinked Basic Payment which is recorded in the 2025/26 accounting year.

Note that forecasts of FBI in Wales and Scotland have not been produced. Forecasts for Northern Ireland are not yet available. In England, no income forecasts for 2025/26 have been produced for specialist poultry or horticulture farms. These forecasts are subject to a considerable degree of uncertainty, reflecting both the structure of these sectors and the relatively small sample of these farms in the Farm Business Survey. These factors have meant it has not been possible to produce robust forecast estimates.

Farm Business Survey data for individual UK countries can be found at the following links:

• England

• Wales

• Scotland

• Northern Ireland

Farm Business Incomes by farm type

For farms in England, the main drivers for the 2025/26 forecast decrease in average FBI are expected to vary across farm types. For crop enterprises, a fall in output (particularly for cereals) is forecast, with the drought conditions and lower prices key factors. The reduction to the delinked Basic Payment is also expected to impact FBI; the 2025 reduction saw a 76% decrease on payments up to £30,000 and a 100% decrease for payments above that level. Although variation between farm types is forecast, at the all farm level income from agri-environment activities is expected to be slightly lower. This follows considerable increases to agri-environment payments for some farm types in 2024/25.

On cereal farms, average FBI is expected to fall by two thirds in 2025/26 to £17,000 largely driven by lower output from cereals and the reduction to the delinked Basic Payment. Yields were extremely variable with crops (particularly on lighter soils) impacted by the heat and drought. This variability coincided with plentiful global supplies placing downward pressure on prices; as a result, total crop output is expected to be around 9% lower than 2024/25. Output from the delinked Basic Payment is forecast to fall by 72% with net income from agri-environment payments also expected to be lower than 2024/25. At the same time, input costs are forecast to increase slightly. Based on trends in recent years, output from diversified activities is expected to rise by around 7%.

Average FBI on general cropping farms in England is forecast to halve in 2025/26 to £54,000. Lower crop output (predicted to fall by 13%) is expected to be a key factor. While output for oilseed rape and field beans is forecast to rise, this will be more than offset by lower output from cereal crops, potatoes and sugar beet. Input costs are predicted to increase by around 2%, with rises in labour, crop and machinery costs the biggest contributors. An increase in diversified output of around 10% (based on recent trends) is expected to be insufficient to offset the combined reduction to output from the delinked Basic Payment and net income from agri-environment activities.

For dairy farms, FBI is forecast to rise by 45% to £224,000 in 2025/26, bringing average income towards the level seen in 2022/23. The primary driver is expected to be a rise in the volume of milk produced rather than farmgate price (which saw a downward trend towards the end of the survey period). Robust cull cow and dairy breeding cattle prices are also predicted to have a positive impact on livestock output. Input costs are expected to increase by 3% largely driven by higher feed costs following the summer drought. Output from diversification is forecast to be around 9% higher than 2024/25 (based on recent trends) and net income from agri-environment payments increase by a quarter.

The FBI for lowland grazing livestock farms in England is forecast to rise by 9% in 2025/26. Output from cattle enterprises is expected to increase by 17%, supported by exceptionally strong prices for store and finished animals. For sheep, output is predicted to maintain its 2024/25 level. A small fall in net income from agri-environment payments is forecast to be more than offset by higher output from diversified activities (estimated based on recent trends). Taking these factors together, along with the reduced delinked Basic Payment, total output at the business level is forecast to increase by 4% while input costs rise by 2%.

At £37,000, FBI for Less Favoured Area (LFA) grazing livestock farms is forecast to be 8% lower than 2024/25. Livestock output is expected to increase by 13%, with similar drivers to lowland farms, alongside continuing high values for sheep breeding stock. However, the fall in output from the delinked Basic Payment, combined with lower net income from agri-environment payments, is forecast to result in no change to total output at the business level, while input costs are expected to rise by 2%.

Forecasts for specialist pig farms are subject to a considerable degree of uncertainty, reflecting both the structure of the sector and the relatively small sample of these farms in the Farm Business Survey in England. Average FBI on these farms is predicted to fall by 41% compared to 2024/25 to £75,000, reflecting a 7% drop in output from pig enterprises (the result of declining pig prices in the second half of the survey year). Crop output is also expected to fall along with the delinked Basic Payment. Based on recent trends, output from diversified activities is forecast to rise by around 9%. At the business level, these combined factors are expected to result in a 7% fall in total output. Input costs are expected to be 1% lower compared to 2024/25, driven mainly by a 5% reduction in feed costs (reflecting lower grain prices).

Incomes on mixed farms in England are forecast to fall by 32% to £40,000 in 2025/26. The changes reported previously for specialist farm types will all influence incomes for this farm type.

Tables 3.1a and 3.1b Farm Business Income by country and type of farm (average Farm Business Income per farm, £/farm)

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Table 3.1a Farm Business Income by country and type of farm (average Farm Business Income per farm at current prices, £/farm)

Standard Output Typology	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25	2025/26 (Provisional)
England
Cereals	143,500	41,500	49,500	17,000
General cropping	116,500	104,500	107,500	54,000
Dairy	228,500	73,000	154,000	224,000
Grazing livestock (lowland)	24,000	18,500	41,500	45,000
Grazing livestock (LFA)	25,000	25,000	40,500	37,000
Specialist pigs	72,500	134,500	126,500	75,000
Specialist poultry	114,500	174,500	236,000	[x]
Mixed	67,000	22,500	58,000	40,000
Wales
Dairy	165,000	67,500	133,500	[x]
Grazing livestock (lowland)	18,500	23,000	32,000	[x]
Grazing livestock (LFA)	24,500	22,000	37,000	[x]
Scotland
Cereals	98,500	38,000	28,500	[x]
General cropping	167,000	161,000	165,500	[x]
Dairy	249,500	113,500	218,500	[x]
Grazing livestock (lowland)	19,500	500	1,000	[x]
Grazing livestock (LFA)	24,000	15,000	28,500	[x]
Mixed	85,000	46,000	60,500	[x]
Northern Ireland
Dairy	123,000	43,500	[x]	[x]
Grazing livestock (LFA)	18,000	19,000	[x]	[x]

Table 3.1b Farm Business Income by type of farm in the UK (average Farm Business Income per farm, £/farm)

Standard Output Typology	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25	2025/26 (Provisional)
At current prices
Cereals	140,500	41,000	47,500	[x]
General cropping	134,500	117,000	119,500	[x]
Dairy	191,000	67,000	155,500	[x]
Grazing livestock (lowland)	22,000	18,500	38,000	[x]
Grazing livestock (LFA)	23,500	20,500	35,500	[x]
Specialist pigs	72,500	136,500	126,500	[x]
Specialist poultry	117,000	174,500	236,000	[x]
Mixed	71,000	27,500	57,000	[x]
All types (including Horticulture)	82,500	43,500	66,500	[x]
In real terms (at 2024/25 prices)
Cereals	154,000	42,500	47,500	[x]
General cropping	147,500	121,500	119,500	[x]
Dairy	209,000	69,500	155,500	[x]
Grazing livestock (lowland)	24,000	19,500	38,000	[x]
Grazing livestock (LFA)	26,000	21,500	35,500	[x]
Specialist pigs	79,500	142,500	126,500	[x]
Specialist poultry	128,000	182,000	236,000	[x]
Mixed	77,500	28,500	57,000	[x]
All types (including Horticulture)	90,500	45,000	66,500	[x]

Notes for Table 3.1a and 3.1b:

1. [x] data unavailable.

2. Years are accounting years ending on average in February.

3. Figures for 2022/23 to 2024/25 rounded to nearest £500.

4. Forecast figures for 2025/26 rounded to the nearest £1,000. These figures are provisional and subject to revision. See Data Notes for more information on income forecasts.

5. England data for 2022/23 onwards are based on 2017 Standard Output coefficients and 2024 Standard Labour Requirements. For more information see Changes to Standard Labour Requirement Coefficients - GOV.UK. All other data are based on 2013 Standard Output coefficients and 2008 Standard Labour Requirements.

6. England data for 2022/23 and 2023/24 revised to reflect an update to the weighting methodology. For more information see note on the 2025 update to the calibration weighting methodology used in the England Farm Business Survey.

7. Scotland data for 2023/24 revised to correct an error due to changes in methodology related to Basis Period Reform. Estimates for general cropping and all types were affected.

8. Table 3.1a figures are at current prices.

9. Table 3.1b figures are shown at current prices and in real terms. Real term figures are adjusted for inflation using GDP deflator.

10. Table 3.1b UK farm type averages include data for some member countries that are not presented separately in the country level breakdown at Table 3.1a. Data for 2024/25 are for Great Britain only.

11. See Data Notes for links to the Farm Business Survey data for individual UK countries.

Download the full farming income dataset

Distribution of farm incomes and performance

Table 3.2a to 3.2c shows the variation in the level of Farm Business Income (FBI), Net Farm Income and Cash Income across farms in England, Wales and Scotland for 2024/25.

Twenty-one percent of farms in Great Britain failed to make a positive FBI compared with 29% in 2023/24, although there was some variation between countries, with Wales having the lowest proportion at 15% of farms. The lower income brackets (less than £20,000) accounted for 41% of farms in Great Britain. At the other end of the scale, 38% of farms had an FBI of more than £50,000 (compared to 28% in 2023/24). There was again some variation between countries in this highest income category. For England the proportion of farms was 40% and for Scotland 35%, while for Wales the proportion of farms was 30%.

A greater proportion of farms fall into lower band income ranges for Net Farm Income. This is because Net Farm Income is a narrower measure of income; it is net of an imputed rent on owned land and an imputed cost for unpaid labour (apart from farmer and spouse). On this basis 29% of farms in Great Britain failed to make a profit.

For comparison, the full distribution of farm incomes for 2023/24 can be found in Chapter 3 of the 2024 Agriculture in the UK.

Tables 3.2a to 3.2c All farm types: distribution of farm incomes by country 2024/25 (percentage of farms unless otherwise specified )

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Table 3.2a Farm Business Income (percentage of farms)

Farm Business Income	England	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Less than zero	21%	15%	29%	21%
0 to less than £5,000	6%	5%	3%	5%
£5,000 to less than £10,000	3%	4%	4%	4%
£10,000 to less than £20,000	10%	13%	11%	11%
£20,000 to less than £30,000	7%	15%	8%	8%
£30,000 to less than £50,000	13%	17%	11%	13%
£50,000 and over	40%	30%	35%	38%
Average (£ thousand per farm)	71	50	59	67

Table 3.2b Net Farm Income (percentage of farms)

Net Farm Income	England	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Less than zero	28%	26%	38%	29%
0 to less than £5,000	6%	6%	4%	6%
£5,000 to less than £10,000	4%	8%	6%	5%
£10,000 to less than £20,000	9%	16%	8%	10%
£20,000 to less than £30,000	7%	10%	9%	8%
£30,000 to less than £50,000	11%	11%	11%	11%
£50,000 and over	34%	23%	25%	31%
Average (£ thousand per farm)	60	38	42	55

Table 3.2c Cash Income (percentage of farms)

Cash Income	England	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Less than zero	11%	8%	11%	11%
0 to less than £5,000	3%	3%	4%	4%
£5,000 to less than £10,000	4%	7%	4%	5%
£10,000 to less than £20,000	11%	10%	9%	10%
£20,000 to less than £30,000	7%	12%	10%	8%
£30,000 to less than £50,000	12%	16%	14%	13%
£50,000 and over	51%	43%	49%	50%
Average (£ thousand per farm)	110	67	93	102

Notes for Table 3.2a to 3.2c

1. See Data Notes for links to the Farm Business Survey data for individual UK countries.

Download the full farming income dataset

Figure 3.1a shows the differences in performance of farms in Great Britain in 2024/25. Performance is measured as “£ of output per £100 of input”. An imputed value for unpaid labour is added to the input costs. The chart illustrates the substantial variation in performance with just under half of farms in Great Britain failing to recover their costs in 2024/25.

Figure 3.1a Distribution of performance across farms 2024/25: Great Britain (£ output per £100 input)

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£ output per £100 input	% of farms
£0 < £60	7%
£60 < £70	6%
£70 < £80	10%
£80 < £90	11%
£90 < £100	15%
£100 < £110	14%
£110 < £120	13%
£120 < £130	10%
£130 < £140	5%
£140 < £150	4%
£150 < £160	3%
£160 < £170	1%
£170 and over	2%

Source: Farm Business Survey

Notes:

1. Performance is based on the ratio of farm business output to farm business costs which includes an adjustment for unpaid labour.
2. See Data Notes for links to the Farm Business Survey data for individual UK countries.

Figures 3.1b to 3.1d show farm performance by individual country. In Wales, 58% of farms failed to recover their costs in 2024/25, compared to 51% in England; however, the figure dropped to 28% of farms in Scotland. Scotland also had the highest proportion of farms (3%) producing over £170 of output to every £100 of input.

Figure 3.1b Distribution of performance across farms 2024/25: England (£ output per £100 input)

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£ output per £100 input	% of farms
£0 < £60	7%
£60 < £70	6%
£70 < £80	10%
£80 < £90	12%
£90 < £100	16%
£100 < £110	15%
£110 < £120	12%
£120 < £130	10%
£130 < £140	5%
£140 < £150	3%
£150 < £160	2%
£160 < £170	1%
£170 and over	2%

Source: Farm Business Survey

Figure 3.1c Distribution of performance across farms 2024/25: Wales (£ output per £100 input)

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£ output per £100 input	% of farms
£0 < £60	11%
£60 < £70	9%
£70 < £80	12%
£80 < £90	13%
£90 < £100	13%
£100 < £110	14%
£110 < £120	9%
£120 < £130	9%
£130 < £140	4%
£140 < £150	2%
£150 < £160	2%
£160 < £170	1%
£170 and over	1%

Source: Farm Business Survey

Figure 3.1d Distribution of performance across farms 2024/25: Scotland (£ output per £100 input)

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£ output per £100 input	% of farms
£0 < £60	2%
£60 < £70	3%
£70 < £80	6%
£80 < £90	7%
£90 < £100	10%
£100 < £110	13%
£110 < £120	19%
£120 < £130	13%
£130 < £140	6%
£140 < £150	9%
£150 < £160	6%
£160 < £170	2%
£170 and over	3%

Source: Farm Business Survey

Notes for Figures 3.1b to 3.1d:

1. Performance is based on the ratio of farm business output to farm business costs which includes an adjustment for unpaid labour.
2. See Data Notes for links to the Farm Business Survey data for individual UK countries.

Download the full farming income dataset

Definitions and explanatory note

There are two main measures of agricultural income which are closely related and complement each other. Total Income from Farming provides an estimate of total income for agriculture as a whole, whereas Farm Business Income provides a breakdown of average incomes by farm type. Table 3.3 compares the two measures in terms of definition, methodology and main similarities and differences.

Table 3.3 Comparison table showing main similarities and differences between Total Income from Farming (TIFF) and Farm Business Income (FBI) statistics

	Total Income from Farming	Farm Business Income
Geographic scope	United Kingdom	England
Reference period	Calendar year	12-month period March to February
Definition	Represents business profits and remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers.	Represents the return to all unpaid labour (farmers, spouses and others with an entrepreneurial interest in the farm business) and to all their capital invested in the farm business including land and farm buildings.
Data source	A wide range of data sources including industry data and Defra survey data (i.e. the Farm Business Survey).	Farm Business Survey: annual sample surveys run by each of the four UK countries.
Method	Gross output at basic prices	Total output from agriculture (includes crop and livestock valuation change)
	plus Other subsidies less taxes	plus Total output from agri-environment schemes
	less Total intermediate consumption, rent, paid labour	plus Total output from diversification
	less Total consumption of fixed capital (depreciation)	plus Single/Basic payment scheme
	less Interest	less Expenditure (costs, overheads, fuel, repairs, rent, depreciation, paid labour)
		plus Profit / (loss) on sale of fixed assets.
Differences	The main aggregate measure of farm income used to assess agriculture as a whole.	The preferred measure for comparisons of farm type.
	Treatment of stocks: the physical changes in stocks valued at average calendar year prices.	Treatment of stocks: the change in the book value of stocks between the start and end of the accounting year.
Similarities	Complete range of on-farm activities including income from diversified activities where they are included in the farm accounts.	Complete range of on-farm activities including income from diversified activities where they are included in the farm accounts.
	Does not subtract imputed rent for owner occupiers.	Does not subtract imputed rent for owner occupiers.

Revisions

Compared with the England provisional 2024/25 results published in the 2024 edition of AUK, the outturn (based on actual survey results from the Farm Business Survey) for cereal farms was higher than forecast due to an underestimation of output from diversified activities and, to a lesser extent, output from crops. For grazing livestock farms, both lowland and those in Less Favoured Areas, income was also higher than forecast. On lowland farms this was largely the result of an underestimation of output from cattle, sheep and diversified activities. For LFA grazing livestock farms the value of agri-environment activities was underestimated. Average income on mixed farms was higher than predicted with crop output higher than forecast.

For general cropping farms, dairy farms and specialist pig farms the forecasts were within the confidence intervals of the survey outturns.

To note: no England forecasts were produced for specialist poultry or horticulture farms in 2025/26 as these are subject to a considerable degree of uncertainty, reflecting both the structure of these sectors and the relatively small sample of these farms in the Farm Business Survey. These factors meant it was not possible to produce robust forecast estimates.