The average Scottish farm made a loss of £4,693 (before subsidy) according to the Government’s farm income survey for 2018-19.

However, the figures based on nearly 500 farms, show a rise in income per farm from £36,283 to £38,683, which is a seven year high.

The rise has largely been attributed to increased income from cereal, general cropping and mixed farms, while livestock farms performed poorly.

Cereals, general cropping and dairy all achieved positive margins before support payments.

The average support payments going to a livestock farm in Scotland’s less favoured areas was £69,000 with an output on these farms of £114,000, over a typical 704 ha. These farms averaged 690 ewes and 60 suckler cows.

Lowland livestock farms averaged around 130 ha with an output of £128,000 and a support payment of £33,000. These farms typically had 158 ewes and 49 cows, along with 17 ha of cereals.

Hill sheep farms were the largest in the survey stretching to over 1,100 ha with 644 ewes producing an output of £39,000, and a support payment of £46,000.

The average dairy farm had 225 cows on 187 ha, with an output of nearly £600,000 and a support payment of £39,000.

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