Improved weather and prices boosted the profitability of Scottish farming last year by an estimated £128million.
Annual Scottish Government statistics released yesterday showed total income from farming in 2013 at £828.6million against £700million the previous year when incomes were dramatically hit by the poor weather.
The latest estimate takes farm profits back almost to where they were in 2011 at £840million. The 2013 figure is the second highest for a decade.
Total output last year was estimated at £3.138billion – the highest figure since current records began in 2002.
But the accuracy of the statistics was again questioned as the government had originally said when it published the estimates last year that total income for 2012 was £634.7million. The revised figure issued yesterday for 2012 is a £65million improvement.
Among the biggest output gains was in potatoes, with its contribution soaring £122million to £286.6million as a result of higher prices produced from the 2012 crop sold in the first half of the year and better harvest yields from August.
Milk’s share of the figures rose £31million to £411million because of higher ex-farm prices. Eggs added £10million to £80.8million, while fruit and vegetables showed a gain of £41million to £217.5million.
Poorer cereal prices resulted in arable output falling £23million to £427 million.
Figures for cattle, pigs and sheep also saw their overall contribution fall £21million to £1.065billion.
Animal feed costs soared £51million to £680million, which now represents 24% of overall costs against 17% a decade ago. Industry’s fertiliser bill was down £16million to £183.6million.
Subsidies paid to farmers amounted to £562million.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said it was good news that farm income levels were heading in the “right direction” after some challenges in recent years.
He added: “The figures show strong growth in some sectors, reflecting strong demand for our premium products and higher prices. I am aware, however, that other sectors are not performing quite as well and this may be partly due to the impact of the extreme weather we have experienced over the last couple of years.”
NFU Scotland policy director Jonnie Hall said the weather had had a huge influence on input costs and yields and a knock-on effect to incomes in recent years. Subsidies, however, remained important and accounted for 69% of overall farm profits in 2013, against 79% the year previously.
He renewed the union’s call for all farms to receive comparable subsidy payment levels in the new Cap so they can remain viable.