The average income of UK horticultural businesses has risen by almost a third in the past year, new figures from Defra indicate.
The government department's annual Farm Business Income survey shows that on average, UK horticultural farm income is £33,900 for 2013-14, a 31 per cent increase on the previous year's figure of £25,800.
However that figure is still a long way behind the five-year high of £55,300, achieved in 2011-12.
Defra's report stated: 'Output from outdoor vegetables and horticultural crops, which account for the vast majority of output on these farms, was broadly unchanged but output from other cropping enterprises fell. Agricultural input costs fell by three per cent, driven mainly by reduced crop variable costs.'
Elsewhere across agriculture, there were wild swings in income. Specialist poultry and dairy farms saw the largest increases, at 74 and 67 per cent respectively, while cereals was the biggest loser with a 27 per cent fall.
Overall, the average income of £43,100 across all of UK farming was four per cent down on last year, but well down on the five-year high of £66,200 in 2011-12.
The NFU pointed out that the figures did not reflect the current market or recent trends, such as the downturn in fortunes of dairy farmers.
“Commodity markets and prices have seen considerable fluctuations since the last dataset released from February, on top of high levels of volatility in the UK and global markets,' saidNFU deputy president Minette Batters.
“The dynamics of agricultural commodity markets have shifted and this really is a new trading environment for all in the food chain. It’s essential that we have a long-term approach in our farm businesses given the long production cycles involved, and we need to see a similar injection of longer-term thinking from our partners in the supply chain.'
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