Background to 2009.

摘要

This article examines the fortunes of specialist dairy farmers, lowland and less-favored area grazing livestock farmers, specialist pig producers and specialist poultry farmers in the UK. It also examines mixed farms and the role played by the Single Farm Payment in the farms' overall returns. A Farm Business Survey was conducted in the twelve months ending February 2008. Findings show that farmgate prices for livestock products boomed, ranging from a modest increase of 16.8% for pigs to 28.7% for clean cattle. The dairy sector's total output rose by 41% in the 12 months ending in February 2008. Mixed farms increased agricultural output by more than 26% and total output by 19.1%. The Single Farm Payment is a significant proportion of the average output of mixed farms. Specialist pig farms were able to increase the value of their average output by 15.7% only in 2007-08 and by 23.3% for the livestock output. In both lowland and less favored grazing farms, total farm output does not become positive until the Single Farm Payment is added. The viability of such farms is thus dependent on non-agricultural activities. In conclusion, dairy farmers and poultry producers will be pleased with their output while other types of livestock farmers will be relying on the Single Farm Payment from the Rural Payments Agency.