SAC Rural Policy Centre

The Scottish Government has published aggregate estimates for total income from farming (TIFF) for 2008 showing a decline of 5.6% in real terms from 2007.

TIFF is income generated by production within the agriculture industry, including subsidies. It represents business profits plus remuneration for work done by owners and other unpaid workers. This factsheet looks at the figures and the factors that have influenced the results for 2008.

Overall the aggregate estimate for TIFF in 2008 is £629.6m, a decrease of £11.9m or 1.8% over the previous year (before adjustments for inflation). In real terms, this represents a fall of 5.6 per cent. The decrease is due to the significant rise in the cost of inputs which increased by £216.6m or 16.7% over the course of the year. The value of outputs rose by £187.3 or 8.8%, but together with an increase of £10.4 or 1.9% in the value of payments and subsidies, this was not enough to offset rising input costs.