Organic farm incomes in England and Wales 2007/08 (OF 0373)

Summary

This report presents result of research on the financial performance of organic farms in 2006/07 and 2007/08, carried out for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
This research builds on previous work on the economics of organic farming carried out at Aberystwyth University (Projects OF0190, covering 1995/96 to 1998/99 and OF0189, covering 1999/00 to 2004/05)1.
Overall, identicla samples examined over a two year period 2006/07 to 2007/08 show that most organic sectors achieved higher net farm incomes in 2007/08 LFA cattle and sheep farm Net Farm Income (NFI) had the greatest increase,gaining by 46%, with strong gains in cropping and dairying. Organic mixed farming was the only sector to see reduced profitability, the identical sample falling back by 10%, while lowland cattle and sheep farming NFI increased by only 10%. When compared with comparable conventional farms, all organic farming sectors except poultry were above conventional profitability levels in 2007/08.