Dard response to Consultation on proposed changes to Farm Income Statistical Indicators

The Department published consultation documents towards the end of 2006 seeking views on an alternative measure of farm income to be used in future statistical releases and publications.  

Individual consultation submissions and a summary of responses were published in March 2007. Following this an evaluation of responses was conducted in conjunction with officials from England, Wales and Scotland.

Having considered the arguments and alternative proposals, it has been decided that the methodology described in the consultation document will be adopted as the main farm level indicator of farm incomes in Northern Ireland and that it be used in the production of UK statistics. However, the name of the indicator will be Farm Business Income rather than Farm Business Profit, as suggested in the consultation document.

The new indicator will come into use in January 2008, when farm incomes for 2006/07 are published. A back series will also be created so that results can be understood in context.

A more detail account of the evaluation exercise and outcomes can be accessed through the following link.