Defra consults on measures of farm income

Defra is consulting to seek views on the way income is measured. The consultation will look at what activities the measure should cover and in particular on whether Net Farm Income is still a useful headline income measure or if some alternative might be more relevant to today's needs.

Farm income has for many years been the most widely quoted general indicator of the health of the farming sector. Various measures of farm income are currently in circulation but two - Total Income from Farming (TIFF) at the aggregate level and Net Farm Income (NFI) at the farm business level - have been given more prominence than the others.

The Welsh Assembly Government is also undertaking a consultation today on the same issue. The remaining devolved administrations are taking this work forward to a later timetable.

The deadline for responses is 8 January 2007.