New Research Briefing on Capital Investment into Farms
Today we have published a new Research Briefing on capital investment into Scottish farms. Led by the Rural Policy Centre's James Glendinning and Lorna Pate, the Briefing used the Farmer Intention Survey data to investigate factors affecting on farm investment. The full report can be found here.
Key Findings:
· Investment was positively related to farm turnover and profit.
· Investment was also related to socio- economic factors, notably age and whether a successor was identified, with younger farmers and those planning for succession more likely to report having increased investment.
· The proportion of farmers who reported having increased investment was above average in traditionally strong agricultural regions, Lothian, Fife, Scottish Borders and North- East Scotland, and below average in Shetland, Na h-Eileanan an lar, and among respondents who identified as crofters.
· Changes in investment were also associated with the reported influence of external market, political and regulatory factors (fertiliser; feed; energy; commodities; labour availability; land availability; subsidies; regulations; and EU- exit). Those reporting that their business had been significantly impacted by changes in external factors were more likely to report a change in investment, either an increase or a decrease, and less likely to report no change in investment.