Output from Scotland’s pig industry reduced in value by £8 million in 2015 according to the latest Total Income from Farming (TIFF) estimates, released today by the Scottish Government.
From an estimated 2014 output value of £93m, the Scottish pig sector total for the last 12 months declined to £85m. This was despite production increases in both years.
The pig sector figure is hidden in the depths of the 30-page annual publication showing that total income from farming in Scotland fell in both 2014 and 2015. This was only the second time since the 1990s that incomes have fallen in two consecutive years.
The estimated Scottish TIFF figure for 2015 is £667m, down from £777m in 2014 and £837m in 2013.
NFU Scotland’s Director of Policy Jonnie Hall, said that the figures “should have alarm bells ringing”.
“The bottom line for the industry as a whole, rather than individual sectors, is that over two years total costs have decreased but total output has decreased further, and at a faster rate.”