SCOTTISH farmers might have struggled to make ends meet in recent years, but if it is any consolation, our European counterparts are facing the same financial difficulties.
According to a survey by the EU agri-co-operative Copa and Cogeca, and statistical office Eurostat, farmers across Europe faced drops in income due to increasingly volatile markets, high input costs and ever increasing red tape.
Furthermore, the trend looks set to continue into 2017 as turmoil surrounding CAP reform and the Russian ban on agricultural imports continues.
The survey, which estimated there was another 2% drop in EU farm incomes last year compared to 2015, also showed there were huge differences between member states, with declines of 25.5% in Estonia and 25% in Denmark.
In France, 2016 incomes fell by -15,8% on the year; Belgium (-12,4%); Latvia (-12,3%); Slovenia (-10,7%); Italy (-7,7%); Germany (-4,7%); United Kingdom (-4,0%), Luxembourg (-1,6%); Greece (-1,2%); and Sweden (-0,1%).
More than 8000 farmers were interviewed for the survey to quantify farmers’ confidence. It was carried out twice a year in Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and in the UK (England and Wales).