Increase in Bank Loans to Scottish Farming

The total outstanding bank debt of Scottish farms increased nine per cent over the past year, according to the latest National Statistics released by Scotland's Chief Statistician.

A survey of the main banks and other lending institutions showed outstanding loans to Scottish farms rose by £177 million in the year to May 31, 2016. Total outstanding loans to the agricultural sector amounted to £2.20 billion. Accounting for inflation, this was an increase of eight per cent since May 2015.

This was the seventh consecutive annual increase in Scottish farm bank debt. After remaining steady for a decade during the 2000s, debt levels have now risen to their highest since records began in 1972.

In addition to bank loans, farms have an estimated £1.4 billion of liabilities, related to hire purchase, family loans and other sources. About 50 per cent of total liabilities are long term loans, a percentage that has been slowly increasing over time. In 2003 about 40 per cent of debt was long term. Liabilities equate to about nine per cent of assets.

The data reflect the overall UK picture. Figures from the Bank of England showed that, by May 2016, the UK “agricultural, hunting and forestry” sector had an outstanding debt of £17.7 billion, having seen a 51 per cent increase in debt levels since 2010. The only other sector that had seen an increase was utilities, which increased 46 per cent since 2010, with all other business sectors seeing a reduction in outstanding debt.

The statistics publication was produced by independent statistical staff free from any political interference, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.