Over the past 10 years, the income of farmers in the EU has increased

The EU Agricultural Economic Review provided information on key economic developments in European agriculture up to 2018.

Between 2007 and 2018, the average farm income in the EU rose to €35,300 per farm and €22,500 per annual work unit (AWU). There is an increase in the cost of agricultural production, both for crop production (by 34%) and for animal husbandry (36%).

There are significant differences between EU regions and agricultural sectors. The highest income on AWU was registered in the northwest of the EU, and the lowest in the East of the EU. Earnings per AWU specializing in cereals, vineyards, horticulture and dairy farming were above the EU average in 2018. Pig and poultry farms had the highest net value added per AWU in 2018 (€38,900), most of these farms are considered large from an economic point of view.

There are also differences in income based on gender, age and training of farm owners and managers: farms run by women, young farmers or untrained managers earn less on average than other farms.