DARD issues guidance on farm 'benchmarking'

A DARD booklet, ‘ Benchmarking Farm Performance in 2002/03’ aims to meet the growing demand for reliable data which farmers can use to assess the current performance of their farm businesses.

The data in the booklet is based on farm account information collected as part of the 2002/03 Northern Ireland Farm Business Survey by the department's Economics and Statistics Unit. The survey is composed of a representative sample of farm businesses and the data accurately reflect performance levels on Northern Ireland farms.

Enterprise data are presented in gross margin format. Included are details of the value of output, variable costs and gross margin for each of the main enterprises found on Northern Ireland farms.

For the more popular enterprises data are presented for four different levels of performance - ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’, ‘Moderate’ and ‘Poor’. At its simplest benchmarking enables the farmer or producer to assess accurately the performance being achieved by a particular enterprise.

Where the enterprise gross margin falls within the ‘Moderate’ and ‘Poor’ performance categories then remedial action is necessary. Weaknesses or shortcomings in enterprise performance should be identified.

In addition to enterprise gross margin data the booklet contains information on hay, silage and grazing costs. There is a wide range in these costs ranging from £77 per hectare where stocking rate is low (less than 1.25 cow equivalents per hectare) to £174 per hectare where stocking rate is high (above 2.0 cow equivalents per hectare).

The booklet also presents information for fixed costs by type of farm. However, given the range in fixed costs encountered at farm level these data should be treated with caution.

Farmers who require assistance in using the benchmarking data to assess their farm’s performance are strongly recommended to seek the assistance of their DARD Development Adviser who may be contacted through the local DARD office.

Free copies of ‘Benchmarking Farm Performance in Northern Ireland 2002/03’ are available free from the DARD or the booklet can be accessed at the www.dardni.gov.uk website.

(SP)