Farm accounts

As Hope Farm is contract-farmed, we pay realistic commercial rates for all our on-farm work. We have had a contract farming agreement with a large neighbouring farmer.

Under our current contract agreement, the income from the farm is divided between us. We receive a set-payment as the landowner ('fixed return'). This and the cost of producing the crops - for example the seed, sprays and operations - is deducted from the total income from cropping (the sales of the crops, farm subsidy payments and lost income from undertaking our trials work).

This leaves the 'divisible surplus'. This figure is then split between RSPB ('the landowner') and our contractor on a 23 per cent : 77 per cent basis. Our contractor, who bears the cost of owning and maintaining the farm machinery, receives the greater proportion.

The graph below shows the income we receive from Hope Farm, after dividing the profits between ourselves and the contractor.