Dr. Paul Crosson:

The model is the same; it is the same model we used in 2015 and 2012. At the outset, I outlined the background to the model development, where it used and how it is used. The changes that have been implemented are economic changes. They are effectively price changes, such as fertiliser price, feed prices, contractor prices and so on. As we know, they have changed. At the outset, Mr. Coughlan outlined the price indexes and where they have gone. We see that every day in our daily lives and our farming lives, so I do not think that is surprising at all.

The other element where there is a change is the carbon piece, which a number of Deputies referred to. The carbon subindex or carbon component to the model was developed probably 13 years ago in 2010. We had a PhD student in 2012 who developed the submodel and it has been part of the overall farm systems model since then.