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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Global farming: Contrasts and shared concerns

Kevin Davies and his wife Jenni farm near York in Western Australia, with their son Alex and his wife Shannen. The family has been farming in the area since the…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Let land sector more nuanced than is assumed – CAAV survey

Concerns that landowners are taking growing amounts of land back in hand so they can put it to environmental uses are not supported by the data for 2023, according to…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Cull cow base tipped to narrow gap with prime cattle

A 140p/kg gulf between cull cow and prime cattle base prices is expected to close over the coming weeks as processors seek cheaper cuts. Trade sources predict a 430p/kg deadweight…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Mixed outlook for UK wheat in 2025 driven by global markets

UK wheat markets in 2025 will remain at the discretion of major global influences, with supplies out of the Black Sea and US geopolitics likely to dictate any immediate price…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Mixed fortunes for potato growers as higher costs hit sector

The UK potato sector bounced back slightly in 2024, following challenging weather conditions during the previous year. However, production costs have soared in recent years with higher energy, labour, machinery…

LAND MARKETS

Farm and land sales – some 2024 highlights

Overall it was an active year for the farmland market, particularly in England, with deals being done for properties of all sizes, and with private sales being more of a…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

NSA launches scheme to link graziers with arable farmers

A new platform has been launched linking sheep farmers across the UK with grazing on arable enterprises. The National Sheep Association (NSA) has partnered with crop specialists Niab to create…

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MARKETS AND TRENDS

Farm leaders give mixed reaction to UK's CPTPP entry

The UK’s official entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has drawn a mixed response from British farmers, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for the future…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

New peatland restoration grant open for applications in Wales

The Welsh government has launched a new Peatland Restoration Grant, offering landowners in Wales the opportunity to secure funding of between £10,000 and £250,000 to restore vital peatland landscapes. Managed…

NVZS

Welsh farmers struggle under crushing costs of NVZ rules

Welsh farmers are grappling with crippling costs, mental strain, and disrupted operations as they struggle to comply with stringent water quality regulations, a survey by NFU Cymru reveals. Some have…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

'Use your head, use your helmet' say safety campaigners

A sheep farmer who was seriously injured after he was catapulted from a quad bike on his Scottish hill farm is urging every rider to wear a safety helmet as…

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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Global farming: Contrasts and shared concerns

Kevin Davies and his wife Jenni farm near York in Western Australia, with their son Alex and his wife Shannen. The family has been farming in the area since the…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Tips to improve farm office efficiency

An office littered with random piles of paper and general clutter is not uncommon in farming, but it is an environment that doesn’t inspire productivity and can mean costly mistakes…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Advice on common farm employment issues

From correctly issuing employment contracts to having the right paperwork in order, getting staffing right from the very start will not only rule out problems further down the line but…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Proactive approach required by new harassment laws

Farm employers now have a legal duty to proactively prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace since new legislation came into force on 26 October 2024. The Worker Protection…

BUSINESS

Budget highlights need for inheritance document housekeeping

Regardless of the final outcome of the Budget, there are housekeeping steps that should be taken by farming businesses to ensure things are in place so that when succession, gifting…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Valuing minority shareholding in company

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Sarah Dodds, a partner and head of agriculture at MHA, advises on…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Should I sell farm cottages or improve them?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Henry Platts-Martin, associate partner at Carter Jonas Rural, advises on what to…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Neither my father nor brother has a will

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Ben Coulson, a partner in Thrings’ succession and tax team, advises on…

BUSINESS

Farm staff pay and conditions: How to get the balance right

Some farmers award their staff an annual pay rise. For others, however, regular uplifts are not a given, with factors ranging from the individual’s performance to the financial position of…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Order of IHT relief application key to potential liability

The potential impact of the Budget's inheritance tax (IHT) relief cut needs careful calculation, advisers warn. They stress that every situation is different, highlighting the importance of assessing the potential…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Nuffield Conference: Sustainability champion scoops top award

The Nuffield Bullock Award recognises those who have made the best use of their Nuffield scholarship in the 10 years since they were accepted on to the study tour scheme.…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

A guide to staying SFI compliant

Unlike more rigid support schemes of the past, the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is all about giving farmers greater flexibility to make actions work for their farm, while simultaneously delivering…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Sporting rights on farmland: How to avoid legal issues

Sporting rights can give rise to legal issues, highlighting the need to be clear about who is entitled to do what, how and where.  The ownership of sporting rights is…

TAX

What to consider in light of planned Budget IHT relief cut

The plan to limit inheritance tax (IHT) relief for farming and other businesses to the first £1m of value has been met with shock. The £1m threshold, after which IHT…

BUSINESS

Farm and land sales: Common issues that delay and complicate

The aim when selling a farm or land is not only to secure a reliable buyer but also to minimise the time between accepting an offer and exchange of contracts.…

SUCCESSION PLANNING

Farm succession: Expert advice to ensure a smooth path

With farming being more than a business for most families, it can be difficult to put emotion to one side when planning for succession. However, thinking strategically can achieve an…

Business Clinic

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Valuing minority shareholding in company

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Sarah Dodds, a partner and head of agriculture at MHA, advises on…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Should I sell farm cottages or improve them?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Henry Platts-Martin, associate partner at Carter Jonas Rural, advises on what to…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Neither my father nor brother has a will

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Ben Coulson, a partner in Thrings’ succession and tax team, advises on…

SUCCESSION PLANNING

Farm succession: Expert advice to ensure a smooth path

With farming being more than a business for most families, it can be difficult to put emotion to one side when planning for succession. However, thinking strategically can achieve an…

 
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Markets and trends

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MARKETS AND TRENDS

Farm leaders give mixed reaction to UK's CPTPP entry

The UK’s official entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has drawn a mixed response from British farmers, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for the future…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Scottish arable farming faces pressure from cost-price squeeze

Scotland’s arable farming sector faces increasing financial pressure due to low crop prices, rising costs, and competition from imported wheat, putting growers' profitability at risk. NFU Scotland (NFUS) has raised…

BUSINESS

£80m uplift for British pork as China lifts export ban

British pork is back on Chinese menus as the UK government announces the end of Covid-era restrictions on unprocessed pork exports to China, unlocking an estimated £80m revenue boost for…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Arla faces backlash over trials with methane reducing Bovaer

Direct milk sellers have taken to social media to distance themselves from Arla Foods and its trial of the feed additive Bovaer on UK supplier farms after a consumer backlash…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Trade at livestock markets thriving despite bluetongue zones

Auction marts have seen a flying trade for both beef and lamb, despite the logistical challenges posed by the bluetongue restriction zone covering half of the country. Buyers still appear…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat market still tight in 2025 despite larger area

The UK wheat area is expected to reach 1.6m hectares in 2025, according to the AHDB’s Early Bird Survey, following an improved planting window this autumn compared with the previous…

LIVESTOCK MARKETING

Halal lamb consumers ripe for targeting

Global demand for lamb is set to increase 15% by 2032, creating significant opportunities for UK sheep farmers. This is according to ABP farming sustainability lead Tom Dracup, who added…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Store lambs £15 dearer as ear tag sales drop 4.7%

Recent surges in the store lamb trade are more of a nod to national flock contraction than bullish buyer confidence. This is according to auctioneers, who say an 11.2% drop…

Commodities

Futures markets and commodity risk management online course

Learn all you need to know about the futures markets and how you can benefit from them:

  • Risk management strategies for a more predictable financial performance
  • Educated conversations when collaborating with your advisors
  • Negotiate better prices with your grain merchants

Find out more

 
 

Land in your area

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LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2024: East Midlands

Agents report a clear growth in the supply of farmland coming to the market in the East Midlands in 2024, a combination of public and private sales that resulted in…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2024: Yorkshire and Humber

Private sales dominated in the Yorkshire and Humber region in 2024, with some agents reporting that more than two-thirds of transactions took place off the open market, many to cash…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2024: Scotland

Limited supply is frustrating buyers in the farmland and estates markets in Scotland. Last year saw 26,200 acres offered for sale, a sharp drop on the 41,600 acres in the…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2024: North-west England

Sustained demand for small pockets of bare land has driven the farmland market in the north-west of England throughout 2024, with land in locations that have a concentration of larger…

 
 
 

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