Business top stories DIVERSIFICATIONHow padel can make a profitable farm diversificationFrom the outside, it looks like any other on-farm grain store, but as the door opens, the scene is far from typical. There’s brightly coloured carpet surrounded by glass and… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSFarmers face grant delays as advice service hits capacityFarmers may struggle to access Defra’s £225m Capital Grants scheme after key advisers warned they are already unable to take on new requests as part of the new guidance announced.… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESEnsus bioethanol plant to reopen with £100m funding dealFarmers are set to regain a significant market for maize and feed wheat, as well as a key source of animal feed in the North East, with the Ensus UK… BUSINESSSolar: a route to farm diversification and revenue generationFarm diversification is essential for long-term stability, and solar offers one of the simplest and most effective revenue pathways available today. Beyond reducing your own energy use, many farms are… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESSugar markets recover from lows as campaign endsGlobal sugar markets have rallied in the past month, with prices hitting a five-month high on 24 March. This marks a strong recovery and a significant shift in the market,… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESWheat flutters around £172/t amid US-Iran talks uncertaintyUK wheat futures have been fluctuating between £170/t and £175/t for the May 2026 contract, as markets react to a rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East. Volatility has presented… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade breaks £8/kg barrier driven by strong demandFinished hoggs lifted to £8/kg deadweight at UK abattoirs in March, putting prices 60p/kg up from year-earlier levels. Strong seasonal demand throughout Ramadan and in the build-up to Easter has… BUSINESSNew sheep abattoir set to open in HalifaxA new abattoir for lambs and cull ewes is set to open in Halifax, West Yorkshire next month. The site, trading as Medina Abattoir Services, will have capacity to process… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESFrontier rolls out digital grain monitoring across sitesMajor agronomy and grain trading group Frontier Agriculture is investing in digital grain monitoring to check and regulate crop conditions in stores. The technology was installed at three sites in… GRANTSFarmers told to prepare for next £225m capital grants schemeFarmers are being urged to start preparing now if they intend to apply for Defra’s new round of Capital Grants in England when the scheme reopens this summer, with demand… MARKETS AND TRENDSFSA small abattoir fee cut proposal divides industryThe Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed giving the smallest abattoirs in England and Wales up to a 90% discount on official inspection charges, a move aimed at easing regulatory… STAFF MANAGEMENTNorthern Ireland farmworkers set for pay riseFarmworkers in Northern Ireland are to receive pay increases worth roughly between 4-8%, depending on their grade. The announcement follows a meeting of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) at the… LAND MARKETSWhy a private project is looking to buy farmland for forestThe Heart of England Forest currently spans 3,650ha across Worcestershire and Warwickshire, with ambitions to expand to 12,140ha. But what really sets it apart is not its size, but the… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSDefra seeks solutions on expiring CS agreementsThousands of English farmers face uncertainty in 2026 with Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier agreements set to expire, raising concerns about continuity of support under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).… Business newsSee all PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSFarmers face grant delays as advice service hits capacityFarmers may struggle to access Defra’s £225m Capital Grants scheme after key advisers warned they are already unable to take on new requests as part of the new guidance announced.… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESSugar markets recover from lows as campaign endsGlobal sugar markets have rallied in the past month, with prices hitting a five-month high on 24 March. This marks a strong recovery and a significant shift in the market,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade breaks £8/kg barrier driven by strong demandFinished hoggs lifted to £8/kg deadweight at UK abattoirs in March, putting prices 60p/kg up from year-earlier levels. Strong seasonal demand throughout Ramadan and in the build-up to Easter has… LAND MARKETSScottish crofters welcome more supportive land lawsScottish crofters have welcomed new legislation aimed at simplifying land management rules and easing administrative burdens, following the passage of the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill at Holyrood on… More articles Explore farm management Know How Business advice Essential guides Practical tips Case studies Business management Compliance Payments, schemes and grants Diversification Health and safety Succession planning Road legal Careers and personal development Explore all topics Latest from farm management Know HowSee all DIVERSIFICATIONHow padel can make a profitable farm diversificationFrom the outside, it looks like any other on-farm grain store, but as the door opens, the scene is far from typical. There’s brightly coloured carpet surrounded by glass and… FINANCEHow the Universal Credit system is failing farming familiesFalling farm incomes mean that many more people are eligible to receive Universal Credit. For some, it is the stigma associated with claiming that puts them off; for others, it… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTShare farming rises up agenda as a farm structure choiceOnce used mainly in livestock and dairy systems, share farming is now a common joint venture arrangement in arable too, as practical, financial and tax pressures present new challenges to… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: How do we convert buildings to residential?Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Fred Quartermain, a partner in Thrings’ planning and environment team, sets out the… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Where do we stand on IHT with let farm?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here Kate Bell, a partner in accountant Albert Goodman’s farms and estates team, sets out… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: How do we identify disputed boundary?Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Mark Kieras, a partner and head of measured survey at Carter Jonas, explains how… DIVERSIFICATIONHow business rate changes will affect alternative enterprisesDefra estimates about 72% of farm businesses in England had some diversified activity in 2024-25. Farm shops, cafés and specialist dining experiences, storage units and renewable energy were – and… TAXAdvice on improving year-end planning and profit forecastingYear-end planning in farm businesses needs to improve so that investment decisions can be taken in a considered and timely manner, say advisers. Considerations include a careful assessment of any… BUSINESS MANAGEMENT7 ways to beef up your farm’s cybersecurityFarming is a critical part of national infrastructure, yet many farmers still underestimate the risk that cybercrime poses to their businesses. With farms becoming increasingly reliant on digital technology, from… FARM ENERGY10 ways to mitigate April's rising electricity chargesWholesale electricity costs typically make up just one-third of the average electricity bill, with other “non-commodity costs” – in other words, standing charges – comprising more than 60%. These charges… TAXAdvice on minimising IHT impact on pensionsPrivate pension funds inherited between married couples and civil partners will remain free of inheritance tax (IHT) after 6 April 2027, but in other circumstances they may be subject to… STAFF MANAGEMENT4 key steps to support and retain staff on UK farmsA recent survey by land agent Knight Frank has revealed that almost 90% of agricultural estates are struggling to attract competent staff, while 60% of respondents say it is becoming… BUSINESSBusiness Clinic: Rates and EPCs on building conversionsWhether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, chartered surveyor Sam Shaikh from Carter Jonas’ Taunton office explains the business rates… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Advice on first registration of land parcelsWhether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly‘s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Chloe Cosham, a solicitor in Thrings agriculture team, sets out issues to consider… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow to manage farm data to improve profitabilityFarmers can now access data on an unprecedented scale, enabled by robotic milkers, soil sensors, GPS-guided tractors, precision sprayers, drones and automated irrigation systems to name but some of the… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Advice on farming company profit forecastingWhether it's a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly's expert panel can help. Here Kate Bell, a partner in accountant Albert Goodman's farms and estates team, sets out… Business Clinic BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: How do we convert buildings to residential?Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Fred Quartermain, a partner in Thrings’ planning and environment team, sets out the… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Where do we stand on IHT with let farm?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here Kate Bell, a partner in accountant Albert Goodman’s farms and estates team, sets out… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: How do we identify disputed boundary?Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Mark Kieras, a partner and head of measured survey at Carter Jonas, explains how… BUSINESSBusiness Clinic: Rates and EPCs on building conversionsWhether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, chartered surveyor Sam Shaikh from Carter Jonas’ Taunton office explains the business rates… View all Business Clinic articles Markets and trendsSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade breaks £8/kg barrier driven by strong demandFinished hoggs lifted to £8/kg deadweight at UK abattoirs in March, putting prices 60p/kg up from year-earlier levels. Strong seasonal demand throughout Ramadan and in the build-up to Easter has… LAND MARKETSScottish crofters welcome more supportive land lawsScottish crofters have welcomed new legislation aimed at simplifying land management rules and easing administrative burdens, following the passage of the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill at Holyrood on… MARKETS AND TRENDSFSA small abattoir fee cut proposal divides industryThe Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed giving the smallest abattoirs in England and Wales up to a 90% discount on official inspection charges, a move aimed at easing regulatory… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESRed diesel prices spike by 60% as supplies remain tightRed diesel prices in the UK have skyrocketed following conflict in the Middle East, with prices lifting by more than 60% in the past month. Prices collected by Farmers Weekly… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK finished pig prices fall to three-year lowFinished pig prices have fallen by 13p/kg since the start of the year, reaching their lowest levels since the industry backlogs of 2022. The Standard Pig Price stood at 184.6p/kg… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESHeating oil crisis deepens as ministers consider supportThe heating oil crisis affecting rural households and farm businesses has intensified, with the competition watchdog launching an investigation into suppliers and ministers preparing targeted support for those most exposed… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESGlobal demand for meat set to grow as production risesGlobal meat consumption is expected to increase over the next five years, with demand for red meat and poultry projected to climb. Dr Phil Hadley, secretary general of the International… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESScottish cattle numbers still falling but decline slowsQuality Meat Scotland (QMS) has projected that UK beef production could be on course for an 8% decline by 2030, if the domestic beef herd continues to fall. The Scottish… Advertisements Land in your areaSee all LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2025: East MidlandsA slowdown in new instructions and completed sales in the East Midlands was evident in the spring and summer. The combination of downward pressures of extreme weather, economic challenges, crop… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2025: West MidlandsSupplies of farmland in the West Midlands have bucked the national trend with the number of acres marketed in 2025 among the highest for five years. According to rural agents,… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2025: South-east EnglandWhile the market for farmland in the south-east of England is undeniably cautious, land that is well presented and sensibly priced continues to find a buyer. The acreage launched in… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2025: North-west EnglandSales of smaller blocks of bare land have been the most common feature in market activity in the north-west of England in 2025. This is a development which agents say… Most popular this week
