Business top stories

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Dairy farmers losing thousands as price collapse bites

Dairy producers are starting to feel the impact of sharp reductions in milk prices as cuts by processors begin to filter through to farm level. A significant proportion of businesses…

FINANCE

Phone mast income ruling hits farmers and landowners

A 2025 Upper Tribunal ruling has confirmed that landowners are not entitled to payments from mobile phone mast site sharing, reducing income for farmers and other rural landowners across the…

NVZS

Slurry spreading rules highlighted as season reopens

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has reiterated pollution prevention rules as farmers across Wales prepare for the January reopening of the organic manure spreading season following winter restrictions. Measures introduced over…

BUSINESS

Farmer’s wife calls out supermarkets on British sourcing

A Cumbrian hill farmer’s wife has urged the UK’s biggest supermarkets to do more to support British farming, warning that continued reliance on imports risks undermining the nation’s long-term food…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Larger UK wheat crop may drive exports and weigh on prices

The expectation of a larger domestic wheat crop this year could leave the UK having to compete more on global export markets, according to grain industry specialists. A panel discussion…

BUSINESS

EU-Mercosur deal signed amid farmer outcry

After more than two decades of negotiations, the EU has formally signed a trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, creating one of the world’s…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to assess farm values and avoid being underinsured

Underinsurance is a persistent problem in farming and rural businesses. This means not only that the full cost of replacing a building, livestock or other assets will not be met,…

BUSINESS

Biggest slump recorded in high-powered tractor sales

The downturn in arable farming's fortunes over the past 12 months has been mirrored in the sales of tractors in the highest power bands, as the country’s grain producers rein…

BUSINESS

Scotch Beef finds new markets in Sweden

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is preparing for a landmark moment in international foodservice with the launch of its Scotch Beef Club in Sweden later this month, marking the initiative’s first…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2025: South-east England

While 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…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

North West pipeline project: Why farmers need to engage early

The Peak Cluster project is an underground pipeline running for almost 200km onshore, taking captured carbon dioxide from four cement and lime works to storage in former gas fields under…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

'Challenging' year sees profits fall at Frontier Agriculture

Profit before tax at grain merchant Frontier Agriculture dropped to £9.4m for the financial year ending 26 June 2025, down from £40m the previous year. Revenue dipped from £1.76bn to…

BUSINESS

Muller plans up to 90 redundancies at Skelmersdale site

Major milk processor Muller has confirmed plans to move fresh milk and cream production away from its Skelmersdale site in Lancashire and turn it into a facility for milk drying…

Business news

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DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Dairy farmers losing thousands as price collapse bites

Dairy producers are starting to feel the impact of sharp reductions in milk prices as cuts by processors begin to filter through to farm level. A significant proportion of businesses…

FINANCE

Phone mast income ruling hits farmers and landowners

A 2025 Upper Tribunal ruling has confirmed that landowners are not entitled to payments from mobile phone mast site sharing, reducing income for farmers and other rural landowners across the…

NVZS

Slurry spreading rules highlighted as season reopens

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has reiterated pollution prevention rules as farmers across Wales prepare for the January reopening of the organic manure spreading season following winter restrictions. Measures introduced over…

BUSINESS

Farmer’s wife calls out supermarkets on British sourcing

A Cumbrian hill farmer’s wife has urged the UK’s biggest supermarkets to do more to support British farming, warning that continued reliance on imports risks undermining the nation’s long-term food…

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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to assess farm values and avoid being underinsured

Underinsurance is a persistent problem in farming and rural businesses. This means not only that the full cost of replacing a building, livestock or other assets will not be met,…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

North West pipeline project: Why farmers need to engage early

The Peak Cluster project is an underground pipeline running for almost 200km onshore, taking captured carbon dioxide from four cement and lime works to storage in former gas fields under…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Should we undo inheritance plans?

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

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Film location offer - is there potential?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Lucinda Brooks, a partner in Carter Jonas’ estate management department, advises on…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How focus on 'cost of doing work' lifts dairy efficiency

Steep milk price cuts after better returns in the first half of the current milk year mean budgeting, cost management and cashflow forecasting need extra attention. Many dairy businesses, especially…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: We can't find cash to pay January tax bills

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner with accountant Albert Goodman, advises on an issue…

BUSINESS

How a dairy farm solved planning permission and succession

One dairy farming family is looking forward to building a new home on their holding in Derbyshire, thanks to the use of planning guidance which requires local authorities to consider…

BUSINESS

Farming partnership prompts move from Hampshire to Somerset

Ben and Molly Foote made the move from Hampshire to Somerset in October, to start milking on a former dairy farm where they are renovating and adding to the buildings.…

SUCCESSION PLANNING

Farm succession: how to plan for future control and ownership

There are many ways of achieving the successful transfer of a business. A planned change over time is the ideal, but the last two Budgets have ramped everything up several…

LAND MARKETS

Planning consent and lotting - when do they help a farm sale?

Maximising the value of your assets is clearly a sensible strategy when preparing to sell your farm, but sometimes the rewards don’t outweigh the time, effort and costs involved. Securing…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Tax advice on sheds let for commercial use

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner with accountant Albert Goodman, explains the many tax…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Are we liable for business rates assessment?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Richie Rees, legal director in Thrings’ agricultural litigation team, advises on what…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: How do we negotiate with a solar developer?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Mark Charter, head of estate management with Carter Jonas, Oxford, advises on…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Advice on employers' liability, injury and H&S management

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for any business using labour. It provides cover for legal liability for injury or illness caused to anyone working on the farm. Businesses…

TAX

Advice on keeping accurate accounts to pay the right tax

Efficient bookkeeping is fundamental to producing timely and accurate accounts for both tax and management purposes. Many arable farmers have March year ends and are likely to drop out of…

BUSINESS

Executors and trustees – their roles and responsibilities

With wills being written and reviewed as part of inheritance tax (IHT) and succession planning, it is vital to understand the role of the executor – the person responsible for…

Business Clinic

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Should we undo inheritance plans?

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

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Film location offer - is there potential?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Lucinda Brooks, a partner in Carter Jonas’ estate management department, advises on…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: We can't find cash to pay January tax bills

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner with accountant Albert Goodman, advises on an issue…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Tax advice on sheds let for commercial use

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner with accountant Albert Goodman, explains the many tax…

 

Markets and trends

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DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Dairy farmers losing thousands as price collapse bites

Dairy producers are starting to feel the impact of sharp reductions in milk prices as cuts by processors begin to filter through to farm level. A significant proportion of businesses…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Larger UK wheat crop may drive exports and weigh on prices

The expectation of a larger domestic wheat crop this year could leave the UK having to compete more on global export markets, according to grain industry specialists. A panel discussion…

BUSINESS

EU-Mercosur deal signed amid farmer outcry

After more than two decades of negotiations, the EU has formally signed a trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, creating one of the world’s…

BUSINESS

Scotch Beef finds new markets in Sweden

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is preparing for a landmark moment in international foodservice with the launch of its Scotch Beef Club in Sweden later this month, marking the initiative’s first…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Tractor registrations lowest since records began

Demand for tractors over 50hp has recorded its lowest number in almost a decade, with total figures at their worst since registrations began, says the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA). The…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland prices fall 5% as confidence wanes

The average price of bare agricultural land across England and Wales fell by an average of 5% in 2025, though the signs are that the market did flatten in the…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

RABDF warns of further producers leaving dairy sector

The UK dairy sector is braced for further consolidation following a sharp fall in milk prices which has left many producers being paid less than the cost of production. Robert…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

EU suspends fertiliser tariffs and seeks to halt carbon tax

The EU Commission has committed to making fertiliser more affordable for farmers in the bloc, following an extraordinary meeting of EU agriculture ministers on 7 January. It has introduced a…

Land in your area

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LAND MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2025: East Midlands

A 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 MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2025: West Midlands

Supplies 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 MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2025: South-east England

While 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 MARKETS

Farmland in your area 2025: North-west England

Sales 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…