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All articles about Input markets and prices

Keep up with the latest prices for agricultural production inputs, including red diesel and fuel, straw and bedding, livestock feed, crop fertiliser and agchems. See how global market pressures and trends are influencing prices for agriculture and what that means for your farm budget.

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INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Steep price rises put focus on machinery costs

High machinery costs, leading to a high depreciation burden, are forcing a rethink on replacement policies and how operations are managed. The relentless rise in machinery costs has pushed up…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Farm input inflation more than double rate of output rises

Rises in farm output values are being dwarfed by soaring input costs, with July estimates calculating an annual ag inflation rate of 23.5% – more than double the 10.1% growth…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Why a cohabitation agreement could help protect family farms

There has been a substantial increase in recent decades in the number of people choosing to live together without getting married. In 2020, 18% of couples who lived together in…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Water deregulation: Farms ignoring opportunity to cut bills

It has been more than two years since the water market was deregulated in England, allowing businesses to pick their own water and sewerage supplier. This followed the lead set…

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Insights

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

How the carbon tax on fertiliser will impact farm businesses

A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Cbam) is due to be implemented by the government from 1 January 2027, leading to higher fertiliser costs on farm. However, the industry is still…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Details on land control agreements to be made available

The government is planning to collect more detail about contractual agreements relating to land in England and Wales and to make it freely available. This will include, among others, contracts…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Survey shows high fertiliser prices accelerated falling trend

Average field rates, the percentage of land dressed and overall application rates of the main nutrients fell in the 2022 harvest year on both crop and grass land. The British…

BUSINESS

Fertiliser market developments after disruption of 2022

As an island with just one domestic ammonium nitrate (AN) manufacturer, the UK is exposed, relying heavily on imports for crucial plant nutrients. Gas had become the feedstock of choice…

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News

BUSINESS

Treasury quashes rumours of red diesel tax hike

The Treasury has dismissed growing concerns about a potential increase in tax on red diesel used by farmers, reassuring agricultural businesses that no such change will be made in the…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Red diesel falls below 70p/litre as crude oil markets dip

Falling fuel markets will come as welcome news to many agricultural businesses and contractors ahead of a busy spring period on farm. Market commentators have also indicated that further reductions…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Fertiliser tax exemptions and changes under consideration

The EU Commission has proposed changes and partial delays to its carbon tax on imports of fertiliser and steel, known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Cbam), and the UK…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Animal feed in high demand as livestock margins improve

Better returns for livestock producers have helped drive up demand for animal feed so far during the 2024-25 season. Margins have improved on farm as a result of lower feed…

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