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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Expert advice on managing arable fixed costs

A greater focus on labour and machinery costs, including depreciation, will potentially lead to a better arable net margin.     With no standard format for labour and machinery costs they often…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Farmers cut fertiliser use in response to rocketing prices

Major disruption to fertiliser supplies from the Middle East has led to prices surging throughout the spring and becoming unaffordable for many farm businesses. Global nitrogen demand is forecast to…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Improved OSR crop offers relief for UK growers

Growers with oilseed rape in the ground are generally faring better than at this time last year, with crops progressing well and farmgate prices remaining relatively supported. More than 80%…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

UK beef and sheep numbers contract at worrying rate

The UK’s beef suckler herd has declined by 20% in the past decade, with 313,000 fewer breeding beef cows on farm than in 2015. This worrying trend has continued in…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

'Inactive' farmers in Wales set to gain from farm support

A north Wales common land grazier has warned that payments under the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) could benefit individuals who are not actively farming, raising questions about how support is…

BUSINESS

Farmers hit by red diesel price surge as PM offers no relief

Farmers facing a sharp rise in red diesel costs were told during a Commons debate on the Middle East crisis that the government was “looking at contingencies” but had offered…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Supply chain adjudicator seeks dairy farmer feedback

Dairy producers are being encouraged to share their views on milk pricing and supply chain relationships with Defra’s agricultural supply chain adjudicator. A sharp fall in farmgate milk prices in…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How UK milk producers score on efficiency but lose on profit

The European Dairy Farmers is a hub for farm economics and comparative costings, with more than 450 farmer members across 18 countries. The UK group includes a wide range of…

BUSINESS

Farmers challenge rule changes to phone mast deals

Changes to mobile phone mast regulations risk driving thousands of rural landowners away from co-operation with network operators, threatening both farm incomes and the UK’s wider mobile coverage. The changes,…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Ag inflation at highest rate since invasion of Ukraine

Agricultural input inflation - agflation - is now rising at its fastest rate since early 2022, with the war in the Middle East signalling an even tighter squeeze on margins…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

Farmers to share in £4.5m grant for wetting lowland peats

Farmers and landowners across England can apply for new funding launched by the Environment Agency to improve water management in lowland peat areas. Up to £4.5m is available through the…

BUSINESS

M&S offers farmers decade-long contracts for beef and sheep

Retail giant M&S has announced a £2.1bn investment in its British lamb and beef supply chain, aiming to provide long-term certainty for thousands of farmers amid ongoing industry pressures. The…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Arable farmers struggle to invest in new tractors

Arable farming regions of the UK are lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of new tractor purchases, as rising costs and stagnant prices continue to squeeze margins.…

LAND MARKETS

Farms and bare land launch from Northumberland to Devon

A range of bare blocks of land and smaller holdings are the bulk of new launches this week. But one farm is larger in scale and offers a blank canvas…

Business news

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Improved OSR crop offers relief for UK growers

Growers with oilseed rape in the ground are generally faring better than at this time last year, with crops progressing well and farmgate prices remaining relatively supported. More than 80%…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

UK beef and sheep numbers contract at worrying rate

The UK’s beef suckler herd has declined by 20% in the past decade, with 313,000 fewer breeding beef cows on farm than in 2015. This worrying trend has continued in…

BUSINESS

Farmers hit by red diesel price surge as PM offers no relief

Farmers facing a sharp rise in red diesel costs were told during a Commons debate on the Middle East crisis that the government was “looking at contingencies” but had offered…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Supply chain adjudicator seeks dairy farmer feedback

Dairy producers are being encouraged to share their views on milk pricing and supply chain relationships with Defra’s agricultural supply chain adjudicator. A sharp fall in farmgate milk prices in…

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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Expert advice on managing arable fixed costs

A greater focus on labour and machinery costs, including depreciation, will potentially lead to a better arable net margin.     With no standard format for labour and machinery costs they often…

DIVERSIFICATION

Structural considerations before converting a farm building

Many 20th-century farm buildings are being repurposed for diversification projects, but their conversion and change of use needs more care and attention at the early stages, advises Savills architect Andrew…

TAX

Why a check on trading activity could preserve IHT relief

Lower farming incomes and profits, alongside the search for alternative incomes to make up for this, mean more businesses are moving closer to the point where they will be judged…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: How do we set up permissive access?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Richie Rees, legal director in Thrings’ agricultural litigation team, outlines what's involved in granting…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Farm's buyer wants pre-exchange inspection

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Sam Johnson, associate partner with Carter Jonas, Harrogate, sets out how a request for…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice needed for farm's new bookkeeper

Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Kate Bell, of Albert Goodman chartered accountants, advises on bookkeeping practice so that year-end information…

DIVERSIFICATION

How padel can make a profitable farm diversification

From 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…

FINANCE

How the Universal Credit system is failing farming families

Falling 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 MANAGEMENT

Share farming rises up agenda as a farm structure choice

Once 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 CLINIC

Business 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 CLINIC

Business 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 CLINIC

Business 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…

DIVERSIFICATION

How business rate changes will affect alternative enterprises

Defra 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…

TAX

Advice on improving year-end planning and profit forecasting

Year-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 MANAGEMENT

7 ways to beef up your farm’s cybersecurity

Farming 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 ENERGY

10 ways to mitigate April's rising electricity charges

Wholesale 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…

Business Clinic

BUSINESS CLINIC

Can FW's Business Clinic experts solve your farming problem?

Business Clinic is a free service for readers, offering expert advice on legal, tax, finance, farm and land management issues from law firm Thrings, accountant Albert Goodman and land agent…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: How do we set up permissive access?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Richie Rees, legal director in Thrings’ agricultural litigation team, outlines what's involved in granting…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Farm's buyer wants pre-exchange inspection

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Sam Johnson, associate partner with Carter Jonas, Harrogate, sets out how a request for…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice needed for farm's new bookkeeper

Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Kate Bell, of Albert Goodman chartered accountants, advises on bookkeeping practice so that year-end information…

 
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Markets and trends

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Improved OSR crop offers relief for UK growers

Growers with oilseed rape in the ground are generally faring better than at this time last year, with crops progressing well and farmgate prices remaining relatively supported. More than 80%…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

UK beef and sheep numbers contract at worrying rate

The UK’s beef suckler herd has declined by 20% in the past decade, with 313,000 fewer breeding beef cows on farm than in 2015. This worrying trend has continued in…

BUSINESS

Farmers hit by red diesel price surge as PM offers no relief

Farmers facing a sharp rise in red diesel costs were told during a Commons debate on the Middle East crisis that the government was “looking at contingencies” but had offered…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Supply chain adjudicator seeks dairy farmer feedback

Dairy producers are being encouraged to share their views on milk pricing and supply chain relationships with Defra’s agricultural supply chain adjudicator. A sharp fall in farmgate milk prices in…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Arable farmers struggle to invest in new tractors

Arable farming regions of the UK are lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of new tractor purchases, as rising costs and stagnant prices continue to squeeze margins.…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat futures fall to £173/t in response to Iran ceasefire

The provisional agreement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route has weighed on global commodity prices this week.…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Organic producers gain access to Japan’s booming market

British organic producers have gained new access to Japan’s fast-growing market after the UK and Japan mutually recognised organic livestock standards from 1 April 2026, reducing trade barriers. The agreement…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Sugar beet growers offered sustainability payments

British Sugar has launched a new voluntary scheme, which will financially incentivise sugar beet growers to reduce carbon emissions on farm. The initiative will offer growers financial rewards for carrying…

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…

 
 
 

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