Business top stories PLANNING PERMISSIONPlanning conditions: What they are and why they matterPlanning conditions can be a mixed blessing, but making sure they are properly discharged or varied correctly is important. The imposition of planning conditions allows development that wouldn’t otherwise be… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESRetailers press for clarity on feed and beef importsRetailers are urging the UK government to act more swiftly and fully implement new regulations restricting imports of certain feed products from deforested areas of the globe. The UK Forest… TENANCIES AND RENTSRural residential lettings - all change on energy efficiencyFor farmers in England and Wales renting out residential property, getting to grips with minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) and energy performance certificates (EPCs) has probably taken up more than… BUSINESSOnline course boosts consultant's sustainable ag insightFlexible, research-led training from Aberystwyth University to help you get to grips with sustainable agriculture. As someone who juggles advisory work, farm visits and the day-to-day realities of agriculture, George… MARKETS AND TRENDSNew tractor sales slump while second-hand kit sells wellRegistrations of larger tractors have fallen by more than one-third during the first half of 2025, as farm businesses try to keep a control on costs. Tight margins for arable… LAND MARKETSTheme park development brings farmer opportunitiesSitting in the middle of the reinvigorated Oxford-Cambridge development arc, Bedfordshire is already set to benefit from new transport upgrades. However, the announcement that Universal Studios is building the largest… TENANCIES AND RENTSPowys County Council calls halt to farm sell-offPlans to sell county council farms in Powys to boost a £10m annual assets sale target have been scrapped. The council came under fire in May when it made moves… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAnalysis: How to meet arable business challenges aheadThe next five years will present arable businesses with some critical decisions, whether they are in a regenerative system or not, says farm business consultant Andersons. “There are going to… LAND MARKETSChoice of farmland properties from Perthshire to KentA large upland sheep farm with revenue potential from several income streams is being launched in Perthshire. Carie, which sits on the banks of Loch Tay, near Aberfeldy, includes 270… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESWheat slips to £160/t as harvest approachesDomestic wheat markets remain under pressure, with a bearish global outlook and exchange rates making imports even more competitive versus UK grain. The spot price for ex-farm feed wheat collected… BUSINESSAustralian meat sector pulls plug on 2030 net zero pledgeThe Australian cattle industry has dropped a long-standing pledge to be net zero by 2030. Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) first committed to the target in 2017 for net zero… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESUK low-carbon fertiliser site opens in NewarkA plant capable of producing up to 4,000t of fertiliser a year has opened near Newark. Scottish wood pellets manufacturer Land Energy has launched the site in partnership with natural… FINANCEAdvice on switching lenders in a competitive marketLending to farming is a competitive market, with some banks active in seeking new farm business. While farmers have historically switched banks very infrequently, and often not at all, finance… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK beef retains strong price premium due to limited suppliesFinished cattle continue to trade at unprecedented levels with steers trading at a 155p/kg premium compared with the same period last year. Deadweight prices have eased back slightly since peaking… Business newsSee all MARKETS AND TRENDSNew tractor sales slump while second-hand kit sells wellRegistrations of larger tractors have fallen by more than one-third during the first half of 2025, as farm businesses try to keep a control on costs. Tight margins for arable… TENANCIES AND RENTSPowys County Council calls halt to farm sell-offPlans to sell county council farms in Powys to boost a £10m annual assets sale target have been scrapped. The council came under fire in May when it made moves… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESNSA seeks early access to Countryside Stewardship groundWith many parts of the country struggling with exceptionally dry weather, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has requested an urgent temporary derogation for grazing certain environmental land options that are… BUSINESSAustralian meat sector pulls plug on 2030 net zero pledgeThe Australian cattle industry has dropped a long-standing pledge to be net zero by 2030. Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) first committed to the target in 2017 for net zero… 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 PLANNING PERMISSIONPlanning conditions: What they are and why they matterPlanning conditions can be a mixed blessing, but making sure they are properly discharged or varied correctly is important. The imposition of planning conditions allows development that wouldn’t otherwise be… LAND MARKETSTheme park development brings farmer opportunitiesSitting in the middle of the reinvigorated Oxford-Cambridge development arc, Bedfordshire is already set to benefit from new transport upgrades. However, the announcement that Universal Studios is building the largest… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTDrone rules and how to deal with problem flying over farmsDrones with built-in cameras threaten not just privacy on farms and rural estates, but security as well. In the wrong hands they could be used to gather footage of high-value… PARTNERSHIPSCommon farm partnership accounts errors and how to avoid themMany farming partnership accounts contain errors which cause complications, cost and stress when there is a change, such as a death or retirement from the business, or a dispute. As… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can we convert farm building to a large house?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, planning expert Nicola Quick, a partner with Carter Jonas, sets out how… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can I be in two partnerships at the same time?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Rob James, a partner in law firm Thrings, advises on an unusual… PARTNERSHIPSPutting in place the right company structure for farmsHistorically, setting up a limited company that becomes an additional partner in the business has been an option used by some farming businesses. Iain McVicar, managing partner at accountant Albert… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Advice on fluctuating partnership capitalWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Kate Bell of accountant Albert Goodman sets out considerations on partnership capital… PLANNING PERMISSIONGuidance on planning an on-farm irrigation reservoirAbstracting from water sources is common in arable and livestock systems. However, the practice is under intense scrutiny from regulatory bodies as water becomes scarcer, demand increases, and concerns grow… PLANNING PERMISSIONOn-farm developments: Advice on planning consent approvalNavigating the planning process can be daunting for a farm business in an environment where local planning authorities and statutory consultees are continually raising the bar on the conditions dictating… PLANNING PERMISSIONWhat fast-track development planning will mean for farmsBuild, build, build. That has been the Labour government’s mantra since it came to power almost 12 months ago, and last week’s Spending Review only reinforced the narrative. In her… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow farmers and contractors can pursue poor payersManaging cashflow is an ever-present challenge. Late payments add an extra complication, and with customers under financial pressure, farmers can find themselves spending more time chasing what is due to… TAXIHT planning must include an all round review of assetsA full inheritance tax (IHT) review should not only look at the farming and business assets, but draw up a list of all items that might come into charge for… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can farmworker aid semi-retirement plan?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Edward Beale of Carter Jonas and Andrew Morris of law firm Thrings… TENANCIES AND RENTSHow to make landlord-tenant arbitration smootherIt is not uncommon for a dispute over as little as £2,000/year in farm rent to cost the losing party £40,000 or more when that difference of opinion is settled… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTCommon diversification insurance claims and how to avoid themFarm insurance covers the policyholder only for farming activities. Cover for alternative enterprises needs careful thought, in terms of both the liability and the potential cost of property damage and… Business Clinic BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can we convert farm building to a large house?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, planning expert Nicola Quick, a partner with Carter Jonas, sets out how… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can I be in two partnerships at the same time?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Rob James, a partner in law firm Thrings, advises on an unusual… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Advice on fluctuating partnership capitalWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Kate Bell of accountant Albert Goodman sets out considerations on partnership capital… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can farmworker aid semi-retirement plan?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Edward Beale of Carter Jonas and Andrew Morris of law firm Thrings… View all Business Clinic articles Markets and trendsSee all MARKETS AND TRENDSNew tractor sales slump while second-hand kit sells wellRegistrations of larger tractors have fallen by more than one-third during the first half of 2025, as farm businesses try to keep a control on costs. Tight margins for arable… BUSINESSAustralian meat sector pulls plug on 2030 net zero pledgeThe Australian cattle industry has dropped a long-standing pledge to be net zero by 2030. Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) first committed to the target in 2017 for net zero… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESUK low-carbon fertiliser site opens in NewarkA plant capable of producing up to 4,000t of fertiliser a year has opened near Newark. Scottish wood pellets manufacturer Land Energy has launched the site in partnership with natural… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK beef retains strong price premium due to limited suppliesFinished cattle continue to trade at unprecedented levels with steers trading at a 155p/kg premium compared with the same period last year. Deadweight prices have eased back slightly since peaking… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESPoultry markets perform well in 2025 despite mixed outlookBroiler prices in the EU have surpassed €3/kg (£2.58) to a new record high, having been on an upwards trajectory since the start of the year. The EU broiler price… BUSINESSNSA adds additional ram sales amid bluetongue restrictionsThe National Sheep Association (NSA) is holding additional ram sales this summer in response to bluetongue regulations in Wales, which restricted animal movements from 1 July. The decision has been… MARKETS AND TRENDSFirst-half tractor registrations down 25% on averageNew tractor registrations for the first half of the year have dropped by 17% compared to the same period last year, marking the lowest level recorded by this point in… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESStanding straw auctions kick off season on a highAuctioneers have reported exceptional demand for standing straw ahead of harvest, although there seems to be a great deal of variation between locations. A “tremendous” trade was observed by auctioneering… Advertisements Land in your areaSee all LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: East MidlandsAgents 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 MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: Yorkshire and HumberPrivate 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 MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: East of EnglandWhole farm and bare land sales in the east of England were at one of their highest ever volumes in 2024, and the majority of sales were to farmers. By… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: South East EnglandSales of farmland were up by almost a quarter in the south-east of England in 2024, with a significant number of off-market deals. There seems to be no real trend… Most popular this week
