Business top stories BUSINESS MANAGEMENTNorth West pipeline project: Why farmers need to engage earlyThe 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 AgricultureProfit 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… BUSINESSMuller plans up to 90 redundancies at Skelmersdale siteMajor 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… BUSINESSHow wind power can make farm energy use more resilientRising energy costs and an increasing focus on farm resilience are pushing more farmers to look at renewable power that they can rely on for decades. The Britwind H5 turbine… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTFW Question Time: Farm profitability heads discussionProfitability in farming was top of the agenda at the first Farmers Weekly Question Time of the year, held at the Oxford Farming Conference. A panel of food and farming… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESTight supplies keep lamb trade above £7/kgA shortage of lambs coming forward at livestock markets and abattoirs has helped the trade get off to a strong start in 2026. The GB deadweight SQQ lifted to 721p/kg… MARKETS AND TRENDSTractor registrations lowest since records beganDemand 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… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness 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… LAND MARKETSFarmland prices fall 5% as confidence wanesThe 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 PRICESRABDF warns of further producers leaving dairy sectorThe 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… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2025: East of EnglandThe surge in sales of farmland that was widely predicted in the wake of inheritance tax (IHT) relief reform has not materialised in the eastern counties of England – indeed,… TAXFurther farm IHT changes ruled out by ReynoldsDefra secretary Emma Reynolds has ruled out any further government amendments to its controversial farm inheritance tax (IHT) reforms, telling farmers and industry bodies the policy is now settled. Speaking… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESEU suspends fertiliser tariffs and seeks to halt carbon taxThe 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… BUSINESSNFU demands more clarity on SFI 2026 reopeningThe NFU has warned that farmers urgently need more detail on Defra’s plans to reopen the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFI), despite confirmation that two application windows will open in 2026.… Business newsSee all MARKETS AND TRENDSTractor registrations lowest since records beganDemand 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 MARKETSFarmland prices fall 5% as confidence wanesThe 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 PRICESRABDF warns of further producers leaving dairy sectorThe 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… TAXFurther farm IHT changes ruled out by ReynoldsDefra secretary Emma Reynolds has ruled out any further government amendments to its controversial farm inheritance tax (IHT) reforms, telling farmers and industry bodies the policy is now settled. Speaking… 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 BUSINESS MANAGEMENTNorth West pipeline project: Why farmers need to engage earlyThe 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 CLINICBusiness 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 CLINICBusiness 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 MANAGEMENTHow focus on 'cost of doing work' lifts dairy efficiencySteep 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 CLINICBusiness Clinic: We can't find cash to pay January tax billsWhether 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… BUSINESSHow a dairy farm solved planning permission and successionOne 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… BUSINESSFarming partnership prompts move from Hampshire to SomersetBen 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 PLANNINGFarm succession: how to plan for future control and ownershipThere 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 MARKETSPlanning 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 CLINICBusiness Clinic: Tax advice on sheds let for commercial useWhether 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 CLINICBusiness 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 CLINICBusiness 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 SAFETYAdvice on employers' liability, injury and H&S managementEmployers’ 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… TAXAdvice on keeping accurate accounts to pay the right taxEfficient 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… BUSINESSExecutors and trustees – their roles and responsibilitiesWith 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 CLINICBusiness Clinic: Will known issues derail sale of our farm?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Andrew Chandler, head of rural agency with Carter Jonas, advises on how… Business Clinic BUSINESS CLINICBusiness 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 CLINICBusiness 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 CLINICBusiness Clinic: We can't find cash to pay January tax billsWhether 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 CLINICBusiness Clinic: Tax advice on sheds let for commercial useWhether 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… View all Business Clinic articles Markets and trendsSee all MARKETS AND TRENDSTractor registrations lowest since records beganDemand 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 MARKETSFarmland prices fall 5% as confidence wanesThe 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 PRICESRABDF warns of further producers leaving dairy sectorThe 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 PRICESEU suspends fertiliser tariffs and seeks to halt carbon taxThe 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… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESGlobal wheat surplus keeps prices in check into new yearA large global wheat surplus continues to dominate market sentiment despite other geopolitical drivers, keeping wheat prices at persistently low levels. May 2026 UK feed wheat futures started the new… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESUplift at GDT auction offers hope amid falling milk pricesA jump in wholesale dairy values at the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction on 6 January will come as welcome news for dairy farmers, following an exceptionally challenging few months… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK beef granted reciprocal access to US marketA quota for UK beef exports to the US has been introduced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, allowing up to 13,000t of British beef a year… LAND MARKETSWelsh government group explores Crown Estate takeoverA new working group set up by the Labour-run Welsh government has had its first meeting, exploring ways of exerting control over the Crown Estate’s land in Wales and redirecting… 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: 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… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2025: North-east EnglandAgents are reporting an uptick in landowners seeking formal market appraisals of farms and bare land in the north-east of England. Firms operating in the region are confident the market… Most popular this week
