Business top stories 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… 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… NVZSFarmers invited to apply for 2026 NVZ grassland derogationFarm businesses operating within nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) can now apply for an annual grassland derogation for 2026. Applications must be submitted to the Environment Agency (EA) by 31 December… BUSINESSHelen Herniman appointed chief executive at AHDBQualified chartered accountant and experienced industry leader Helen Herniman has been appointed as the new chief executive of the AHDB. She will take up her appointment on 5 January 2026,… 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… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESUK oilseeds area rebounds after best establishment in yearsSome confidence has returned to the oilseeds sector as growers report the “best establishment in years” following a favourable planting window for the crop. Grower-owned co-operative United Oilseeds forecasts the… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade strengthens as tight supplies support pricesThe lamb trade appears to have turned a corner, with tighter supplies and improved export demand helping prices recover in recent weeks. Deadweight lamb prices plateaued during October, but have… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESRedundancies at maltsters raise alarm for barley growersThe Scottish malting barley sector has been hit with fresh challenges over the past month as several maltsters look to scale back operations. Despite higher yields and a bumper barley… BUSINESSNew genetic export opportunities for sheep and goat breedersA new trade agreement to export genetic material to Kenya has opened the door for UK sheep and goat breeders to a 46 million-strong livestock market. The UK government agreement,… MARKETS AND TRENDSUnited Oilseeds maintains a profit despite smaller cropGrower-owned co-operative United Oilseeds reported a pre-tax profit of £1.2m in the financial year ending June 2025. This was down from levels a year earlier of £1.8m. However, this had… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAppeal win strengthens diversification rights for farmersA Sussex rural business owner has won a key planning appeal that could make it easier for others to convert redundant agricultural buildings for flexible commercial use under Class R… 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… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESArable farmers hit hardest by rising input costsRising input costs have hit arable farmers hard over the past 12 months at a time when yields and output values have been under pressure, according to the latest AF… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTMarts and farmers £3m out of pocket after Mutchmeats collapseLivestock auction marts, farmers and other unsecured trade creditors are more than £3m out of pocket following the collapse of Oxfordshire-based abattoir Mutchmeats. The abattoir was placed in administration on… Business newsSee all NVZSFarmers invited to apply for 2026 NVZ grassland derogationFarm businesses operating within nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) can now apply for an annual grassland derogation for 2026. Applications must be submitted to the Environment Agency (EA) by 31 December… BUSINESSHelen Herniman appointed chief executive at AHDBQualified chartered accountant and experienced industry leader Helen Herniman has been appointed as the new chief executive of the AHDB. She will take up her appointment on 5 January 2026,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade strengthens as tight supplies support pricesThe lamb trade appears to have turned a corner, with tighter supplies and improved export demand helping prices recover in recent weeks. Deadweight lamb prices plateaued during October, but have… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESRedundancies at maltsters raise alarm for barley growersThe Scottish malting barley sector has been hit with fresh challenges over the past month as several maltsters look to scale back operations. Despite higher yields and a bumper barley… 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 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… DIVERSIFICATIONWhy story and standards are key in marketing farm produceIt’s clear that social media and digital communications are increasingly important in marketing farm produce and services in diversified businesses. However, it is the story, standards and ethos of a… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Reclaiming VAT on private and business 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 how to approach… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Should I lease my land for battery storage?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Eve Laws, a partner in Thrings’ agriculture and clean energy teams, advises… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSStacking income: What is it and how to do it on farmVolatile prices and weather extremes have added risk and uncertainty to farm businesses while dwindling government support has caused a shortfall between pre- and post-Brexit incomes. To make up that… DIVERSIFICATIONTransition webinar: How to start a new farm-based businessIn the latest of our Transition Webinar series, we look at how to diversify into a new farm-based business to help secure a stable income to support the main focus… TENANCIES AND RENTSAdvice on tax and legal issues when a farm tenancy endsA careful approach is needed where a landlord wants to regain vacant possession of farmland or a tenant wants to surrender the tenancy so that, ideally, the legal and tax… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow to start improving on-farm water qualityPutting resilience measures into a farming business is one of the best ways to protect water, prevent pollution and retain more water in the landscape. With many of the major… STAFF MANAGEMENTHow agriculture can beat the labour crisis with new recruitsAgriculture has traditionally recruited workers from within its own ranks. But labour shortages and new farming techniques mean farmers should look beyond established recruitment sources to find the right person… SUCCESSION PLANNINGLifetime gifting: Advice on implications and considerationsGiving away farming and other assets without thinking through the day-to-day and longer term consequences can simply mean swapping a potential tax problem for a raft of other complications, warn… FARM ENERGYAdvice on legal and tax angles for renewables projectsSolar developers continue to look for sites and interested landowners can do much to put themselves in the best position to proceed. Interest in potential wind turbine sites is also… TENANCIES AND RENTSTenancy succession - advice on meeting the suitability testThe suitability test is one of three hurdles to clear in tenancy succession, and the bar was raised in September 2024 alongside other changes to the requirements in England and… LAND MARKETSLand Registry delays improve but process still frustratesAll registration applications are now being processed within 10.9 months of submission, according to new data from the Land Registry. This is ahead of the goal the organisation had set… BUSINESSFarmers Weekly Awards 2025: Farm Manager of the YearRyan McCormack, Dennington Hall Farms, is Farmers Weekly Farm Manager of the Year In just over three years, Ryan has made his mark at Dennington Hall Farms, bringing enthusiasm, energy… Business Clinic 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 CLINICBusiness Clinic: Reclaiming VAT on private and business 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 how to approach… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Should I lease my land for battery storage?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Eve Laws, a partner in Thrings’ agriculture and clean energy teams, advises… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Neighbour may be encroaching on our landWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Jessica Moore, solicitor in Thrings’ agricultural litigation team, advises on how to… View all Business Clinic articles Markets and trendsSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade strengthens as tight supplies support pricesThe lamb trade appears to have turned a corner, with tighter supplies and improved export demand helping prices recover in recent weeks. Deadweight lamb prices plateaued during October, but have… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESRedundancies at maltsters raise alarm for barley growersThe Scottish malting barley sector has been hit with fresh challenges over the past month as several maltsters look to scale back operations. Despite higher yields and a bumper barley… MARKETS AND TRENDSUnited Oilseeds maintains a profit despite smaller cropGrower-owned co-operative United Oilseeds reported a pre-tax profit of £1.2m in the financial year ending June 2025. This was down from levels a year earlier of £1.8m. However, this had… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESArable farmers hit hardest by rising input costsRising input costs have hit arable farmers hard over the past 12 months at a time when yields and output values have been under pressure, according to the latest AF… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESFertiliser demand muted as growers struggle with cashflowsTight margins for arable enterprises have hit fertiliser demand in the short term, with merchants reporting a lack of forward buying as many growers delay purchases until the spring. Fertiliser… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESWheat quality improves in 2025 despite regional challengesAlmost half (47%) of Group 1 milling wheat sampled as part of AHDB’s Cereal Quality Survey met or exceeded the typical Group 1 bread wheat specification for 2025. This represents… MARKETS AND TRENDSTAC warns of pesticide threats in India trade dealThe Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) has warned that the UK-India free trade agreement (FTA) could leave British farmers facing unfair competition and environmental risks from India’s use of pesticides… BUSINESSScottish census reveals worrying fall in livestock numbersCattle numbers in Scotland have contracted again during the past year, dropping by 14,500 head between June 2024 and June 2025 to total 1,65m head. This represents a 1% fall… 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
