Business top stories BUSINESSMilk costs report shows record yields in challenging yearUncertainty is the only certainty, with the weather and geopolitics pushing dairy costs, prices and performance to new limits in the milk year ended March 2026. The Kingshay Dairy Costings… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESSpike in red diesel prices as Middle East conflict continuesRed diesel prices have soared into three-figure territory again, putting extra cost pressure on farmers and growers looking to run their machinery during the busy autumn period. Two weeks ago,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade holds firm despite export market cautionThe prime lamb trade is starting to strengthen, with latest auction returns showing prices holding well despite an increase of lambs now coming forward. “The dry weather conditions experienced in… TENANCIES AND RENTSTFA urges tenant farmers to seek rent cuts of up to 20%Tenant farmers are being urged to seek rent cuts of 10-20% this autumn as falling yields, weak returns and persistently high costs leave many farm businesses under severe financial pressure.… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESFeed price rises point to tighter margins this winter Livestock feed prices are rising heading into winter thanks to a combination of geopolitical issues, concerns over the US harvest and a shortage of forage. Tighter grain availability is putting… FARM ENERGYRecord heat pump demand from oil-heated homesDemand for heat pumps has reached a record high, with thousands of heating-oil households in England and Wales taking advantage of a £9,000 government grant to move away from fossil-fuel… BUSINESSHow planning reforms help farms and rural businessHailed as the biggest planning reform in a generation, the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is more supportive of development by farmers and landowners both in terms of their… LAND MARKETSDecent acreages offered as whole farms and bare land blocksAutumn sees the launch of a 684-acre mixed farm with a reservoir and secondary income generated by six residential properties. Oaks Farm, near Nottingham, is set in a ring fence… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESGet ahead with fertiliser orders, advise tradersFarmers are being advised to order their fertiliser early this year, to ensure sufficient supplies for the spring application window. The Farming Fertiliser Stakeholder Group, which comprises a range of… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESDrought means tough autumn choices for organic dairy herdsFollowing a tough forage year in 2025, most organic producers have no surplus. There are big regional differences in the degree of challenge, with the Midlands particularly badly affected, say… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESPolitical turmoil sends rapeseed prices up againOilseed rape prices have soared to a six-week high, having jumped by 7% since 24 August. Paris November rapeseed futures rose from €521/t (£446/t) to €558/t (£478/t) on Tuesday 1… GRANTSCapital Grants 2026 scheme closed as funds exhaustedDefra has confirmed that all of the £225m available for capital grants in 2026 has been allocated and the scheme is now closed, just one month after it first opened.… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS£30m fund opens to support farmer collaborationFarmers in England could gain greater access to peer support, specialist advice and joint projects through a new £30m government collaboration fund. Applications have opened for the first round of… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can you advise on farm’s business structure?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner in Albert Goodman's farms and estates team, advises on the… Business newsSee all INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESSpike in red diesel prices as Middle East conflict continuesRed diesel prices have soared into three-figure territory again, putting extra cost pressure on farmers and growers looking to run their machinery during the busy autumn period. Two weeks ago,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade holds firm despite export market cautionThe prime lamb trade is starting to strengthen, with latest auction returns showing prices holding well despite an increase of lambs now coming forward. “The dry weather conditions experienced in… FARM ENERGYRecord heat pump demand from oil-heated homesDemand for heat pumps has reached a record high, with thousands of heating-oil households in England and Wales taking advantage of a £9,000 government grant to move away from fossil-fuel… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESPolitical turmoil sends rapeseed prices up againOilseed rape prices have soared to a six-week high, having jumped by 7% since 24 August. Paris November rapeseed futures rose from €521/t (£446/t) to €558/t (£478/t) on Tuesday 1… 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 BUSINESSHow planning reforms help farms and rural businessHailed as the biggest planning reform in a generation, the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is more supportive of development by farmers and landowners both in terms of their… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can you advise on farm’s business structure?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner in Albert Goodman's farms and estates team, advises on the… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Advice on AHA partial tenancy surrenderWhether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Duncan Sigournay, a partner and head of agriculture at law firm Thrings, and Carter Jonas… AWARDSFW Awards: Meet the 2026 Farm Manager of the Year finalistsThis year’s finalists share a drive to deliver premium produce while managing a large business in a rapidly changing landscape. See also: FW Awards: Meet the 2025 Farm Manager of… TAXIHT refunds and potential CGT savings on inherited assetsThe tax regime doesn’t get any simpler, but there are options for refunds and savings in limited circumstances that may not be widely known. This includes examples where assets in… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTWhy farmland trees need more care and attentionThe owners or occupiers of land have a duty to prevent trees from becoming a danger. The additional stress that this summer’s hot weather is putting on some species, alongside… TAXAdvice on new tax rules that affect farming familiesCuts to agricultural and business property reliefs from inheritance tax (IHT) took effect in April this year, and advisers are warning that HMRC is already asking more questions than previously,… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESBNG update: What the latest rule changes mean for farmersRecent rule changes mean many small building projects will no longer have to comply with the biodiversity net gain (BNG) regime. While this will remove some demand for biodiversity units,… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow savings can be made on metered farm water costsWater is the third biggest utility cost for most farms and despite being able to switch supplier and potentially make savings or simply get a better service, the vast majority… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can farm business have a company as partner?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Below, Kate Bell, partner, Albert Goodman farms and estates team, advises on the benefits and… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Will boiler scheme work for our farm estate?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Oxford-based Lucinda Brooks, a partner in Carter Jonas, advises on energy efficiency installation questions… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can a discretionary trust aid succession?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Harriet Neusinger a partner in Thrings’ succession and tax team, advises on how a… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTCash planning and management advice as dairy profits yo-yoDairy farms costed by accountant Old Mill and the Farm Consultancy Group made a profit of 12.43p/litre in the year ended 31 March 2026 on last year’s high milk prices.… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTActions four farmers have taken to mitigate extreme weatherExtended dry periods, storms, flooding and higher temperatures all occur more frequently, disrupting business. As the risks become clear an increasing number of farmers and growers are taking action to… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow contracting partnerships can cut fixed costs on farmDiminishing government support and geopolitical upheaval have hit margins, putting pressure on farm businesses to find new ways of transitioning to financial sustainability. Variable costs are usually the main target… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSAdvice on preparing for September's SFI26 application windowThe Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 has now been opened to applications from smaller farms and those without a current ELM agreement for almost a month, following last year’s abrupt closure… Business Clinic BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can you advise on farm’s business structure?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Kate Bell, a partner in Albert Goodman's farms and estates team, advises on the… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Advice on AHA partial tenancy surrenderWhether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Duncan Sigournay, a partner and head of agriculture at law firm Thrings, and Carter Jonas… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can farm business have a company as partner?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Below, Kate Bell, partner, Albert Goodman farms and estates team, advises on the benefits and… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Will boiler scheme work for our farm estate?Whether it’s a legal, tax, finance or management question, Farmers Weekly’s expert panel can help. Here, Oxford-based Lucinda Brooks, a partner in Carter Jonas, advises on energy efficiency installation questions… View all Business Clinic articles Markets and trendsSee all INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESSpike in red diesel prices as Middle East conflict continuesRed diesel prices have soared into three-figure territory again, putting extra cost pressure on farmers and growers looking to run their machinery during the busy autumn period. Two weeks ago,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLamb trade holds firm despite export market cautionThe prime lamb trade is starting to strengthen, with latest auction returns showing prices holding well despite an increase of lambs now coming forward. “The dry weather conditions experienced in… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESPolitical turmoil sends rapeseed prices up againOilseed rape prices have soared to a six-week high, having jumped by 7% since 24 August. Paris November rapeseed futures rose from €521/t (£446/t) to €558/t (£478/t) on Tuesday 1… DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICESMilk processors respond with higher prices as supplies tightenThe closing days of August have seen milk price announcements from several major processors, with most pushing through increases as supplies tighten. Muller Advantage farmers will receive a 2p/litre increase… LAND MARKETSDevon and Somerset offer choice of size and farm typeMoors in the south-west of England are the locations for two launches at very differing scales this week – a 2,137-acre upland farming estate and a 115-acre livestock farm. The… BUSINESSExport potential lifts pig market outlookMarket prospects have brightened for pig producers, with stronger German prices supporting confidence and Danish welfare and environmental reforms potentially creating new export opportunities for the UK. In the week… BUSINESSMilk prices rise as production comes under pressureThe UK milk market is shifting from oversupply towards tighter supplies, with processors potentially set to compete for milk, dairy analysts say. But higher prices may not be enough to… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESWheat rallies as Black Sea exports stallGrain markets have continued to strengthen, driven by adverse weather and ongoing disruption to Russian and Ukrainian exports. London wheat futures reached a contract high of £208/t for November delivery… 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: South-east EnglandWhile 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 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… Most popular this week
