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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How collaboration can strengthen farm businesses

Farm businesses are often perceived as the weakest link within the food supply chain, with retailers, processors, and merchants holding the majority of power. However, collaboration through co-operatives and producer…

LAND MARKETS

Land market in 2025: Scotland

Pressure on farm margins heightened price sensitivity in the Scottish farmland market in 2025. While parts of the east coast, including Angus, East Lothian and Fife, saw sale prices well…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU seeks sampling improvements in future grain contracts

The NFU has called for a major overhaul of combinable crop contracts, claiming the scales have been “tipped against growers for far too long”. It has submitted its official response…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Where now for the tenanted farm sector?

The Annual Agricultural Land Occupation Surveys for Great Britain 2024 confirm once again the dearth of new opportunities to rent farms and land, and that more than 90% of new…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Home Office visa decision sparks shearer shortage fears

Farm leaders have warned a Home Office decision blocking visa-free entry for overseas sheep shearers risks worsening labour shortages in the sector. Since 2011, a temporary concession has been granted…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Long road to recovery for dairy sector as prices cut further

Dairy consultants and analysts are forecasting farmgate milk prices to remain at low levels throughout the spring, with no major price rallies expected until the second half of the year.…

BUSINESS

Business Clinic: Rates and EPCs on building conversions

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, chartered surveyor Sam Shaikh from Carter Jonas’ Taunton office explains the business rates…

BUSINESS

McCain launches Farm of the Future in Yorkshire

Multinational potato processor McCain is launching a 200ha farm in North Yorkshire to carry out commercial-scale projects and drive innovation in the sector. McCain says its “Farm of the Future”…

BUSINESS

NFU owned planning firms rebranded as new consultancy group

Three consultancy firms covering commercial, agricultural and residential planning all owned by the NFU have been amalgamated to become the 1908 Group. Acorus Rural Property Services, PWA Planning and Woolf…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK cereals demand hit by bioethanol losses and maltster cuts

Demand for UK cereals has plummeted as a result of the closure of the UK’s major bioethanol plants and decreased usage by brewers, maltsters and distillers. The UK cereals supply…

MILK PRICES

Farmgate milk prices face further cuts in February and March

Farmers supplying major dairy co-operative Arla will face an additional 1.75p/litre price cut for February, taking its standard manufacturing litre to 33.98p/litre. Arla producers will receive 14.29p/litre less in February…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice on first registration of land parcels

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly‘s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Chloe Cosham, a solicitor in Thrings agriculture team, sets out issues to consider…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to manage farm data to improve profitability

Farmers can now access data on an unprecedented scale, enabled by robotic milkers, soil sensors, GPS-guided tractors, precision sprayers, drones and automated irrigation systems to name but some of the…

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU seeks sampling improvements in future grain contracts

The NFU has called for a major overhaul of combinable crop contracts, claiming the scales have been “tipped against growers for far too long”. It has submitted its official response…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Home Office visa decision sparks shearer shortage fears

Farm leaders have warned a Home Office decision blocking visa-free entry for overseas sheep shearers risks worsening labour shortages in the sector. Since 2011, a temporary concession has been granted…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Long road to recovery for dairy sector as prices cut further

Dairy consultants and analysts are forecasting farmgate milk prices to remain at low levels throughout the spring, with no major price rallies expected until the second half of the year.…

BUSINESS

McCain launches Farm of the Future in Yorkshire

Multinational potato processor McCain is launching a 200ha farm in North Yorkshire to carry out commercial-scale projects and drive innovation in the sector. McCain says its “Farm of the Future”…

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BUSINESS

Business Clinic: Rates and EPCs on building conversions

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, chartered surveyor Sam Shaikh from Carter Jonas’ Taunton office explains the business rates…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice on first registration of land parcels

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly‘s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Chloe Cosham, a solicitor in Thrings agriculture team, sets out issues to consider…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to manage farm data to improve profitability

Farmers can now access data on an unprecedented scale, enabled by robotic milkers, soil sensors, GPS-guided tractors, precision sprayers, drones and automated irrigation systems to name but some of the…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice on farming company profit forecasting

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…

DIVERSIFICATION

How robust livery contracts help avoid disputes

Business cost increases, alongside the rising cost of living, are challenging many alternative enterprises, especially those involving the paying public. There has been a substantial increase in disputes between horse…

DIVERSIFICATION

Legal blocks to look for when planning farm diversifications

Those planning a new farm-based venture should check for any legal restrictions first, say advisers. These can include restrictive covenants and historic overage or clawback clauses in sales contracts going…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

What farmers can do to protect newly planted trees

A record 20,660ha of woodland were created in 2023-24, with more than 20m new trees planted across the UK. But significant tree losses during the early growing phase are slowing…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How farmers can transition from price-takers to price-makers

Farm businesses are traditionally small-scale, primary production units that have little individual influence in a market driven by global forces and dominated by corporates. But things are changing. Demand for…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to review the farm business and shape its future

Conducting a business review should take place in most farms offices as 2026 unfolds, following a rollercoaster 18 months for the industry which has delivered even more change and less…

BUSINESS

Sporting rights and changes in land use - what to consider

Issues can arise where development is planned on farmland when the sporting rights are owned by or let to a third party. In some cases a cash payment is made…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to assess farm values and avoid being underinsured

Underinsurance is a persistent problem in farming and rural businesses. This means not only that the full cost of replacing a building, livestock or other assets will not be met,…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

North West pipeline project: Why farmers need to engage early

The 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 CLINIC

Business 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 CLINIC

Business 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 MANAGEMENT

How focus on 'cost of doing work' lifts dairy efficiency

Steep 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 CLINIC

Business Clinic: We can't find cash to pay January tax bills

Whether 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 Clinic

BUSINESS

Business Clinic: Rates and EPCs on building conversions

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, chartered surveyor Sam Shaikh from Carter Jonas’ Taunton office explains the business rates…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice on first registration of land parcels

Whether it’s a legal, tax, financial or management question, Farmers Weekly‘s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Chloe Cosham, a solicitor in Thrings agriculture team, sets out issues to consider…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Advice on farming company profit forecasting

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: 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…

 
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Markets and trends

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU seeks sampling improvements in future grain contracts

The NFU has called for a major overhaul of combinable crop contracts, claiming the scales have been “tipped against growers for far too long”. It has submitted its official response…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Long road to recovery for dairy sector as prices cut further

Dairy consultants and analysts are forecasting farmgate milk prices to remain at low levels throughout the spring, with no major price rallies expected until the second half of the year.…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Margins tighten for beef finishers as abattoirs cut prices

A number of major meat processors have cut base prices for beef cattle in the past week, as more animals come forward. Finished beef prices have been well supported throughout…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Fertiliser prices start to rise amid supply disruption

UK fertiliser prices held relatively flat over the new year, but the market now appears to be lifting as supply chain disruption starts to feed through into prices. The fertiliser…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

UK dairy markets find floor, but prices remain in decline

Dairy commodity prices may have finally reached a floor after months of falls, according to the AHDB, however farmgate prices remain under pressure due to excess milk volumes. AHDB’s UK…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Non-stun slaughter in spotlight as petition tops 100,000

Pressure is mounting for a review of the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without pre-stunning, with a recent petition having attracted over 108,000 signatures – enough to trigger a…

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Falling farmgate values fail to ease latest food inflation hike

Food price pressures have intensified despite falling returns at farm level, highlighting growing instability across the food supply chain. While some farmgate values have fallen in recent months amid climate…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Dairy farmers losing thousands as price collapse bites

Dairy producers are starting to feel the impact of sharp reductions in milk prices as cuts by processors begin to filter through to farm level. A significant proportion of businesses…

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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