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STAFF MANAGEMENT

How new schemes offer scope for farm work candidates

The November 2025 Budget included some positive news on opportunities with potential to encourage more young people into agricultural employment. The government allocated £820m to, in part, fund six months…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

Employ more dairy staff for fewer hours, farmers advised

The dairy industry does not have a labour shortage. Instead, farmers need to fundamentally address the way they manage people to make the sector more attractive, believes recruitment specialist Paul…

FARM POLICY

Efra calls for phased approach to EU SPS agreement

Rushing through a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU could have major consequences for British farmers and should be pursued with caution, MPs on the Environment, Food and…

LAND MARKETS

Farmland market in 2025: Northern Ireland

With supply more constrained than in any other UK region, land in some parts of Northern Ireland (NI) has been changing hands at upwards of £25,000/acre. Buyers in County Armagh…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Supreme Court bars Oatly from using 'milk' in its branding

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by Swedish plant-based drinks manufacturer Oatly to use the phrase “Post Milk Generation” as a trademark for its products, due to the…

TAX

Advice on minimising IHT impact on pensions

Private pension funds inherited between married couples and civil partners will remain free of inheritance tax (IHT) after 6 April 2027, but in other circumstances they may be subject to…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

KFC to boost British poultry purchases by £10m a year

Fast food giant KFC has said it will boost its contribution to the British poultry sector by £10m a year, upping its intake of chicken from British farms from 30%…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Weight-loss drugs set to reshape UK dairy market

The rapid uptake of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is set to reshape the UK dairy sector, as shifting consumer habits drive changes in grocery spending and product demand, according to the…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Oilseeds prices rally to near £450/t

Oilseeds markets have rallied over the past month, both globally and in the domestic markets, underpinned by a stronger soybean complex and favourable currency movements. UK oilseed rape has lifted…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

TFA invites tenant farmers to take part in sector survey

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is encouraging tenants, landlords, agents and advisers to complete a new Defra survey designed to gauge awareness of the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Cull ewe trade lifts ahead of Ramadan

Cull ewes have been achieving strong prices at auction, with buyers keen to secure supplies and demand likely to remain firm in the build up to Ramadan. Cull ewes averaged…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

4 key steps to support and retain staff on UK farms

A recent survey by land agent Knight Frank has revealed that almost 90% of agricultural estates are struggling to attract competent staff, while 60% of respondents say it is becoming…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Falling pig prices leave producers struggling to break even

British pig producers are once again grappling with tight margins, as farmgate prices fall while costs remain stubbornly high. The Standard Pig Price (SPP) stood at 190.35p/kg deadweight at the…

BUSINESS

Wynnstay maintains profits in 2025 despite dip in revenue

Major agricultural supplier Wynnstay performed relatively well over the past year despite a 5% drop in revenue, its annual results reveal. The company reported revenue of £583.4m for the financial…

Business news

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STAFF MANAGEMENT

Employ more dairy staff for fewer hours, farmers advised

The dairy industry does not have a labour shortage. Instead, farmers need to fundamentally address the way they manage people to make the sector more attractive, believes recruitment specialist Paul…

FARM POLICY

Efra calls for phased approach to EU SPS agreement

Rushing through a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU could have major consequences for British farmers and should be pursued with caution, MPs on the Environment, Food and…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Supreme Court bars Oatly from using 'milk' in its branding

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by Swedish plant-based drinks manufacturer Oatly to use the phrase “Post Milk Generation” as a trademark for its products, due to the…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Weight-loss drugs set to reshape UK dairy market

The rapid uptake of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is set to reshape the UK dairy sector, as shifting consumer habits drive changes in grocery spending and product demand, according to the…

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TAX

Advice on minimising IHT impact on pensions

Private pension funds inherited between married couples and civil partners will remain free of inheritance tax (IHT) after 6 April 2027, but in other circumstances they may be subject to…

STAFF MANAGEMENT

4 key steps to support and retain staff on UK farms

A recent survey by land agent Knight Frank has revealed that almost 90% of agricultural estates are struggling to attract competent staff, while 60% of respondents say it is becoming…

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 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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DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Supreme Court bars Oatly from using 'milk' in its branding

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by Swedish plant-based drinks manufacturer Oatly to use the phrase “Post Milk Generation” as a trademark for its products, due to the…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Weight-loss drugs set to reshape UK dairy market

The rapid uptake of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is set to reshape the UK dairy sector, as shifting consumer habits drive changes in grocery spending and product demand, according to the…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Oilseeds prices rally to near £450/t

Oilseeds markets have rallied over the past month, both globally and in the domestic markets, underpinned by a stronger soybean complex and favourable currency movements. UK oilseed rape has lifted…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Cull ewe trade lifts ahead of Ramadan

Cull ewes have been achieving strong prices at auction, with buyers keen to secure supplies and demand likely to remain firm in the build up to Ramadan. Cull ewes averaged…

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…

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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