Farmer Focus: Need number crunching and good advice for 2025
© MAG/Colin Miller I hope everyone is well. Another year has drawn to a close and, as ever, it has been full of ups and downs.
We have seen the highs of acquiring another business to help us gain control over our pricing; getting married (thought I’d best put that in and clarify this list is in no particular order!); witnessing our little boy, Freddie, develop into his own character; increasing our slurry contract-spreading volume by about 45,000cu m; nominations for numerous awards in recognition of the endless hard work the whole team put in; and promotion to the Premier League for Ipswich Town!
See also: How to get good communication on a family farm business
About the author
Of course, not all is perfect, and we have had some lows, including the passing of Henry, the last of the second generation within our partnership.
We also had a health shock within our family, Labour’s devastating Budget announcements and a work/leisure balance that needs to vastly improve in 2025.
I am really excited to see what this coming year has to offer, though.
As a business, and as a family, we are going to have some major decisions to make with regards to succession, tax planning and diversification, all of which are going to require a lot of number crunching, further family discussions and some very good advisers.
Our family farming business has arguably been through its biggest year for change.
We now manage a completely different business in addition to the farming side and have given more responsibility to non-family staff than ever before.
Both of these have been big steps for us, but are proving to be really positive ones – and something we must continue to do if we want to progress.
I think we are likely to see an even greater level of change in the next one to two years, and all of this is coming at the most uncertain time for agriculture, in my opinion.
It’s certainly giving me a “sink or swim” vibe.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank all our staff, our customers and our suppliers for everything they do to support us.
I hope we can all continue to go from strength to strength in 2025 despite the challenges, which seem to get ever greater!