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MARKETS AND TRENDS

Analysis: How arable farms can ease market volatility impact

The extent to which both output and input prices have swung about in recent years has surprised even the most seasoned of farming industry stakeholders. For example, in the first…

LAND MARKETS

Portfolio of northern poultry units set for launch

Five poultry holdings will come to the market this week, for sale due to the retirement of their owner. These sit between York and Darlington and while the aim is…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

ABP expands in Scotland with purchase of two Scotbeef sites

Meat processor ABP has today announced the acquisition of two sites from Scotbeef – the Bridge of Allan abattoir in Stirlingshire and the Queenslie meat packing plant in Glasgow. The…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Fuel price outlook: Red diesel steady but volatility remains

Fuel prices are at a level that may tempt many to fill the tank, having reached a 22-month low in mid-May and putting on just a couple of pence since…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Oilseeds near £350/t as large EU crop weighs on market

The outlook for UK oilseeds markets remains bearish in the short term with a large crop expected in Europe and mixed global demand. Total oilseeds production in the EU-27 is…

BUSINESS

Global grain traders Bunge and Viterra agree to merge

Global agri-business Bunge has entered an agreement to merge with Viterra, formerly known as Glencore Agriculture. The merger is due to close in mid-2024 to create a combined business that…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Lamb prices falter, but uplift in demand forecast for late June

Spring lamb prices have started to drop back as more lambs come forward, but this should only be temporary as further support is forecast to come from the Muslim festival…

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

Safety plea after 18 people killed on farms this year

A shocking rise in farm incidents has seen 18 people killed on farms in Great Britain so far this year. The victims include two toddlers who lost their lives after…

BUSINESS

Farmers consulted over higher AHDB levies from 2024

Farmers and other levy payers are being warned of a likely increase in the amount they pay for AHDB services from next April, as the organisation seeks to grow its…

BUSINESS

Herdwatch acquires dairy software company Kingswood

Farming software company Herdwatch has purchased Kingswood Computing for a seven-figure sum in order to expand its market share in the UK and Ireland. Herdwatch has more than 20,000 farms…

BUSINESS

Meatless Farm lays off all staff and faces bankruptcy

Plant-based food manufacturer Meatless Farm is facing bankruptcy after being unable to attract new investment. All of the company’s 50 staff based at its headquarters in Leeds have been made…

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AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Wetlands and agroforestry central to farm's funding future

A move away from conventional arable and food production is underway at Spains Hall Estate. The combination of agroforestry, woodland and wetlands being created across 500ha will provide ecosystem services…

BUSINESS

What the advice-based EA farm visit inspections will involve

Additional resources for farm inspections by the Environment Agency (EA) means that many farmers have already received letters to notify them that farms in their area may be visited. The…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Farm profit forecasts point to focus on fixed costs

Fixed costs offer the greatest scope to improve financial performance on combinable crop farms. While yield plays an important part, control of overheads sets the higher performers apart. Forecasts using…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Is battery storage offer a good deal?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Jack Pocklington, energy specialist, Carter Jonas Rural, offers advice on battery storage. See…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can I put land and buildings in a pension?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Neil Berry, partner at MHA, offers advice on how land and buildings can…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Steep price rises put focus on machinery costs

High machinery costs, leading to a high depreciation burden, are forcing a rethink on replacement policies and how operations are managed. The relentless rise in machinery costs has pushed up…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Why might there be a problem with our claim?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Rory Gibson, regional director, Scotland, at A-Plan Rural Insurance, offers some advice on…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can landowner block path used for decades?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Richie Rees, associate in the litigation department at law firm Thrings, offers advice…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

Landscape Recovery scheme round two: How it works

The second round of the Landscape Recovery (LR) scheme is open for applications, with Defra setting a target to sign up a further 25 projects. The scheme, which launched last…

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Health and safety policy: What farmers need to include

There is no denying that farming can be a risky occupation. According to Health and Safety Executive figures, farmers and farmworkers are 20 times more likely to be killed at…

BUSINESS

How farmers can maximise income from growing trees

The UK is planting trees at what is probably the fastest rate ever, but supply is struggling to keep up with that demand. Defra is trying to address the shortfall…

DIVERSIFICATION

Farm holiday providers need to stand out to succeed

Gone are the days when a farm could rent out a cottage with a jumble of furniture and charge for the privilege of holidaying there. Today’s visitor demands high-end fixtures…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Does diversification risk tax relief loss?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Joe Spencer, partner at MHA, offers advice on tax reliefs for diversification. See…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

6 of the most common challenges for tenant farmers

The shifting nature of farm policy and tenancy legislation means tenants often benefit from support when negotiating with landlords. Farmers Weekly asks George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: What are the insurance needs if I diversify?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Rory Gibson, regional director, Scotland, at A-Plan Rural Insurance, sets out the considerations…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Selling the farm at discount on death

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Penelope Munro, partner at Thrings, offers advice on selling a farm at discount…

Business Clinic

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Is battery storage offer a good deal?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Jack Pocklington, energy specialist, Carter Jonas Rural, offers advice on battery storage. See…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can I put land and buildings in a pension?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Neil Berry, partner at MHA, offers advice on how land and buildings can…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Why might there be a problem with our claim?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Rory Gibson, regional director, Scotland, at A-Plan Rural Insurance, offers some advice on…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can landowner block path used for decades?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Richie Rees, associate in the litigation department at law firm Thrings, offers advice…

 
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Markets and trends

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MARKETS AND TRENDS

GB potato area forecast to shrink in 2023, pushing up prices

Reduced plantings and a cool, wet spring is expected to lead to firmer prices in the UK potato market, analysis suggests. According to market information service World Potato Markets, the…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Anger as Arla unveils plans for plant-based Lurpak 'butter'

Arla farmer-owners say they are hugely disappointed after the company announced plans internally to launch a plant-based Lurpak “butter”.  The dairy co-operative told its farmer-owners on Monday 5 June it…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Organic milk sector extends premium over conventional market

Price volatility for dairy farmers in the organic sector has been less extreme than the conventional market in the past year, with falls in organic farmgate milk prices much less…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Losses build for dairy farmers as milk prices drop to 35p/litre

Dairy producers face an extended period of loss-making after milk processors announced further price cuts for June and July. Farmgate milk prices paid by some processors have fallen by more…

BUSINESS

Southern farms draw hard as lambs make £140

High creep costs and challenging production conditions mean lamb supply is tipped to be tight this summer as farmers in the South West sell lighter lambs ahead of the next…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Dutch breakthrough improves lab-grown ‘meat’ efficiency

Dutch food company Meatable has developed a new way to produce cultivated pork products – lab-grown meat – in just eight days. The product is created by isolating a single…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Japanese importers visit UK to see red meat opportunities

Five Japanese importers visited the UK this week to see first-hand the export trade opportunities for British red meat. The five guests joined the AHDB on a five-day mission where…

FARM POLICY

Call for £5m fund to set up regional food hubs in England

A group of food and farming organisations is urging Defra to inject £5m into a pilot fund to kickstart food hubs in England and enhance national food security. Sustain, the…

Commodities

Futures markets and commodity risk management online course

Learn all you need to know about the futures markets and how you can benefit from them:

  • Risk management strategies for a more predictable financial performance
  • Educated conversations when collaborating with your advisors
  • Negotiate better prices with your grain merchants

Find out more

 
 

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