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All articles about Input markets and prices

Keep up with the latest prices for agricultural production inputs, including red diesel and fuel, straw and bedding, livestock feed, crop fertiliser and agchems. See how global market pressures and trends are influencing prices for agriculture and what that means for your farm budget.

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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…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Farm input inflation more than double rate of output rises

Rises in farm output values are being dwarfed by soaring input costs, with July estimates calculating an annual ag inflation rate of 23.5% – more than double the 10.1% growth…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Why a cohabitation agreement could help protect family farms

There has been a substantial increase in recent decades in the number of people choosing to live together without getting married. In 2020, 18% of couples who lived together in…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Water deregulation: Farms ignoring opportunity to cut bills

It has been more than two years since the water market was deregulated in England, allowing businesses to pick their own water and sewerage supplier. This followed the lead set…

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Insights

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

How the carbon tax on fertiliser will impact farm businesses

A Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Cbam) is due to be implemented by the government from 1 January 2027, leading to higher fertiliser costs on farm. However, the industry is still…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Details on land control agreements to be made available

The government is planning to collect more detail about contractual agreements relating to land in England and Wales and to make it freely available. This will include, among others, contracts…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Survey shows high fertiliser prices accelerated falling trend

Average field rates, the percentage of land dressed and overall application rates of the main nutrients fell in the 2022 harvest year on both crop and grass land. The British…

BUSINESS

Fertiliser market developments after disruption of 2022

As an island with just one domestic ammonium nitrate (AN) manufacturer, the UK is exposed, relying heavily on imports for crucial plant nutrients. Gas had become the feedstock of choice…

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News

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Arable farmers hit hardest by rising input costs

Rising input costs have hit arable farmers hard over the past 12 months at a time when yields and output values have been under pressure, according to the latest AF…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Fertiliser demand muted as growers struggle with cashflows

Tight margins for arable enterprises have hit fertiliser demand in the short term, with merchants reporting a lack of forward buying as many growers delay purchases until the spring. Fertiliser…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

NFU seeks fairer electricity charging system

Rising standing charges on non-domestic electricity bills and soaring energy costs are putting huge inflationary pressure on businesses across the food supply chain, the NFU has warned. The union has…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Ag chem shortage puts pressure on arable farmers

More favourable weather this autumn has allowed drilling to progress well in most regions, with plantings ahead of this time last year across much of the UK. However, as wheat…

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