Partnership approach brings dividends for farmers

Stronger partnerships across the supply chain are vital to securing a better future for farming, delegates heard at the Farmers Weekly Transition Network annual dinner, held earlier this month in Oxford.

Discussion at the dinner focused on the need to look “beyond the farm gate” – urging a shift from transactional supply-chain relationships to longer-term collaboration in which risk and reward are shared more evenly.

See also: How environmental schemes are affecting UK arable area

A relaxed atmosphere gave guests an opportunity to network © Telling Photography

Positive mood

Farmers started 2026 in a more positive mood than a year ago – ongoing anxiety over government policy and unpredictable weather, according to FW’s annual sentiment survey.

Nearly one in four respondents described the past year as “good” or “great”, up from just 13% three years ago – although only one in five said they felt genuinely optimistic about the future.

Project partner Linking Environment and Farming Helen Ferrier makes a point during dinner © Telling Photography

One in three still rated the year as “bad” or “terrible”, broadly unchanged from 2024.

Government policy was cited as the greatest challenge by one-third of farmers, matched by the impact of extreme weather.

With basic payments largely withdrawn and England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive closed to new applicants, business confidence has weakened, with investment levels falling by almost 10%.

Project Partner Tesco head of sustainable agriculture Natalie Smith listens to the key messages © Telling Photography

The after-dinner speech was delivered by Natural England head of agriculture Peter Craven.

He called for closer co-operation between farmers, policymakers and environmental groups to deliver both food production and nature recovery. 

Natural England head of agriculture Peter Craven © Telling Photography