This Week in Farming: Profit report, IHT and festive cheer
© Ruth Davies Welcome to the final This Week in Farming of the year. I’ll be wrapping up content published between today and the end of the year in my first bulletin of 2026.
In the markets this week (opens as PDF) it’s the usual seasonal slippages for output prices, but the nosediving oil price has fed through to red diesel, with a sharp drop on the week of nearly 3p/litre.
Now, on with the show.
About the author
Batters profitability review
The long-awaited day finally arrived on Thursday (18 December) when, after much dithering, Defra finally published Baroness Minette Batters’ Farm Profitability Review.
For those of you that don’t want to read all 155 pages, here are 12 notable takeaways chief reporter Phil Case found on his first read.
In my editorial this week (written prior to publication), I put a festive spin on the saga of the delayed document by penning an adaptation of Twas the Night Before Christmas. Santa stopped by to narrate it.
In other English farm policy news, farming minister Dame Angela Eagle has dropped a few more hints about how she sees the next iteration of the Sustainable Farming Incentive looking.
Inheritance tax latest
Hanging over the Batters report is, of course, the shadow of the proposed changes to inheritance tax (IHT) which will be a drain on resources for those affected.
Farmers returned to protest in Westminster this week as MPs debated the passage of the Finance Bill, within which resides the clauses empowering the Treasury to make the changes.
The prime minister was also taken to task on IHT when appearing before a senior parliamentary select committee.
And back in the countryside, more and more farming families are doing what they can to prepare for the changes, such as livestock Farmer Focus writers Dan and Catherine Mercer, who recently brought two of their children into the business as partners.
Driver’s View
What’s the best way to really get into the detail of how a tractor stacks up? Ask the drivers.
In this edition of Driver’s View, we ask operators in the 300hp bracket to rate their workhorses.
Currently on the website we have reviews of:
There’s another three to come – the Fendt 728, the Valtra 2Q85, and the New Holland T7.300 – so keep checking back if those are relevant to your interests.
Arable positivity
There’s been lots of gloom in the arable sector this year, so let’s end the year on a high with some tales from those who have made the best out of it.
First up, agronomist Fraser Hill is helping farmers to maximise the benefits of the often tricky task of growing niche crops.
Second, meet Cambridgeshire council tenant Joshua Dennis and his partner Kate Hodgson, who have just won promotion to a larger holding after three successful yet challenging harvests.
And last but certainly not least, if you haven’t been following Berkshire farmer Eleanor Gilbert on her 2,000-mile US harvest odyssey on YouTube, then you can read all about her brilliant trip here.
Who’s up and who’s down?
On the up this week are arable farmers who’ve already finished for Christmas.
And columnist Will Evans, who despite being a self-confessed middle-aged grump, has summoned some festive cheer fit for the season.
Quite rightly feeling down will be any idiot with a dog off the lead around livestock, after a change in the law that came into force this week.
The move raises the maximum penalty for livestock worrying from £1,000 to an unlimited fine.
Listen to the FW Podcast
Don’t forget to tune in to the Farmers Weekly Podcast, with Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom.
This week, the team bring you further analysis of the Batters review and a selection of other topical tales.
You’ll find it anywhere you get your podcasts, or listen free on the FW website.