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LIVESTOCK

How a Norfolk dairy diversified into tourism and hospitality

Converting a set of Georgian barns into holiday lets 20 years ago involved market research by post for dairy farmers Joanna and David Burroughs. Today, their daughter, Lindsay Miller, is…

INPUT MARKETS AND PRICES

Red diesel drops below 80p/litre with weak demand on farm

Wet autumn conditions limiting demand and plenty of supply have capped red diesel prices in recent months, according to traders. Oil markets have dropped back from September highs with Brent…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Shrinking UK rapeseed area increases reliance on imports

A smaller planted area and flea beetle damaged crops have left the UK with a viable oilseed rape (OSR) area of between 305,000ha and 320,000ha for 2024, according to grower…

LAND MARKETS

Aberdeenshire woodlands on market in five lots

The recent launch in Aberdeenshire of just over 401 acres in five lots adds to the choice for woodland and forestry buyers. With an overall guide price of offers of…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

ABP’s takeover of Scotbeef sites cleared by CMA

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the acquisition by ABP of Scotbeef’s Bridge of Allan abattoir in Stirlingshire and its Queenslie meat packing plant in Glasgow. The decision…

LAND MARKETS

Northern estate offers late-season investment opportunity

On the Cumbria-Northumberland border, the Greenside Estate is one of the few investment properties to come to the open market in the north this year. It is a mix of…

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BUSINESS

Cefetra launch new sustainability payments for farmers

Grain trader and supplier Cefetra has launched a new initiative designed to financially reward farm businesses for sustainable farming practices. Cefetra is working in partnership with agronomy firm Soil Capital…

BUSINESS

Analysis: Farmers forced to sell up by HS2 need clarity

HS2 was heralded by the Conservative government as an integral part of its Northern Powerhouse strategy, a high-speed rail project that would bridge the North-South divide and rebalance the economy.…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat surplus keeps prices in check at £180/t ex-farm

A large UK surplus and competitive export markets are putting pressure on feed wheat prices. Some industry figures have suggested that the UK has a 1m-tonne wheat surplus this year…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Rearing calves £40-£50 dearer as confidence grows

A better-looking farming picture means young rearing calves are in greater demand this autumn than last, coaxing higher bids from dealers and growing units. Last autumn’s rising costs and forage…

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LIVESTOCK

How a Norfolk dairy diversified into tourism and hospitality

Converting a set of Georgian barns into holiday lets 20 years ago involved market research by post for dairy farmers Joanna and David Burroughs. Today, their daughter, Lindsay Miller, is…

DIVERSIFICATION

Rural tourism: How to expand and attract customers

Diversification usually allows farmers more control over the prices they charge for goods and services than they have over farmgate values for produce. Farm income from diversification is steadily rising,…

BUSINESS

Delinked payments: Advice on transfers, land sales, and FBTs

Delinked payments will replace Basic Payment Scheme income in England next year. The RPA is gearing up to send out delinked payments information statements to eligible former BPS claimants. These…

FARM ENERGY

Wind turbine exclusivity agreements – what to watch out for

Onshore wind turbine developments have been all but prohibited for almost a decade due to the restrictions imposed by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). A recent amendment to the…

LAND MARKETS

Self-build demand creates opportunities for rural market

More than 50% of adults would reportedly build their own home, given the opportunity, but the two biggest barriers are finding land and navigating the planning system. Working in their…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Is our orchard liable for business rates?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Sam Shaikh, associate, Carter Jonas offers advice on business rate issues, and here looks…

BUSINESS

Biodiversity net gain – legal issues for farmers

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) sites are already in demand. Here, Julie Robinson, agriculture partner at Roythornes Solicitors, talks to Farmers Weekly about the legal considerations. See also: Defra BNG credit…

BUSINESS

Reasons to address farming succession grow stronger

The combination of rapidly falling Basic Payment Scheme income, tax certainty for the time being and the changing demands on land use and policy make it even more pressing to…

TAX

How to settle your tax bill when finances are challenged

High cereal and milk prices that bumped up profits for the arable and dairy sectors were short-lived and significant price cuts have followed. Coupled with higher interest rates and little…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: What to do about HMRC basis year reforms?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Christine Courtman of accountant MHA explains the options for farm businesses in…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can I sell land before grant of probate?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Sam Shaikh, associate, Carter Jonas offers advice on business rate issues.Penelope Munro, Partner, Thrings…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

New round of Slurry Infrastructure Grant widens options

The second round of Defra’s Slurry Infrastructure Grant will open next month, with more items added to the list of investment eligible for support. The main changes from the first…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Expert advice for making trees work on your farm

Large-scale tree planting has come under fire for taking up productive farmland and altering the character of local environments. But the right tree, planted in the right place, can generate…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

Top tips on avoiding dilapidations disputes for tenants

Disputes about dilapidations are on the rise as a growing number of tenancies come to an end. Farmers Weekly asked Adriana Vaux, rural surveyor for the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA),…

FARM ENERGY

On-farm renewable energy systems: All you need to know

The case for investing in on-farm renewable energy has arguably never been stronger. Fuel prices soared in the past 18 months, driven by the effect of the conflict in Ukraine,…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

What you can do to reduce farm business risk in time of flux

Pressures on farming businesses have been mounting this year as Basic Payment Scheme reductions continue and both market volatility and interest rates remain high. So what can be done to…

Business Clinic

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Is our orchard liable for business rates?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Sam Shaikh, associate, Carter Jonas offers advice on business rate issues, and here looks…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: What to do about HMRC basis year reforms?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Christine Courtman of accountant MHA explains the options for farm businesses in…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: Can I sell land before grant of probate?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Sam Shaikh, associate, Carter Jonas offers advice on business rate issues.Penelope Munro, Partner, Thrings…

BUSINESS CLINIC

Business Clinic: What are the options for our cash surplus?

Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Joe Spencer partner at accountant MHA and Scott Kent, chartered financial planner at…

 
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Markets and trends

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CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

UK wheat surplus keeps prices in check at £180/t ex-farm

A large UK surplus and competitive export markets are putting pressure on feed wheat prices. Some industry figures have suggested that the UK has a 1m-tonne wheat surplus this year…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Rearing calves £40-£50 dearer as confidence grows

A better-looking farming picture means young rearing calves are in greater demand this autumn than last, coaxing higher bids from dealers and growing units. Last autumn’s rising costs and forage…

TRACTORS

New tractor sales in October at highest volumes since 2016

More than 1,000 tractors were registered in the UK during October – an increase of 8.6% compared to the same month last year. Figures from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA)…

POULTRY

Poultry exports to Japan cleared for business

British poultry businesses have secured a new market access agreement for exports of cooked poultry products to Japan. Market access was first granted in 2021 for both fresh and cooked…

DAIRY MARKETS AND PRICES

Arla to sell on-farm environmental gains to retailers

Arla has reached commercial agreements with some of its customers, including Aldi, Asda, Morrisons and Starbucks, to share on-farm climate data to help these businesses reduce their Scope 3 emissions.…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

Firmer finished beef values drive strong suckled calf trade

Calf vendors are looking for stronger prices for suckled calves this autumn, as the finished steer deadweight price has topped £5/kg once more. Many in the industry expect a more…

MEAT MARKETS AND PRICES

LAA to take over livestock price reporting from AHDB

The Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA) will take over the reporting of livestock market sales prices to industry, replacing the AHDB as the supplier of such data. Launching on 1 January…

CROPS MARKETS AND PRICES

Huge uplift in profits at Cefetra during 2022

A higher turnover helped grain and feed trader Cefetra make a pre-tax profit of £16.2m in 2022, up from £3m the previous year. This fivefold increase was driven by a…

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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