Farm profitability will drop by £1.19bn in 2026, according to business consultants Andersons – but all is not doom and gloom. Andersons forecasts that Total Income from Farming (TIFF) will fall to £6.48bn next year as weaker global commodity markets, higher labour costs and rising fertiliser prices converge. But... Read more

Rising demand is tightening supply in Britain’s free-range egg market – creating opportunities for farmers to diversify. Driven by strong retail and foodservice demand for trusted, high-welfare production, the free-range egg market is forecast to grow by more than 10% by 2030, says Matthew Falk, of egg producers Stonegate.... Read more

Soaring electricity bills are expected to pile the pressure on farm businesses over the coming months, say analysts. Fixed charge increases are expected to increase by between 60% and 130% on a like for like basis, says Barry Crossan, head of utilities at the AF Group. This will be... Read more

Almost half of farmers still have no plans in place outlining how they will hand their farms to the next generation – despite proposed changes to inheritance tax. New figures from NFU Mutual show that almost 18% of farmers know it is important to put plans in place for... Read more

Farmers with life insurance policies should check whether they have been put into trust to avoid an unnecessary inheritance tax bill. Nearly 7,500 families paid inheritance tax on life insurance policies according to new HM Revenue & Customs figures, but many would have escaped a bill if their policy... Read more

The rapidly expanding biodiversity market offers potential income opportunities for farmers and landowners, say advisers. New Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules introduced last year mean developers are now required to replace habitats lost during building projects – plus a net gain of at least 10%. Developers can do this... Read more

The UK’s first national livestock theft police officer has launched a new initiative to get on top of the crime. Funding provided by UK rural insurer NFU Mutual has enabled the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to recruit Martin Beck, who has 30 years of policing experience in the... Read more

Record rainfall has significantly increased financial pressures on farm businesses – but action can be taken to tackle many challenges. Large areas of farmland remain waterlogged following the wettest 18 months on record. The wet winter and spring have left some farms facing the first season without a harvest... Read more

Farmers and landowners are often concerned about the prospect of tax changes if a Labour government comes to power. A perennial fear is a hike in capital gains tax – or even the introduction of a yet more punitive ‘development tax’. With Keir Starmer’s party tipped to win the... Read more

Changes to permitted development rights could benefit farmers, says Suzanne Tucker Farmers and landowners could find it easier to convert old buildings into new homes following changes to permitted development rights. The UK is facing a national shortage of good quality and affordable homes, so a raft of new... Read more