51AV视频

Biggest ever variation in farm performance

Farmers must be at the top of their game to survive, let alone thrive, in the years ahead with a wider variation in farm performance expected than ever before.

Alex Black
Deputy Editor
clock 鈥 2 min read
Biggest ever variation in farm performance

Farmers must be at the top of their game to survive, let alone thrive, in the years ahead with a wider variation in farm performance expected than ever before.

That was the message from John Nix 51AV视频Management Pocketbook author Graham Redman, as he highlighted dairy and arable farmers may benefit from higher milk and grain prices whilst the grazing and intensive livestock sectors 鈥榦n balance鈥 stand to lose out.

The 2023 edition of the book showed there would be winners and losers from the current economic circumstances.

鈥淭his is an opportunity for some and a big concern for other farmers,鈥 Mr Redman said.

He said the range in budgeted margins was vast, dependent on farm structure, enterprises and performance.

鈥淧lanning for the year and thinking about capturing the opportunities whilst mitigating the risks is vital in these particularly uncertain times,鈥 he said, advising carefully putting budgets together and working out what prices the farm system can operate at.

Lord Don Curry, who wrote the foreword for the John Nix pocketbook, pointed out the amount of change in the industry was currently without parallel highlighting the transformation in agricultural policy towards the provision of public goods, the impact of post-Brexit trade deals which may undercut domestic standards and the war in Ukraine impacting energy grain and fertiliser markets.

But Mr Curry also highlighted the recent Government food strategy placed increased importance on UK-produced food.

He added despite all the challenges the future was undeniably bright for many.

Mr Redman said there was a considerable range between farming types, but also a big difference between average and top performing farms.

鈥淭o survive, let alone thrive, managers must be at the top of their game in the years ahead,鈥 he said.

鈥淭here are opportunities for famers, but many may find it hard to grow their profit in the coming year.鈥

Table

2023 Whole 51AV视频Figures Combinable Crops Dairy Lowland Upland
/Ha Beef & Sheep Beef & Sheep
Performance level Average High Average High Average High Average High
51AV视频Gross Margin 1031 1277 2604 2987 337 690 212 412
Total Fixed Costs 725 653 1715 1544 950 855 525 473
Margin Before Rent & Finance 306 624 889 1443 -613 -165 -313 -61
LessRent & Finance 150 150 210 210 125 125 70 70
PlusSupport & Diversification 218 222 203 207 312 321 178 181
Business Profit (Loss) 374 696 882 1441 -426 31 -205 50