Is UK farming in trouble?

UK farming is facing a severe, multifaceted crisis in 2025–2026, with 51% of farmers considering leaving due to financial strain, high input costs, and extreme weather impacting harvests. Key pressures include labor shortages,, slow post-Brexit subsidy transitions, and, recently, concerns over, changes to inheritance tax.

Are farmers struggling in the UK?

The report reveals that 51% of farmers have considered leaving the industry in the past year due to financial strain, while only 4% believe current government support is adequate. Alarmingly, 95% expect family-run farms to decline over the next decade if the current trajectory persists.

Could the UK feed itself in a crisis?

Experts say the UK can't feed itself properly in a disaster scenario - and disasters are becoming more and more common.

What are the issues facing farming in the UK?

In recent years, the sector has faced volatile prices for key supplies such as fertiliser. Farmers don't have the ability to fully pass on cost increases to their customers, which only exacerbates margin pressures, and can make the farming of some crops and dairy herds commercially unviable.

Why do I believe UK farming in 2025 is broken?

The farming crisis 2025 results from the convergence of intense climate change impacts (including extreme weather patterns, droughts, floods), rising input costs, labor shortages (partly due to shifting immigration policies), and evolving agricultural policies in both the US and UK.

The beef market is in turmoil - and it's affecting British farmers and consumers alike

What is the 7 year rule for farmers?

In farming, the "7-year rule" primarily relates to Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning, where gifting farming assets (land, buildings) to beneficiaries requires the donor to survive seven years for the gift to become fully exempt from IHT, falling out of the estate, though recent reforms starting April 2026 cap full relief at £1 million. It also affects Agricultural Property Relief (APR), which usually needs 7 years of ownership (or 2 years if farmed by the owner) for full IHT relief, though new rules will limit this to the first £1m of assets from April 2026, creating a "seven-year lottery" for farmers planning their legacy. 

Which country is no. 1 in farming?

China is generally considered the #1 country in agriculture by total production, leading in many crops like rice, wheat, and vegetables, feeding a huge population with much of its own food, though it relies on imports for soybeans; the U.S. is the top exporter and a leader in technology, while India and Brazil are also major global producers, highlighting that "number one" can depend on metrics like exports or specific products.
 

What is the future of British farming?

Plant-Based Agriculture Is the Future of British Farming

There is a better way. And it starts with a seed. Supporting British farmers in growing plant-based food through sustainable farming is a win for public health, animal welfare, and rural resilience.

What is the biggest threat to farmers?

The biggest obstacles for farmers, who try to sustain food security, are climate change, arid soil conditions, scarcity of water and a general lack of resources.

Should we be stockpiling food in 2025?

Conclusion. With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, escalating Middle East tensions, and the growing risk of cyberattacks, 2025 could bring significant disruptions to global food supplies. By stockpiling now, you can safeguard your household against price surges, empty shelves, and supply chain failures.

Is the UK in trouble economically?

The British economy has endured a series of setbacks in recent years: austerity, Brexit, the global pandemic, soaring energy prices and an increasingly fractured and uncertain world.

Does the UK have healthier food than the US?

Conclusions. In this study, we found that menu items served by large chain restaurants had higher absolute levels of energy, fat and saturated fat in the USA than in the UK. USA adult menu items also had higher sugar content compared with the UK.

What does the average farmer earn in the UK?

The average farm business income in England increased to £96,100 across all farm types in 2022-23, according to Defra's latest farm survey. During the 12-month period to the end of February 2023, average incomes rose for dairy, cereals, pigs, and horticultural enterprises.

What do farmers struggle with the most?

Below, we have highlighted the top ten issues in agriculture that farmers are struggling to tackle.

• Climate Change. ...
• Water Scarcity. ...
• Soil Degradation and Farmland Loss. ...
• Pests, Diseases, and Crop Losses. ...
• Rising Input Costs and Market Volatility. ...
• Labor Shortages. ...
• Loss of Farmland to Urbanization. ...
• Changing Consumer Preferences.

Is 2025 a good year for farming in the UK?

2025 one of the lowest yielding years, says farmer

This month the Met Office said that 2025 was on course to be the UK's hottest year since records began, with climate change driving higher temperatures. "The issue we had is that you need more than sunshine; you need moisture," he said.

Why do rich people buy farms in the UK?

It's therefore likely that the motivation behind it is either: to close a perceived unfair loophole; or to pursue an ideological aim. The loophole is that very rich people can buy very large tracts of farmland in order to shelter their very large estates from inheritance tax.

Can AI replace farmers?

But while AI can enhance agriculture, it cannot replace the farmer. While AI is capable of sensing moisture levels, predicting yield, and suggesting the optimal sowing date, it cannot replicate the depth of human connection that a farmer has with the land.

What is the 3 crop rule?

A farmer with over 30 hectares of arable land is obliged to grow at least 3 crops. The main crop shall not cover more than 75% of the arable land; the 2 main crops together must not cover more than 95% of the arable land. Permanent grassland does not count as a crop for the three crop rules.

Which country has the richest farmers?

Qin Yinglin (Chinese: 秦英林; pinyin: Qín Yīnglín, born 1965) is a Chinese agriculture tycoon, billionaire, Communist Party member, and the world's richest farmer. He is the Chair and president of the pig farming company Muyuan Foodstuff and is one of the richest people in China. According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, ...

How much of our food comes from China?

The remainder included a wide variety of products, many associated with Asian cuisine. Despite the rapid growth, less than 1 percent of the U.S. food supply comes from China. For a few specific items, like apple juice, garlic, canned mandarin oranges, fish, and shrimp, China is a major supplier.

Who produces the most food in the world?

Key Takeaways

• The world's top food-producing countries are China, India, the U.S., and Brazil.
• China is the world's largest grain producer, yet is more dependent on food imports.
• Much of India's output is produced by subsistence farmers and consumed locally.

Why are so many Brits leaving the UK?

Brits are leaving the UK due to a combination of factors, primarily driven by young professionals seeking better economic prospects, a higher quality of life, and lower living costs, with destinations like the UAE, Australia, and the US offering higher salaries (often tax-free), better work-life balance, and warmer climates, contrasting with the UK's rising cost of living, stagnant wages, housing crises, and tax burdens.