The farmland market must take into account declining basic payments, says Fen Tiger

We live in uncertain times. Dangerously uncertain, in fact, especially when it comes to farming, food prices, and financial inflation.

With so much uncertainty in the farming world today, it’s sometimes good to listen to my old friend William. He is 90-years-old and still wonders where we are all going.

Farm input costs are rising much faster than food prices – piling pressure on farm incomes, according to the latest ag-inflation figures.

Recent years have seen much debate about the pros and cons of growing sugar beet. And with wheat prices nudging £300/t, many growers will be wondering whether there is still a place for beet in their rotation.

Few people will have seen prices rise as rapidly as they have in recent months – and that goes for farm inputs as well as farm outputs.

“This month promises to be an especially busy time for farming. Fieldwork ramps up as more land becomes fit to travel after winter – and we are due a particularly important government announcement.”

The latest opinion piece from editor Johann Tasker

A trio of challenges greets farmers at the start of 2022 – making the beginning of this year one of the most uncertain in recent times.

High fuel and fertiliser prices could yet decide farming fortunes this year, says Fen Tiger.