Farm Business Survey

Author(s): 
Rural Business Research - the FBS academic consortium
Funders: 
Defra
Organisation: 
Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Date: 
November 2019
Copyright: 
Creative Commons Licence
Evidence: 
Academic research
Related theme: 
Regulations, standards & policy
Business management
People & skills

View the website
Resource explained: 

The Farm Business Survey (FBS) provides information on the physical and economic performance of farm businesses in England, to inform policy decisions on matters affecting farm businesses. It is an annual survey commissioned by the Government under which a range of management accounting information on all aspects of farmer's and grower's businesses is collected. It is an entirely confidential survey carried out by regional universities and colleges, and supported by the farming unions; the Country Land and Business Association and the Tenant Farmers’ Association. The survey uses a sample of farms that is representative of the national population of farms in terms of farm type, farm size and regional location. Farmers can use it as benchmarking tool, comparing your business to similar farms to yours - looking at farm type, region and main enterprises.

 

Findings & recommendations: 
  • You can use benchmarking information to compare gross margins, profitability, balance sheets, and performance ratios.
  • You can access regional reports that provide data on farm profitability, assets and liabilities, and cropping and stocking rates.
Summary provided by: 
Janie Caldbeck

More about the organisation

DEFRA

partner Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the UK’s world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Defra’s broad remit means the department plays a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

You may also be interested in

Agroecology in times of COVID-19

resource Centro Latino Americano de Investigaciones Agroecologicas (CELIA) A short paper exploring the ways in which applying an agroecological approach can be particularly helpful during a global coronavirus pandemic when man is reminded...
Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health, Communities & education

Increasing adoption of agroforestry in the UK

resource A policy brief summarising results and recommendations from a review undertaken as part of the Defra-funded Agroforestry ELM Test project.
Agroforestry, Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, People & skills

Agricology Defra Consultation Response

resource Agricology's response to the Defra consulation paper 'Health and Harmony: The Future of Food and Farming in a Green Brexit'
Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, People & skills

DIVERSify Guide for Farmers and Agronomists

resource Organic Research Centre & the DIVERSify project consortium The DIVERSify project Guide for Farmers and Agronomists - summarising key results from the intercropping research carried out in an easily digestible way, dividing information...
Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Biodiversity, Climate

Cover crops help to reduce diffuse water pollution

resource University of East Anglia / Wensum Alliance An update from research undertaken as part of the Demonstration Test Catchments research platform established to investigate the extent by which on-farm mitigation measures can...
Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services
Flowers and view

New model farming: resilience through diversity

resource Campaign to Protect Rural England CPRE’s report outlines opportunities for a new vision and policies to establish a sound future for farming based on a more diverse, sustainable and resilient...
Agroforestry, Regulations, standards & policy, Communities & education

DIVERSify - From The Ground Up, Managing Complexity & Cultivating Knowledge

resource Taskscape (Diversify Consortium Partner for Communication Knowledge Exchange and Participation) Three mini-documentary films presenting findings from the DIVERSify project, focusing on impacts of crop diversification and challenges and ideas for growing crop mixtures as a...
Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate

Farming for Climate Action

resource Nature Friendly Farming Network Whatever your farming system and approach, there are many ways to reduce GhG emissions and capture carbon. Actions outlined in this NFFN report should help...
Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Communities & education
Achieving more from less with dairy and arable collaboration

Achieving more from less with dairy and arable collaboration

resource Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Collaboration creating a circular system between dairy and arable can lower costs and environmental impact by improving nutrient management.
Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, People & skills, Dairy cattle, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses
LEAF Sustainable Farming Review

LEAF Sustainable Farming Review

resource Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) A new management tool to help LEAF members farm more sustainably by implementing Integrated Farm Management (IFM).
Business management, People & skills