Welcome to the latest Agri Market Outlook

Our annual agricultural market outlook gives you a snapshot of market conditions and prospects across sectors and key input markets.

Explore what's driving production and demand and what this could mean for your business in the coming year.

Plan strategically, reduce risk, make the most of your resources

Farmers are facing rising input costs, unpredictable weather and fluctuating demand, not to mention the challenges posed by the Budget last autumn. Combined, these factors have caused a decline in farming confidence, which is at its lowest level since 2010. This will potentially stifle investment and affect productivity, resilience and food security.

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We also know the opportunities are vast. By understanding market dynamics, you can adapt to seize opportunities, make confident decisions and build resilience into your farming business.

This series of market outlooks covers:

Four sectors − pork, beef, lamb and dairy
Three inputs – fertiliser, hay and straw, and animal feed

The reports cover evolving consumer trends, policy shifts and weather impacts. They do not just give you the latest data, they are tools to help you plan, reduce risk and make the most of your resources.

Whether you are deciding when to market your lambs, exploring new options in beef production or considering adjustments to your dairy herd, these insights can be a valuable part of your toolkit.

We encourage you to use this series not just as a source of information but as a foundation for proactive planning and meaningful conversations – whether with your family, advisers or peers. Farming is never static, and your ability to adapt and thrive is what keeps this vital industry moving forward.

Here’s to informed decisions and a prosperous future.

2026 economic outlook

Farm businesses are expected to continue to face pressure from high operating costs, labour cost inflation, policy uncertainty and weather-related challenges, which are likely to constrain profitability and investment decisions.

Read our October 2026 economic outlook update

2026 sector outlooks

Beef market outlook

Beef prices remain supported by lower cattle numbers, although higher carcase weights have boosted production in 2026. Looking ahead, consumer demand and import levels remain key watchpoints.

Read our October 2026 beef outlook update

Dairy market outlook

GB milk production is estimated to fall by 2.2% in the 2026/27 milk season. Low forage stocks, falling cow numbers, increased costs of production and disease risk are key factors expected to drive the decline.

Read our October 2026 dairy outlook update

Lamb market outlook

Tighter UK and global lamb supplies are expected to support prices through 2027, but consumer demand remains pressured.

Read our October 2026 lamb outlook update

Pork market outlook

UK pig meat production is forecast to fall 3.7% in 2027, back to 2025 levels. Tighter supply should support prices, but weaker demand and lower EU prices are likely to keep pressure on producer margins.

Read our October 2026 pork outlook update

2026 farm inputs outlooks

Animal feed production outlook

The 2026 feed outlook includes supply and demand for UK wheat, barley, maize and oats.

Find out more in our animal feed outlook

Fertilisers market outlook

Prices, use and demand for nitrogen fertilisers in GB are analysed in the latest outlook.

Read the latest outlook for nitrogen fertilisers in GB

Straw market outlook

The 2026 outlook on wheat, barley, hay and straw markets.

Find out more in our straw outlook

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It should be noted that the information in these outlook reports is based on information currently available but still involves risks, variables and uncertainties. Agricultural markets are highly volatile, often unpredictable, and unforeseen factors can have a major impact on production and prices. Consequently, no guarantee is given to the accuracy of the outlooks, but they are simply put forward as our best estimates at the time of publication.