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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.
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
UK economic growth continues to be subdued, while inflation is expected to ease gradually in 2026. The wider economy will also impact decision-making by farmers and other businesses in the supply chain.
2026 sector outlooks
Beef market outlook
Continued tightness in supply will limit production and underpin prices in 2026, our analysis has found. Another year of high price inflation will continue to influence consumers' buying behaviour.
Find out more in our in-depth beef outlook
Dairy market outlook
Plummeting dairy commodity prices may have found a floor, according to our analysis. Early 2026 has seen positive movements in wholesale markets for skimmed milk powder and cheddar, signalling a potential recovery.
Find out more in our in-depth dairy outlook
Pork market outlook
Production is expected to ease slightly amid sow herd contraction and early year price pressure. Trade faces disruption from geopolitics and African swine fever, while modest growth in domestic consumption is driven by value focused retail demand.
An outlook for the lamb market will be published on this page shortly.
Farm inputs outlook
Market outlooks for animal feed, fertiliser and straw inputs will be published on this page in the coming weeks.
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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.