Spalding chartered accountants Duncan & Toplis are quizzing East Midlands farmers about the state of their business – and they will reveal the results of their survey at Cereals 2013 at Boothby Graffoe in June.
The first ever Duncan & Toplis Agricultural Survey is being conducted via telephone interviews with farmers across the region. The aim is to build up a picture of how the agricultural sector is faring in these times of austerity, rising food prices and unpredictable weather patterns.
Duncan & Toplis plans to interview around 100 farmers, asking them questions ranging from employment plans and machinery purchasing to investment in renewable energy and farm diversification.
“These are challenging times for the region’s farmers and as business advisers we are keen to learn how the agricultural sector is coping,” said Mark Chatterton, a partner and agricultural specialist at Duncan & Toplis in Newark.
“Arable farms enjoyed good profits a year or so ago but the wet summer last year and the extended cold spring this year have caused problems for many – and livestock farmers have also struggled with highly unusual weather conditions.
“All this comes on top of a sluggish UK economy, a double dip recession and volatile food prices, a combination of conditions which is making life very difficult for the farming sector.
“We’re asking farmers how their business is coping and what they think the future holds for the sector, and their responses are bound to make interesting reading.”