As we settle into 2025, the results of our End of Year Survey highlights the key challenges, priorities and strategies shaping the farming sector. Despite concerns about extreme weather and market pressures, farmers continue to demonstrate resilience through innovation and adaptation. As 2024 came to a close we asked fieldmargin farmers to share their outlook for the year ahead including challenges they expect to encounter and how they are planning to change their business or farming practices to meet them.
Challenges expected in 2025
Farmers anticipate another year of unpredictable weather, with over a third expecting droughts, flooding and other extreme conditions. Already in early 2025, we have seen wildfires in California, snowstorms in southeastern USA and flooding in the UK.
Nearly a quarter of farmers are bracing themselves for high input expenses, particularly for fertiliser and fuel. Though it was hoped fertiliser prices would continue to fall due to lower production costs, prices have stabilised due to strong demand and export restrictions, namely from China. Adding to the pressure of higher costs, 19.4% of farmers expect output prices to strain farm profitability further.
Other notable challenges include farm management, politics and labour. Together, these factors underline the range of complexities facing farmers in the year ahead.
Priorities for the year ahead
Unsurprisingly, profitability remains a central focus, with 64% of farmers saying it is “very important,” with another 25% considering it “somewhat important”.
Other priorities for 2025 include:
- Nearly half of farmers are planning to reduce input costs
- 4 in 10 farmers are prioritising sustainability improvements
- Labour, investing in technology and improving data collection
Improving Profitability
With nearly two thirds of farmers focussing on profitability, a range of strategies are being employed to strengthen their farm’s bottom line. Increasing yields tops the list, with 65% of farmers prioritising this approach. Improving quality to achieve higher output prices is also a popular strategy, cited by half of farmers surveyed.
Just under half are looking to reduce input use to cut costs and boost margins. Other strategies include experimenting with something new for the farm, be that a new variety, crop type or livestock breed, as well as creating new income streams from business diversifications such as tourism, and negotiating better input prices.
Other trends:
- Only 18.3% of farmers are turning to sustainability-linked revenue options (e.g. biodiversity net gain or carbon credit schemes)
- Very few see opportunities in premium labelling e.g. high welfare or organic certifications
Regenerative Uptake
An overwhelming 94% of farmers surveyed are adopting practices which contribute to improved farm sustainability, reflecting a strong shift towards a more sustainable and resilient agriculture sector. Soil testing leads the way. This is being done by 8 in 10 farmers, helping them to manage fertiliser use better and monitor the impact changes to farming practice are having on their soil.
More than half of the farmers surveyed have adopted a reduced or minimal tillage system, cutting costs as well as benefiting soil organic matter and therefore carbon. Cover cropping is also gaining traction, with 49% of farmers using this method to protect bare soils and enrich the soils with vital nutrients for the following crop.
Regenerative trends:
- Increased manure/compost use, along with mob grazing are being embraced by 4 in 10 farmers
- 32% farmers reducing their pesticide usage
- 1/4 are reducing their reliance on inorganic fertilisers
- Less common, but perhaps emerging practices include variable rate application (23.4%) and companion cropping (13.9%)
Regenerative Motivations
For farmers embracing regenerative practices, 81% cited improving soil health as a key driver. Reduced costs are another major motivation, with more than two thirds of respondents drawn to more sustainable farming because of this benefit. Soil health and farm profitability far outweighed other motivations such as:
- Biodiversity (21.2%)
- Sustainability-linked payments (15.3%)
- Premium pricing opportunities (5.9%)
Farming in 2025 is marked by both uncertainty and opportunity. While extreme weather and rising costs pose significant hurdles, farmers are rising to the challenge with forward-thinking strategies that prioritise profitability, sustainability and resilience. From adopting regenerative practices to exploring diversification and new technologies, the sector is evolving to meet the demands of a changing world. The findings of the survey highlight the determination and ingenuity of farmers as they adapt to new realities and lay the groundwork for a thriving agriculture sector in years to come.
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