'Planting crops in 2026 may be pointless'
BBCDespite being a fourth-generation farmer, Oliver Collingham says he is now questioning whether to plant any crops in 2026.
Oliver owns 300 acres (121 hectares) of land near Southwell in Nottinghamshire, but has had to diversify into other areas, like storage and haulage, to keep the farm afloat.
He says the money they get from grain traders often does not cover the cost of growing cereals.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has described farmers as "stewards for our nation's food security", and says it is backing them "with a record £11.8bn across the Parliament".
Like many farmers across the country, Oliver's farm was impacted by the drought and record high temperatures in 2025. His summer crops were poor - and failed to turn a profit.
The fair weather recently has been good for the winter crops, but he says the prices being offered for wheat by grain traders are still not covering the cost of production.
"I'm being offered around £160, £170 a tonne for next year's harvest, and that is a price I wouldn't be able to make a margin at," he says.
"If the pricing remains like that... it is already looking like it would be pointless us growing any cereals in 2026.
"As a business, had we not diversified, we wouldn't be here now. The margins just haven't been there on the farming side.
"The majority of our income is now from those diversified activities, and it has to be, because the agricultural side is just so volatile."
A Defra spokesperson said: "Farming plays a central role in our mission to kickstart economic growth, with farmers acting as stewards for our nation's food security.
"We know there are challenges in the sector and weather extremes, including prolonged dry weather, have affected harvests.
"We are backing our farmers with a record £11.8bn across Parliament in the face of a changing climate - the largest nature-friendly farming budget in history - to grow their businesses and get more British food on our plates."
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