Farm Market Insight
Understand what's happening in agricultural markets — and what it could mean for your farm.
Dairy
What's driving it
Independent consultancy milkprices.com reported bulk cream (25tBSC) at £1.55–£1.65/kg ex works and spot milk at 40–48ppl delivered as of 16…
What to watch
- Milk supply
- demand balance
- dairy commodity markets (butter/cheese/powder)
- processor contract terms
Beef
What's driving it
This page tracks prime cattle liveweight top prices from real weekly auction reports, averaged across marts where more than one reports comp…
What to watch
- UK cattle supply
- herd size
- grass
- forage availability after England
Sheep & Lamb
What's driving it
This page tracks prime lamb liveweight top prices from real weekly auction reports, averaged across marts on dates where more than one repor…
What to watch
- Seasonal new-season lamb supply — grass availability was squeezed by England
- Wales' driest July on record (Met Office)
- though rain returned in the week to 19 August
- weekly liveweight top prices from Frome
Wheat
What's driving it
ADM Agriculture's indicative feed wheat price rose to £184-199/t on 20 August 2026, up from £164-174/t in early July — roughly a 13% increas…
What to watch
- UK 2026 harvest size — hit by England's driest July on record (Met Office: 6.5mm
- 10% of the 65mm long-term average) during the critical grain-fill period
- now clearly showing in ADM Agriculture's weekly indicative price
- global wheat supply
Barley
What's driving it
ADM Agriculture's indicative feed barley price rose to £171-181/t on 20 August 2026, up from £140-145/t in early July — roughly a 23% increa…
What to watch
- UK 2026 harvest size (spring barley specifically flagged as affected) — now showing clearly in ADM Agriculture's weekly indicative price
- up from £142.50/t in early July to £176/t by late August
- the relative price of feed wheat
- livestock feed demand.
Oilseed Rape
What to watch
- Global vegetable oil prices
- UK/EU planted area
- yield
- crush demand for biodiesel
Other Crops
Maize and other arable commodities.
See all →This week's market movers
Rain returns after record-dry summer, but grain prices keep climbing
Rain arrived across southern England in the week to 19 August 2026, with temperatures well down on the preceding heatwave — the first meaningful break after England and Wales' driest July on record. Grain prices have not eased: ADM Agriculture's indicative feed wheat quote rose again to £184-199/t on 20 August and feed barley to £171-181/t, both up sharply on early July, as the scale of the harvest shortfall becomes clearer.
- Why it matters
- Rain helps autumn grass and forage recovery for livestock farmers, but it comes too late to change the 2026 combinable crop — so arable and livestock producers are facing opposite directions from the same weather.
- What could happen next
- Whether grain prices hold depends on final harvest yields, which won't be clear until Defra's provisional estimates in the autumn.
Support available for farmers as dry weather continues
The Welsh Government announced capital grants for boreholes, water harvesting and ventilation, plus temporary derogations for farmers in the Sustainable Farming Scheme, as the drought continues.
- Why it matters
- Directly affects livestock and dairy farmers' forage and water costs during the ongoing drought — see the Milk, Beef and Lamb market insight pages for how this connects to those markets.
- What could happen next
- Support measures may be extended or expanded if dry conditions persist; scale and duration were not confirmed at time of writing.
England and Wales both record their driest July since 1836
The Met Office confirmed England had just 6.5mm of rain in July 2026 (10% of its 65mm long-term average) and Wales had 9.3mm (9% of its 103.3mm average) — both beating the previous record set in 1911. Wales also had its sunniest calendar month on record and tied its joint-warmest July. Drought status now covers the whole of Wales and roughly half of England.
- Why it matters
- Reduced grass and forage growth affects milk yields and herd/flock condition going into autumn, and the exceptional dryness fell during the critical grain-fill period for the 2026 arable harvest.
- What could happen next
- The National Drought Group and Environment Agency are monitoring reservoir and groundwater levels; further restrictions are possible if autumn rainfall doesn't recover.
The big picture
How different markets relate to each other.
Milk vs Feed Costs
Insufficient reliable data to assess this relationship.
Beef vs Feed Costs
Insufficient reliable data to assess this relationship.
Wheat vs Fertiliser Costs
Insufficient reliable data to assess this relationship.
Arable Prices vs Energy Costs
Insufficient reliable data to assess this relationship.