■ Our analysis clearly shows the opportunity for improved efficiencies and performance by the range of results recorded.
Range of results shows opportunities for improved performance.
Summary
■ The 2014 growing season was less problematic than the previous year and the harvest started earlier leading to higher yields, but a significant fall in crop prices impacted on margins.
■ The yield/price effect on crop gross margins in our survey between harvest 2013 and 2014 was variable with wheat margins least affected.
■ Fixed costs are a significantly smaller proportion of crop price in Contract Farming Agreements (CFAs) than for in hand operations.
"The 2014 growing season was less problematic than the previous year"
Ian Bailey, Savills Research
About the Survey
The survey focus is combinable crops and covers around 18,000 hectares of combinable cropping area representing 70% of the area of farms in the sample.
■ Average farm (combinable crops) size is just over 450 hectares
■ National coverage
■ Two thirds of farms have a moderate to serious blackgrass problem
■ Predominant soil types are clay and loam with 65% of farms on grade 3 land.
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