86% Of British Farmers Cannot Plan Ahead Amid Growing Uncertainty

More than eight in ten British farmers feel unable to plan for the future, and over two in five have considered leaving agriculture, according to new research which calls for technology, sustainable practices, and stronger government support to secure the sector’s future resilience.

Research from McCain Foods’ second annual Farmdex survey found that financial pressures, policy uncertainty, and increasingly unpredictable weather are growing concerns for British agriculture.

Some 86% said uncertainty over government policy was having a negative impact on their farms, while three in four (74%) reported that increasingly unpredictable weather is making it harder to manage their farm effectively.

Financial constraints have led 42% of respondents to consider quitting farming altogether, while 40% questioned whether they would still be farming a decade from now.

The nationwide survey of 200 farmers, conducted between 22 and 31 July 2026, highlights the extent of the uncertainty facing British agriculture, yet one that continues to demonstrate resilience and determination to adapt. 

Profit margins remain particularly tight, with 87% of respondents saying that higher input costs had significantly affected profitability over the past 12 months.

More than a quarter of farmers surveyed (27%) said they had either broken even or made a loss, while 29% reported profits of between 1% and 5%. 

Long-Term Food Security Pessimism

As uncertainty mounts, the concerns highlighted in the report extend to the wider question of domestic food production. 

Only 5% of respondents said they were optimistic about Britain’s long-term food security, compared with 87% who were pessimistic, citing reliance on imports and the challenge of competitive pricing.

At the same time, 91% said increased investment in British agriculture was necessary to protect future food supplies.

One year on from its inaugural Farmdex report, McCain Foods said this year’s iteration leaves little doubt about the issues faced by farmers.

“While some indicators have improved, the overall picture shows a sector continuing to face significant challenges,” stated James Young, vice president of agriculture at McCain Foods GB&I. 

“The global picture is tumultuous and domestically it has been one of the hottest, driest summers on record.”

To secure the future of British agriculture, McCain Foods is calling for increased investment in the UK food and farming sector, alongside wider adoption of regenerative agriculture and measures to improve water resilience.

The company is also advocating greater support for technology uptake and workforce skills, as well as trade agreements that ensure imported food meets the same standards expected of British produce.

“No single group can secure the future of British farming alone,” Young pointed out. “Farmers, businesses, industry bodies and policymakers all have a role to play in giving farmers greater certainty, creating a level playing field, and driving long-term investment.

“If we get that right, we can support profitable farms today while building a resilient food system for generations to come,” Young concluded.

Investment Held Back By Uncertainty

The Farmdex research, now in its second year, examines farmer sentiment across profitability, government policy, climate, investment, and food security. 

Farmers said greater certainty would be important in enabling them to invest in their businesses.

Six in 10 respondents (61%) said government measures that improved long-term farm profitability would give them greater confidence to invest. 

Almost half (47%) also called for simpler application and compliance processes.

Trade policy has become a more prominent issue since last year. 

More than half of farmers (53%) identified stronger protection for British producers as the most important action policymakers could take, compared with 44% in McCain Foods’ 2025 Farmdex survey.

According to the report, respondents were concerned that lower-priced imports produced to different standards could put pressure on the competitiveness of British produce, farm profitability, and domestic food security.

Climate Change Adds To Challenges

Weather volatility is another growing concern. 

Nearly three-quarters of farmers (74%) said unpredictable conditions were making their businesses more difficult to manage.

Climate change was identified by 27% as one of the biggest pressures on farm finances, while 34% regarded it as a major long-term threat to the growth of British agriculture.

Despite the challenges, investment in sustainability remains widespread. 

Almost two-thirds (64%) said sustainable farming practices were essential to the future of agriculture, while 65% had invested in sustainability measures to some degree during the previous five years.

McCain Foods said the results also indicated a link between sustainability investment and confidence. 

Among farmers who had invested significantly in sustainable practices, 35% were optimistic about the future of the sector, compared with 17% across the overall sample.

The latest research follows McCain Foods' inaugural Farmdex survey, which questioned 200 British farmers in July 2025. 

Read the McCain Farmdex report in full here.