Two In Five Farmers Surveyed Have Considered Quitting As Costs Squeeze Profits
More than two in five farmers surveyed in Britain have considered leaving agriculture because of financial constraints, according to McCain Foods' latest Farmdex research.
The survey found 42% had considered leaving, while 40% questioned whether they would still be farming in ten years. However, the proportion considering leaving was lower than the 51% reported in McCain's inaugural 2025 survey.
Policy uncertainty was negatively affecting farms for 86% of respondents, while 87% said rising input costs had significantly affected profitability. Some 74% said increasingly unpredictable weather made farm management harder.
Financial returns remained tight: 27% reported making a loss or breaking even over the previous year, while 29% reported profits of between 1% and 5%.
Published on 7 October, the findings come from an online survey of 200 farmers conducted by Republic between 22 and 31 July 2026. Exact demographic quotas could not be applied, so the results provide a snapshot of respondents' experiences.
The weather concerns have independent support. The Environment Agency's report for 7-13 August confirmed that 71% of England's land area was in drought, with reduced crop yields and more than 1,500 abstraction restrictions reported. Met Office provisional figures put summer 2026 as the UK's warmest in records dating back to 1884.
For fresh produce businesses, these pressures underline the importance of reliable water supplies and sufficient returns to sustain investment in domestic production.
There is already a policy commitment to address sector growth. Defra's Farming Roadmap 2050, published on 24 June and applying to England, promises industry-led growth plans, initially covering horticulture, including potatoes, and poultry.
McCain is calling for greater investment, water resilience, technology adoption and support for regenerative farming.
James Young, vice president of agriculture at McCain Foods GB&I, said: "No single group can secure the future of British farming alone."
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