Farm Business Survey Contractor (2027-2033)

The UK government is seeking a contractor to deliver the annual Farm Business Survey (FBS) for English farms from 2027 to 2033. The FBS collects detailed financial and physical data from approximately 1,600 farms representing all farm types and regions in England. This is a long-established survey dating back to 1936, providing critical data for monitoring farming productivity, performance, and incomes. The collected data directly informs government policy evaluation and helps assess the resilience and economic health of the farming sector. Key responsibilities include: recruiting and maintaining a representative sample of at least 1,600 eligible farms according to Defra's sample design; collecting, validating, and delivering all physical and financial data by 30 October each year; providing monitoring information for contract oversight; and attending five meetings annually (three project board meetings and two additional meetings for methodology development and UK consistency). This is an outsourced requirement with significant impact on agricultural policy and sector understanding.