Promar to Run Farm Business Survey in England
Following an extensive retender process by Defra, Promar International have been awarded the next Farm Business Survey (FBS) contract in England. Promar will be responsible for recruiting farms, collecting and processing data for the 2022/23 survey year and for an initial four-year period. The transfer of current FBS activities and staff from the incumbent supplier, Rural Business Research, will complete at the end of January 2023.
“The FBS provides essential data to help Defra better understand and monitor the economic performance and productivity of farm businesses to help shape and evaluate agricultural policy decisions, while farmers can use the data to improve their business through access to management accounts and unique benchmarking,” comments Sandra Callwood, Director of Research with Promar.
Currently around 1800 farmers in England participate in the FBS and they are all being encouraged to continue to do so with Promar; their contribution to the survey is invaluable. Many of the Research Officers currently responsible for data collection will be transferring over to Promar.
“It has never been more important for farmers to understand the financial performance of their businesses and how they compare to other farms. The FBS is a well-established survey benefiting participating farmers while delivering important data to central decision-makers and we hope more farmers will decide to participate in the survey.”
Promar has been operating farm financial recording services for over 45 years and has extensive expertise in collecting, handling and aggregating individual farm data. Mrs Callwood stresses that FBS participants can be assured of the confidentiality and high security of their FBS data. The survey will be run as a ringfenced activity independently away from the rest of Promar’s commercial activities and there will be no upselling of their commercial activities.
“As part of the contract, we will be looking for ways to improve the value of data collected to participants, reducing duplication and burden while making results available sooner allowing better informed decisions.
“In addition to the free set of management accounts and tailored feedback they currently receive, all participating farmers will be offered free access to our Agstute farm accounting software which they can use throughout the year for their own accounting needs as well as having access to more detailed analysis should they wish.
“Over the coming years, our aim is to add value to the current FBS service, making it even more powerful for participating farmers as they face up to the challenges ahead, while also continuing to provide the data to Defra to shape the future of the agricultural industry,” Mrs Callwood adds.
More information is available at www.farminfo.co.uk