Thirty per cent of farmers using benchmarking are fresh produce growers, according to a recent survey by the Food Chain Centre (FCC).

Sheep and beef farmers were a close second with 27 per cent now benchmarking.

The total number of benchmarking users has almost tripled in the last two years. The survey of farmers from all sectors across England and Wales revealed that in total 24 per cent are now benchmarking compared to nine per cent in 2002.

“I’m delighted that so many British farmers are now benchmarking,” said FCC director, Jon Woolven. “This is a tribute to their growing professionalism and to the work of many benchmarking supporters on the ground. Knowing your true cost of production and comparing these figures in a confidential way is critical to making business decisions. Farmers that benchmark are in the best position to face the new marketplace after CAP reform,”

However, despite increasing support for the concept, Woolven warned against complacency, “We must not rest here,” he said. “International competition is fierce and getting into benchmarking clubs, where you are among your peers, and which we regard as ‘best practice’, is a great way to develop action plans to cut cost and add value.”

Sixty per cent of farmers said benchmarking helped them understand their costs better, 45 per cent said it helped reduce their costs and 33 per cent said it improved their returns. The majority of existing users said they got involved in benchmarking with friends and associates.

Topics