Farm Business Survey: 2027 - 2033

The Farm Business Survey (FBS) is an annual survey collecting highly detailed financial and physical data from a representative stratified sample of around 1,600 farms from all farm types and regions in England. The survey has been run since 1936, and the data has always been collected as an outsourced requirement.

The FBS is a key data source for monitoring farming productivity, performance and incomes. It is used extensively for evaluating and informing government policy and for understanding the resilience of the farming sector, not only by government, but also by academics and the industry.

The Authority is seeking to appoint a Contractor to undertake the Farm Business Survey (FBS) in England. The survey data is required to monitor farming productivity, performance and incomes. The data is also used to inform and evaluate government policy.

High level objectives for the FBS are:

• To recruit, establish and maintain a representative eligible sample of at least 1,600 farm businesses in England as laid out in sample design provided by Defra.
• To collect, validate, reconcile, and deliver all required physical and financial data from all farms in the sample by 30th October in each contract year.
• To provide information to enable the effective monitoring of the contract.
• Attend three project board meetings per year and two additional meetings per year to progress development, methodology and implementation of the FBS, and ensure consistency of approach with other administrations within the UK.