Sheep farming in the UK remains a huge and enormously diverse primary industry contributing significantly to the rural economy. Like any agricultural commodity the price, and consequent profitability of sheep production is subject to large swings, which would simply not be tolerated in other industries (imagine the price of a family car fluctuating by + or - 30% within a year!)

The challenge for all sheep producers is to be able to manage a very long-term business, frequently involving many generations of selective breeding and massive amounts of knowledge. Added to this are the ever-increasing requirements of the modern consumer grading specifications, farm assurance schemes etc while the constant threat that the British sheep industry's failure to deliver will increase the level of imports lurks in the background.
 
The need for better strategic management of farm businesses has never been greater, and this is where Red Meat Industry Forum offers something of value to the industry. The growth of RMIF Farm Business Clubs across the country, making use of RMIF's benchmarking service is allowing many producers the opportunity to compare their performance accurately, confidentially and on a like-for-like basis and on the back of this information to make the decisions they need to improve their businesses.