Strengthening Our Supply Chain: Warrendale Farmers’ 2026 Cost of Production Review

As we look into 2026, understanding the true cost of producing high-quality British beef has never been more important. With continued pressure from input costs, labour availability and market volatility, having accurate, independent data is essential for building resilient, profitable farming businesses.

That is why Warredale is again working in partnership with GSC Grays and Savills to deliver a comprehensive Cost of Production (COP) exercise for 2026. This work will build on the findings from 2024 and 2025 and each year we aim to bring more farmers into the study, as well as gain longitudinal data from regular participants.

This initiative is designed to provide our farmer members with benchmarking, clearer insight into business performance, and stronger foundations for future decision-making.

Why Cost of Production Matters

Cost of production is more than just an annual calculation. It is a vital management tool that helps us and our farmer community understand:

• The real cost of producing beef

• Where money is being made or lost

• Which areas of the business are most exposed to risk

• Where efficiency gains can be achieved

In an environment where margins are tight, having an understanding of what is working and what could be better, allows farmers to take control of their businesses. Jamie Brownrigg, Warrendale’s Production Director, says, ‘Everyone always focusses on farm gate prices. But really, the success of an enterprise like wagyu, even one within a larger farming operation, is based on where margins can be optimised’.

Working with Independent Experts

To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and credibility, the 2026 exercise will be delivered in partnership with GSC Grays and Savills, two of the UK’s leading rural and agricultural consultancies. They have previously worked on the project and by continuing to use them as independent analysts, we can make the project more useful, based on past learnings.

Their involvement brings:

• Independent analysis and validation

• Extensive experience in farm business benchmarking

• A consistent, transparent methodology

• Practical interpretation of results

This independent approach ensures that results are trusted, comparable and meaningful.

What the 2026 Exercise Will Involve

The 2026 Cost of Production review will build on previous benchmarking work, with a focus on capturing the realities of modern wagyu production.

Participating farms will be asked to provide data across key areas across production, financial and overheads.

• Stock numbers and stage, along with system type
• Labour costs (including unpaid labour)
• Feed, fuel and fertiliser costs.
• Bedding costs
• Veterinary and medicine
• Machinery and depreciation
• Energy
• Rent

Turning Data into Practical Insight

The value of the CoP exercise lies not just in collecting figures, but in what those figures reveal.

Following analysis by GSC Grays and Savills, participating farmers will receive:

• An individual report for the farm business

• Benchmarking against similar systems

• Identification of strengths and weaknesses

• Practical improvement opportunities

This enables farmers to see how their businesses perform relative to peers and where targeted changes could improve profitability.

For many producers, small improvements in feed efficiency, fertility, or finishing age can make a significant difference to the bottom line.

A Collaborative Approach

This exercise is built on collaboration and trust between Warrendale Farmers, Warrendale and independent advisers.

Farmers who participate are not only supporting their own businesses, but also contributing to a stronger, more resilient supply chain for the whole group. This is the ethos on which the entire supply chain is built.

The more representative the data set, the more valuable the results become for everyone involved.

Getting Involved

If you are interested in taking part in 2026, look out for an invite via email shortly.

We strongly encourage all eligible farmers to take part and make full use of the support and insight available.

Together, we can continue to build a supply chain that is fair, informed, and focused on long-term success.

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