Industry Insights from Industry Leaders for 2025

Advice About Ioining the Ag Industry

At the close of 2024, while attending industry events, the De Lacy Executive Recruitment team spoke to several industry members about their thoughts on the agriculture industry outlook for 2025.

De Lacy Executive Recruitment chatted with Ken Fallows, Ruminants Accounts Manager with GLW Feeds; Mark Oliver, Sales Manager, with Gallagher Europe; Phil Holder – Managing Director, at ED&F Man Commodities Limited; and John Kelso, Managing Director, TitheBarn Limited.

Hear what they have to say in the video below. 

We asked them to share their thoughts about challenges expected for agri-businesses in 2025 as well as advice for those joining the industry.

Fallows explained that with the recent election of a new government, farmers do not know what to expect, “With the threat of the new inheritance tax coming in, there's a lot of fear.”

Fallows continued farmers need to be reassured that there's a good future for them. He said profits are there, the price of meat is currently fantastic, the price of milk is rising, and the price of feed is stable.

Fallows says there is there are still good profit margins to be had, and he thinks the outlook is positive.

Oliver suggested that adaptability is key. “I think the most important thing, at the moment, is adapting to the marketplace. We are in an ever-changing marketplace, in that situation, the businesses that that are adapting and embracing that change are being successful.”

He cautioned that agri-businesses that continue to do what they have always done, will struggle in the future.

Holder shared that he believes there is an opportunity to expand. But he says, it is about “having the right people and the right strategy.” He believes you need to have planning, and you need to ensure that that plan fits with the market, and that you need to build the people around you that can deliver the plan.

John Kelso, Managing Director, TitheBarn Limited stressed that he believes it is important to keep up with the technology.

“Retention of staff is another one,” underlined Kelso. “Professionalism has to has to be there, has to be on point and keeping up with that on staff training is going to be essential.”

Support for new entrants in agriculture

De Lacy Executive Recruitment asked the industry representatives what the industry can do to support new entrants into the sector.

Fallows indicated he was a big believer in getting out on farm.

“We've all done our studying. We've all had to get our little certificates to say that we're allowed to say what we say and what we do.” Fallows continued by saying “I do think that having actual proper knowledge, what the cows are doing, what the sheep are doing, what the pigs are doing, what the poultry's doing, what's happening, what other people are doing outside there.”

Fallows explained he is an advocate for putting a young company representative with a more experience company representative to work together to pass along knowledge.

“There are really good people in the marketplace, but sometimes they are nervous about coming into an industry that they don't know,” highlighted Oliver. “But I think if they are the right people and they embrace our agricultural marketplace or equine marketplace, then it's a great industry to work for and there are great, great opportunities.”

“We've got to open the doors,” shared Holder. “I think we've got to try harder to raise the profile of the industry.” He says the industry needs to encourage people who are not the classic profile for our industry, to join the industry.

Continued Holder, “You've got to make sure that you make the opportunities attractive. We've got to pay the right salaries, offer the right training, give the right flexibility.”

Kelso said, “It has to be training, retention of staff, doing all they can to keep them.”

Starting a career in agriculture

The industry members were asked to offer advice to those just starting their careers in agriculture.

Farrows provided the following advice: “Listen to what's happening, what other people have done, what they have tried. Try and do some new things. Look at what others are doing.”

“If you can make yourself a little bit better than the next person, you can have the choice of jobs, you can have the choice of doing what you want to do.”

And Farrows continued “If you don't enjoy it, get out. Do not stay in a job you don't enjoy. There's nothing worse. There are plenty of companies out there that will fight for you if you're the right person for them.”

He concluded by saying “Be positive, happy, smiley. Make people want to talk to you, make people want to work with you, and you'll have a great career.”

Oliver said the industry offers great opportunities.” He shared that Gallagher recently had two people join the company that were from the periphery of the industry. “It’s great to have them in the team. And from a career perspective, we want to grow and develop those people as part of our team and in the company.”

Holder advised people joining the industry, “Be willing to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. Don't join the industry thinking it's going to be an easy ride. When opportunities arise be sure to grab hold of them.”

“Progress slowly and confidently up through the industry,” said Kelso. “I'd always encourage people to start at farm level or as close to farm level as they can, whether that's working on a farm or selling on farm. Then progress up through the different levels and then to management, senior management and directorship. Your credibility is the one of the most important things that we'll go through with you.”