HSBC Agriculture Launches Annual Guide to Farming Prospects

LONDON, January 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

HSBC has launched their 36th annual Forward Planning publication for the Agriculture industry - Forward Planning - 2012. 

The publication has been written in consultation with Andersons, the farm business consultants. It is designed to be used by agriculture businesses as part of their planning for the year ahead and actively reviewed throughout the year, so as to make the most of opportunities which may arise. The guide also uses insights taken from HSBC Agriculture Managers, who visit farm businesses daily.

The booklet gives costs of production for each of the main enterprises with estimates of income.  There is also a section on whole farm budgets, which brings together each component, and in turn this gives an insight into business profitability. We use this methodology as our principle method of assessment when funding a farming business, either when considering the enterprises enclosed or the other components of UK Agriculture which we happily encounter.

This year's highlights include assumptions around exchange rates and the impact of the Single Farm Payment and Commodity volatility.  There is also a section on renewable energy and sustainability which is a growing aspect of business life on a farm and an area in which Agriculture's customers and consumers are taking real interest in.

Allan Wilkinson, HSBC's Head of Agriculture in the UK, said, "Every week our Agriculture team meet with hundreds of farm businesses.  It is encouraging to see their optimism for 2012 and that there is a desire by many farms to grow their business. Our support across the agriculture sector remains unstinting, for individual businesses and groups alike.  Our business is based on long-term relationships and sound business planning - just like these agriculture businesses and I hope that our Forward Planning publication will support them." 

HSBC was the first UK bank to introduce a team of specialist agriculture banking managers dedicated to supporting agriculture and farming related businesses in 1989.  The bank's agriculture managers spend much of their time with customers on farm premises and continue to provide a dedicated service specific to the financial needs of the industry. 

For further information or to download a free copy of the booklet please visit the newly launched Agriculture site at http://www.hsbc.co.uk/agriculture

HSBC Bank plc: HSBC serves 16.1 million customers in the UK and employs approximately 52,000 people.  In the UK, HSBC offers a complete range of personal, premier and private banking services including bank accounts and mortgages. It also provides commercial banking for small to medium businesses and corporate and institutional banking services. HSBC Bank plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc.        

The HSBC Group: HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 7,500 offices in 87 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,691bn at 30 June 2011, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. 

Media Contact

Kate Woodyatt, +44(0)20-7991-8471, katewoodyatt@hsbc.com