Running a telemarketing campaign to farmers? Here's what's in the list
| In the list | Count |
|---|---|
| Telephone numbers for UK farms | 22,362 |
| Named contacts available (a person to ask for) | 21,022 |
| Workplaces counted by ONS (the whole UK market) | 60,345 |
The list combines four farming categories, which you can buy together or separately:
| Farm type | Telephone numbers |
|---|---|
| Mixed farms | 12,890 |
| Dairy farms | 3,372 |
| Arable farms | 3,295 |
| Livestock farms | 2,805 |
Nearly every record has a named contact, usually the farmer. The number is often the farmhouse landline, which is both the home and the business phone. It may be answered by a family member, or not at all if everyone is outside, so voicemail and call-backs are a normal part of a farm campaign.
The ONS figure on this page covers cereal growing, dairy and mixed farming (SIC 01110, 01410 and 01500). It doesn't include beef, sheep, pig or poultry farms, so it shows the scale of those three farm types, not the whole of UK farming.
TPS or CTPS? Screening farmers' phone numbers before you call
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) you must not make a live sales call to a number registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) or the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS), unless that business has told you it's happy to take your calls. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are treated as individuals, so their numbers go on the TPS; limited companies, LLPs and other organisations use the CTPS. Screen the whole list against both registers before every campaign, and keep your own do-not-call list of anyone who asks you not to ring again.
How UK farms are set up, from the Office for National Statistics (60,345 workplaces, UK Business Counts 2026, SIC 01500, 01410, 01110):
| Legal form | UK workplaces | Share | Register that applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited companies and LLPs | 8,800 | 15% | CTPS |
| Sole traders | 21,215 | 35% | TPS |
| Partnerships | 30,055 | 50% | TPS |
| Charities, clubs and other non-profits | 260 | under 1% | CTPS |
Farming is the most TPS-heavy sector we cover. In the ONS figures above, 85% of these farm workplaces are sole traders or partnerships, so for most of this list the TPS, not the CTPS, decides who you can call. Because farm numbers are often home landlines too, expect screening to remove more numbers than it would for a company-heavy sector, and order enough records to allow for it.
Scottish farming partnerships are legal persons and are treated like companies (CTPS), so screen against both registers if you're calling across the UK.
A number that fails screening can't be called for sales, but you can still write to that farm: the TPS covers phone calls, not post. A letter followed by a call to the farms that are clear to ring is a common pattern.
Who to ask for when you call farmers
On most farms the farmer, or the farming partners, decide everything. On larger farms and estates, a manager or the person who runs the farm office may be your first contact.
| Ask for | What they decide | Getting them on the phone |
|---|---|---|
| Farmer or farming partner | Everything: feed, seed, fertiliser, machinery, contractors, energy, insurance, diversification. | Outside most of the day. Best caught at midday, on wet days, or at a time they've given you. |
| Farm manager | Day-to-day inputs, machinery and contractors on larger farms and estates. | Often carries a mobile. Ask the office or family for the best number and time. |
| Farm secretary or the partner who runs the office | Invoices, utilities, insurance, compliance paperwork and often the phones. | May work set days. Ask which, and treat them as a decision maker, not a barrier: in a family partnership they often are one. |
| Herd manager (dairy farms) | Feed, vet and medicine supplies, milking equipment and herd records. | Works around milking times. Never call during them. |
Getting through to the farmer
There's no receptionist on a farm. The gatekeepers are distance (the farmer is out in a field or a shed), the weather, and whoever is in the farmhouse when the phone rings. How to handle each:
- Ask for the farmer by name, and if they're out, ask "When's the best time to catch them?" Family members usually know their routine.
- Remember it's a home phone. Be polite and brief, and don't call the same number repeatedly in one day.
- Leave a short voicemail with your name, company, one-line reason and when you'll try again. Many farmers listen to messages at the end of the day.
- Treat whoever answers as part of the business. On a family farm, the person answering may be a partner who signs the cheques.
- Watch the weather. A wet day is a better calling day than a dry one in the middle of harvest or silage.
Best and worst times to call farmers
Farm days are set by livestock and weather rather than office hours. These windows are general advice and vary by farm type; a dairy farm's day is very different from an arable farm's.
| When | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning, before about 9am | Avoid | Milking on dairy farms, feeding livestock, and everyone out on the farm. |
| Around midday, roughly 12pm to 1.30pm | Good time | Many farmers come in for a meal, so you have a fair chance of catching them indoors. |
| Wet days | Good time | Outdoor work stops or slows, and farmers catch up on paperwork and calls. |
| Late afternoon on dairy farms, roughly 4pm to 6pm | Avoid | Afternoon milking. |
| Evenings | Avoid | Often the only time a farmer is indoors, but it's family time on a home phone. Only call then if they've asked you to. |
| Market days and show days | Avoid | Farmers may be away at the livestock market or an agricultural show. Local knowledge helps here. |
If a farmer gives you a time to call back, use it exactly. It's the most reliable calling slot you'll get.
Seasonality: when in the year to call farmers
The farming year matters more than the day of the week. Exact timings depend on the farm type, region and weather:
What to say: a short opener and replies to common objections
Farmers value plain speaking and their time. Ask if it's a good moment before you start.
When the farmer answers
Hello, is that [farmer's name]? It's Sam from [your company]. Have I caught you at an all right time, or are you in the middle of something?
If they've got a minute
We work with [dairy / arable / mixed] farms on [what you do]. One quick question: [qualifying question, for example when does your fuel contract come up for renewal]?
Fill in the brackets with your own product, and use the farm type from the record to tailor the line. Asking whether it's a good time matters more here than in most sectors: you may be interrupting the only sit-down meal of the farmer's day.
When they push back
"Understood. When will you be through it? I'll put a note in to ring you then." Then wait until then. Calling again mid-harvest loses the farmer for good.
"Most farms do, and I'm not asking you to change that. Would a second price on [one item] be useful to have next time you order?"
"Of course. What's the best address, and is it you or someone else who deals with the post?" On farms a letter often gets read properly, at the kitchen table, later.
Prices for a list of farm phone numbers
You pay per record, and the price per record falls as the order grows:
| Number of records | Price per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 2,500 | £295 |
| 2,500 to 4,999 | £270 |
| 5,000 to 9,999 | £245 |
| 10,000 to 19,999 | £220 |
| 20,000 to 49,999 | £195 |
| 50,000 or more | £170 |
Other phone lists
Questions about calling farmers
Where can I get a list of farmers' phone numbers to call?
We supply one. Our list of farm phone numbers holds 22,362 telephone numbers for UK farms, with 21,022 named contacts available: 12,890 mixed farms, 3,372 dairy farms, 3,295 arable farms and 2,805 livestock farms. You can choose one type or all four, and select by region, county or postcode area.
Running a telemarketing campaign to farmers? What do I need first?
Screen against the TPS first, because most farms are sole traders or partnerships, and order enough records to allow for the numbers screening removes. Plan around the farming year (avoid lambing, silage and harvest), call around midday or on wet days, and have a letter ready for the farms you can't call.
Do farm phone numbers need TPS or CTPS screening?
Both, but mainly the TPS. On ONS figures 85% of farm workplaces in these farm types are sole traders or partnerships, whose numbers are covered by the TPS. Farm limited companies, and Scottish partnerships, are covered by the CTPS.
Can I choose dairy or arable farms only?
Yes. The four farm types are separate categories, so you can take dairy farms (3,372), arable farms (3,295), mixed farms (12,890) or livestock farms (2,805) on their own or in any combination.
Do farmers prefer a phone call or a letter?
Many farmers deal with paperwork at set times, often at the kitchen table in the evening, so a letter is read properly. A short call a few days later, at midday or on a wet day, then has something to refer to. For numbers that fail TPS screening, a letter is the way in.
How much does a list of farm phone numbers cost?
You pay per record: £295 per 1,000 for orders under 2,500 records, falling to £170 per 1,000 for 50,000 records or more (excluding VAT). Tell us which farms you want and we'll send a free count and an exact price.