News

February 2024 – SFI and CS appeal widens

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship have become considerably more appealing after the government released new  information about the schemes. Kevin Jay digests the detail…

Increased payment rates, up to 50 additional ‘actions’ and a single application service for SFI and Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid-Tier payments were among the promises made by DEFRA Secretary Steve Barclay at the Oxford Farming Conference.

October 2023 – Monitor costs in tandem with pursuing environmental ambitions

Entering a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) or Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme provides an ideal opportunity to undertake a whole-farm cost review, explains CLM’s Oli Pilbeam.

“£673/ha? I may as well put my entire farm down for that.”

That’s a comment I’ve heard a lot over the past 12 months.

July 2023 – Check insurance cover

Farmers and landowners are being advised to check that their insurance cover reflects risks they face and that they are not over-paying on their premiums.

“The nature of businesses, and therefore the risks they carry, is changing rapidly,” said Matthew Berryman, director with farm business consultancy CLM.

June 2023 – Ashdown Initiative shows potential for landscape recovery

Some key messages for farmers have been highlighted by a CLM-run project in Ashdown Forest, as farm and environment consultant Harrison Anton explains

The second application window for DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery (LR) scheme opened recently.  A key part of the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS), this aims to help the environment by funding large-scale projects through bespoke, long-term agreements involving groups of farmers and others working together across thousands of acres.

March 2023 – How should farmers react to Defra’s ELMS announcements?

Recent weeks have seen the Government release more details about the Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS).

Firstly, it was the improved payment rates for the Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI) schemes and, secondly, a very… very long document (91 pages, if you were to press print) setting out a clearer picture for the additional strands of SFI yet to be introduced and announcing the concept of CP Plus.

February 2023 – BNG Offers new opportunities

With the ‘market’ for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rapidly emerging, South East Farmer hears from farm and environment consultant Anthony Weston about the options and one Sussex scheme with which he’s involved.

Demand for BNG provision is growing rapidly and agreements are already being struck.

November 2022 – Be proactive in growing BNG market

The market for biodiversity net gain (BNG) is rapidly emerging, heralding a potentially lucrative opportunity for farmers and landowners.

Estimates of the total annual BNG requirement vary widely. Some reports are suggesting 7,000 ‘units’, while others put it at 7,000ha, an area that has the potential of generating between 20,000 and 40,000 ‘units’.

October 2022 – 9 Planning Pointers

If you have a vineyard or viticulture business – or are thinking about establishing one – it’s likely you’ll come into contact with the planning authorities at some point. It can feel like an intimidating prospect, but keeping a few key considerations in mind will guide you.

August 2022 – Farming needs “the brightest and the best”

One of the joys of my 25 years as a consultant has been seeing new people come into the profession and progress their careers. There is, quite rightly, much talk in the farming industry about how we should do more collectively to promote careers in agriculture.

May 2022 – Solving the sibling conundrum

“Fair doesn’t necessarily mean equal” is a phrase I find myself frequently using when discussing succession.

With the value of a farm usually intrinsically tied up in the assets required to run the business, any attempt to release capital by selling assets (in practise, often land) can sometimes undermine the business.