News

March 2022 – Land prices set to widen between best and rest

Years ago, you knew the land market would get busy as soon as you saw daffodils and lambs, but nowadays it’s a more year-round affair.

There’s also far more land bought and sold off-market than in previous times, especially when it come to viticulture ground – but the arrival of spring still represents a busy time in the calender for conveyancing.

August 2021 – 7 Factors to consider if acquiring land

If you are looking to buy or rent ground, your search will have the best chance of success if you are aware of all the influences on the land market, not solely the agronomic aspects determining land’s desirability.

Understanding the mindset of the farmers and landowners who you might be dealing with enables you to take a more informed approach, potentially putting you in a stronger position. 

April 2021 – Ask the question

The difference between a good and a bad arable farmer is 24 hours.

I was once told that early in my consultancy career and it’s a comment that’s stuck with me for the 25 years since.

The farmer who gets up at 5am to go spraying because conditions are perfect and is determined not to miss a moment of the window won’t have same disease problems or weed burden that someone who acts 24 hours later will.

November 2020 – “Squeezed Middle”, Mid-scale vineyards can prosper despite challenges

The phrase ‘the squeezed middle’ – sometimes used to refer to mid-income households – has relevance to the viticulture sector.

Thought to have been first used by Ed Miliband or Gordon Brown, the expression came to mind recently when the team and I were doing some number-crunching.

November 2020 – The Vineyard Show takes shape

The Vineyard Show, due to be held at the Kent Event Centre Near Maidstone on the 24th November 2021, is taking shape.  CLM will be sponsoring this event and Matthew Berryman shares his thoughts.

 

Read the full article here ……..

August 2020 – “People farming” could be key to business success

The countryside is opening its doors, after the financial and psychological trauma of lockdown.

Some vineyards are again offering tours and other events and, while the effects of Covid-19 will be felt for many years, there is still cause for optimism in the medium and long term.

April 2020 – Vineyards, planning and coronavirus

The Coronavirus outbreak has thrown many vineyards into crisis, but visitor-based revenues will still underpin incomes for many in the longterm, making site-selection ever-more crucial, says Matthew Berryman.

A lot of viticulturists can’t think further ahead than the next week – or even the next day – at present, as they fight to keep businesses afloat in these unprecedented times.

March 2020 – Look beyond land quality

What is the perfect vineyard site?

We all know the prerequisites for vines to thrive – south-facing, less than 300 feet above sea level, high average temperatures, low frost risk and free draining soils.

But often less appreciated is the fact that a successful vineyard has other requirements nearly as important as the quality of the land.

December 2019 – Finding the right Contract Winemaker

Extra acres present industry with big processing challenge

The acreage of vines planted in recent years is encouraging evidence of the huge optimism in the sector, but it’s creating a challenge which the industry is yet to fully address – where do we find the processing capacity?

November 2019 – Driving change with mechanical harvesters

From smash-and-grab bushwhacking to an altogether more refined and sophisticated process.

Sam Barnes went to the SITEVI show in France two years ago with a very specific aim – to visit every machine harvesting stand and ask about potentially operating such a machine in Britain.