Business top stories TENANCIES AND RENTSHow to make landlord-tenant arbitration smootherIt is not uncommon for a dispute over as little as £2,000/year in farm rent to cost the losing party £40,000 or more when that difference of opinion is settled… GRANTSApplications open for £2,000 grants towards farming studiesA round of funding has been made available by The Farmers Club Charitable Trust for individuals looking to study or take part in a research project linked to the farming… LAND MARKETSBuyers' choice of quality farms from Cheshire to KentA well-equipped, “ready-to-go” dairy farm comes to the market in Cheshire with 460 acres in a ring-fence. Tilstone Bank Farm sits alongside the Shropshire Union Canal near Tilstone Fearnall, Tarporley,… BUSINESSWhat smarter, fairer farm data means for UK agricultureThere’s no getting around it — farming across Britain is under intense pressure. Whether you’re in livestock, arable, dairy or horticulture, the challenges are piling up: rising input costs, labour… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTCommon diversification insurance claims and how to avoid themFarm insurance covers the policyholder only for farming activities. Cover for alternative enterprises needs careful thought, in terms of both the liability and the potential cost of property damage and… BNGBNG rule changes could exempt small sites and cut unit demandLandowner income from selling Biodiversity Net Gain units could fall if developments of nine houses or fewer are exempted from biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements. The potential for exemptions is… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSThousands of farmers to benefit from £30m HLS upliftFarmers in England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme will receive a £30m payment increase backdated to January 2025, but experts warn urgent action is needed to support them and accelerate… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTEnd of analogue phones - what it means for rural communitiesThe traditional way of making phone calls is changing, similar to when analogue TV switched over to digital TV between 2007-12. This means the “public switched telephone network” (PSTN) will… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAgricultural platform launched to monetise on-farm dataA digital marketplace designed to generate an income from on-farm data is set to launch nationwide from 1 September, with landowners able to sell data confidentially while retaining ownership. The… BNGBNG rule changes could exempt small sites and cut unit demandLandowner income from selling Biodiversity Net Gain units could fall if developments of nine houses or fewer are exempted from biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements. The potential for exemptions is… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSThousands of farmers to benefit from £30m HLS upliftFarmers in England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme will receive a £30m payment increase backdated to January 2025, but experts warn urgent action is needed to support them and accelerate… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESDry weather across Europe adds support to UK oilseeds marketsParis rapeseed futures approached €500/t (£419/t) for the November contract on 27 May, the highest level in nearly three months. In the UK, oilseed rape prices stood at £452/t for… CROPS MARKETS AND PRICESUK biofuels sector in jeopardy as US trade deal stingsDomestic wheat growers could be set to lose a vital market if Associated British Foods decides to shut down Vivergo Fuels, its bioethanol plant near Hull, East Yorkshire. The company… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFairer supply chain regulations for pig farmers become lawPig farmers are set to gain stronger protections and fairer treatment under new legislation aimed at improving transparency and accountability across the supply chain. Recently signed into law by ministers,… Business newsSee all ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESDefra rejects appeal to widen application pool for SFI 2024An appeal from the Tenant Farmers Association to allow a wider range of farmers to finish their Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 scheme applications has been rejected by Defra. The door… BUSINESSAsda faces backlash over beef from UruguayBritish farmers have been outraged that beef from Uruguay is being stocked by supermarket Asda. The beef steaks, sold under the Grass and Grill brand, which is owned by Hilton… ELMFears grow over cuts to nature-friendly farming budgetThe UK government is facing mounting pressure to clarify its position on the future of nature-friendly farming after reports emerged that the budget for Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes could… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTAgricultural platform launched to monetise on-farm dataA digital marketplace designed to generate an income from on-farm data is set to launch nationwide from 1 September, with landowners able to sell data confidentially while retaining ownership. The… More articles Explore farm management Know How Business advice Essential guides Practical tips Case studies Business management Compliance Payments, schemes and grants Diversification Health and safety Succession planning Road legal Careers and personal development Explore all topics Latest from farm management Know HowSee all TENANCIES AND RENTSHow to make landlord-tenant arbitration smootherIt is not uncommon for a dispute over as little as £2,000/year in farm rent to cost the losing party £40,000 or more when that difference of opinion is settled… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTCommon diversification insurance claims and how to avoid themFarm insurance covers the policyholder only for farming activities. Cover for alternative enterprises needs careful thought, in terms of both the liability and the potential cost of property damage and… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSR&D tax relief - how to avoid the common pitfallsFarming businesses set up as limited companies have been strongly encouraged over the past decade to claim research and development (R&D) tax relief, but the bar to qualify has now… GRANTSGrant funding for farm kit and research - how it worksGrants open next week for equipment, technology and small infrastructure to boost productivity, improve slurry management and enhance animal health and welfare. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) will… COMPLIANCEProposed changes to waste exemptions – a farmer's guideFarmers in England face changes in the way waste exemptions are managed. Isabel Davies asks Charlotte Nott, environment policy adviser for the NFU, some key questions. See also: The rules… TAXIHT planning: Beware of surprise tax liabilitiesA hasty move or an unexpected event can bring surprise tax liabilities and other complications when planning for the cut in inheritance tax (IHT) reliefs due to take effect from… DIVERSIFICATIONFruit grower turns waste products into business ventureFarmers Weekly's 2024 Diversification Farmer of the Year winner, Annabel Makin-Jones, has built a sustainable business model, which maximises the use of by-products to reduce costs and waste. The Yorkshire-based… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow making time to talk about the farm's future pays offOne of the key aims and benefits of the free business advice offered through Defra’s Future Farming Resilience Fund was to facilitate the start of conversations within farming businesses about… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTInsolvency risks and mitigation steps for farm businessesA raft of issues including finance, employment and other costs, supply chain problems, climate change and international trade friction all combine to make business increasingly volatile. Challenges can come from within,… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Energy compliance in FBT's sublet cottagesWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Nick Curnock, Rural Associate with Carter Jonas, advises on what a new… TAXFarm tax: Opportunities, deadlines and updatesThere is currently a mix of opportunities, deadlines and changes relating to tax for farm businesses. We find out what to be aware of when dealing with your tax responsibilities… AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONTransition webinar: Renewable energy key points to considerRenewable energy can displace fossil fuel use, cutting input costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Farmers Weekly Transition project webinar panel. But with a number of renewables… AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONTransition Farmers: Buildings upgrade and new dairy progressFarmers Weekly's Transition project is following a group of farmers on their journey to adapt and meet the challenges of farming. Here, we look at the progress of two farms.… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can we ask tenant to change way they farm?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Duncan Sigournay, partner and head of Thrings agriculture team, advises on a… AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONTransition Farmers: Succession focus and investment on holdFarmers Weekly's Transition project is following a group of farmers on their journey to adapt and meet the challenges of farming. Here, we look at the progress of two farms.… PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTSSupply chain funding: What's on offer for regen farmingWhile both private and public funding have been available, the recent pausing of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and capital grants by the government is putting the onus on supply… Business Clinic BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Energy compliance in FBT's sublet cottagesWhether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Nick Curnock, Rural Associate with Carter Jonas, advises on what a new… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can we ask tenant to change way they farm?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here Duncan Sigournay, partner and head of Thrings agriculture team, advises on a… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Should we switch to a share farming agreement?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Ted Beale, Associate Partner with Carter Jonas Rural, advises on the merits… BUSINESS CLINICBusiness Clinic: Can wedding traffic go through our yard?Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Here, Polly Ridgway, legal director in Thrings’ agricultural litigation team, advises on a… View all Business Clinic articles Markets and trendsSee all MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESFairer supply chain regulations for pig farmers become lawPig farmers are set to gain stronger protections and fairer treatment under new legislation aimed at improving transparency and accountability across the supply chain. Recently signed into law by ministers,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESProtein in high demand as meat prices drive food inflationFarmgate beef and lamb prices have started to ease back during May, however tight cattle supplies in the UK and further afield continue to support prices with finished steers still… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESUK pig herd set to grow despite fewer abattoirs remainingThe UK breeding pig herd is projected to reach 337,000 head by June 2025 as it continues to expand year-on-year. Pigmeat production is also forecast to grow. The AHDB projects… INPUT MARKETS AND PRICESNew arable input price series launched by Farmers WeeklyFarmers Weekly has teamed up with industry agronomists to produce a monthly price series covering key fungicides and herbicides used on farm. Prices are collected from a minimum of eight… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESScottish beef booms with supplies set to tighten furtherPrime cattle in Scotland continue to break records and trade at unprecedented levels, with the very best selling for more than £3,000/head. Deadweight steers in Scotland averaged 715p/kg in mid-May,… MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESLegislation due ‘imminently’ on fairer pig contractsFair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations, setting out fairer terms for pig contracts, are expected to be finalised "very shortly", Defra has indicated, following recent parliamentary approval. It is understood that… MARKETS AND TRENDSConfidence builds for UK pig sector as global demand growsLower on-farm feed costs and stable profit margins have left British pig producers in a much better position than during the pig backlog crisis of 2021-2022. There was a sense… MARKETS AND TRENDSWool prices up, but farmers say it’s still not enoughWool prices have reached their highest levels since 2018, but sheep farmers warn the modest recovery still leaves them operating at a loss, with shearing costs outstripping returns. British Wool… Advertisements Land in your areaSee all LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: East MidlandsAgents report a clear growth in the supply of farmland coming to the market in the East Midlands in 2024, a combination of public and private sales that resulted in… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: Yorkshire and HumberPrivate sales dominated in the Yorkshire and Humber region in 2024, with some agents reporting that more than two-thirds of transactions took place off the open market, many to cash… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: East of EnglandWhole farm and bare land sales in the east of England were at one of their highest ever volumes in 2024, and the majority of sales were to farmers. By… LAND MARKETSFarmland in your area 2024: South East EnglandSales of farmland were up by almost a quarter in the south-east of England in 2024, with a significant number of off-market deals. There seems to be no real trend… Most popular this week
