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Know How / Finance

The loss of the Basic Payment Scheme and the new system of payments which will reward environmental practices hold many questions for farmers over the future financial viablility of their businesses. We examine how you can implement sustainable farming practices, while protecting your income.

ENVIRONMENT

Banks asked to rethink support for sustainable farming

A radical new approach is needed by banks to help farm businesses adapt and achieve environmental targets, new research shows. The Soil Association Exchange, with funding from the British Business…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Defra figures spell looming disaster for the uplands

Latest Defra figures paint a bleak outlook for upland farms in England, as many question how they will remain viable in the future. Farm business income (effectively net profit) figures…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Defra rejects claims its ELM scheme could be axed

Defra has issued a strong rebuttal over claims it is planning to water down or scrap Environmental Land Management (ELM), its flagship post-Brexit agri-environment scheme. Over recent days, reports in…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Tenant farmers to get legal rights to access Welsh agri-scheme

Farm tenants in Wales are to be given legal powers to challenge landlords who block them from accessing new government agriculture support schemes. The new Agriculture (Wales) Bill, which was…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Transition Farmer update: Risk preoccupies Kit Speakman

Future-proofing his Essex farm business against the threats of commodity price downturns, input price increases and unpredictable weather events is occupying Transition Farmer Kit Speakman’s mind, in case all three…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

NFU Scotland takes aim at government cuts to farming budget

Government funding cuts to Scotland’s agriculture budget are a “major blow” to farmers and crofters who face unprecedented costs, NFU Scotland (NFUS) has said. The Scottish government announced on Thursday…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Tips to keep farms profitable in face of rising inputs

Six experts give their top tips to ensure farm businesses remain profitable in the face of rising input costs and volatile commodity markets See also: How to stress-test your farm business…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

How to stress-test your farm business against high inflation

Soaring input costs are putting a severe strain on farm cashflows – but growers and livestock producers can take steps to lessen the impact of rising ag inflation. With little…

FARM POLICY

New Welsh farm support scheme majors on tree planting

Farmers in Wales will need to have at least 10% of their land planted with trees if they want a baseline payment from the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). Details…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Sustainable Farming Incentive applications open in England

Farmers and landowners in England are being urged to take part in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the first element of the government’s new Environmental Land Management (ELM) programme. The…

ARABLE

Advice for arable growers with stewardship ending this year

Take the opportunity to replace expiring Countryside Stewardship schemes with new, enhanced agreements while you still get paid to participate, farmers are being advised. Rather than just extending an existing…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Farmers will get ‘vast majority’ of BPS cash – Eustice

Defra secretary George Eustice has promised English farmers they will receive the “vast majority” of funds released from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) over the next three years, insisting the…

ARABLE

Bold agri-environment choice takes land out of production

Protecting and improving the environment is a priority for Robert Law, who has always made good use of agri-environment schemes across the 1,800ha of farmland that he oversees on the…

BUSINESS

Defra’s Lump Sum Exit Scheme opens for farmers in England

The application window for Defra’s Lump Sum Exit Scheme has opened for farmers in England who wish to exit the industry. The scheme will enable participants to receive some of…

BUSINESS

SFI fails to impress Farmer of the Year, but CS is a runner

Managing soils ranging from heavy clay to Breckland sand provides plenty of challenges, with the move away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) demanding reviews of cropping and land use…

FARM POLICY

Farmers reveal ‘brutal’ treatment at hands of RPA

Farmers are calling for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to carry out a root-and-branch review of how it manages agri-environment schemes amid concerns that hundreds have been unfairly penalised with…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Rolling application window for Sustainable Farming Incentive

Defra has announced further details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2022, which includes plans for a rolling application window. The scheme, which is the first pillar under Environmental…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

Lump sum and delinking raise tax and timing questions

The tax and timing considerations for the Lump Sum Exit scheme and Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) delinking announcements need careful consideration and more information is needed from Defra, say advisers.…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

Countryside Stewardship – key changes for 2023 agreements

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) is now open for applications for agreements with a 1 January 2023 start date. Farmers Weekly highlights the key dates farmers need to know about,…

ARABLE

SFI Pilot: Two arable farmers share their experiences to date

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot is giving farmers an opportunity to help shape the future of farming in England, with participants being able to choose the standards and ambition…