Farmers and self-employed people working in agriculture are being urged to update their pension contributions following two years of high inflation. Many farmers use pensions as an alternative income stream in later life to reduce the impact of multiple generations taking income from the farm – and the number... Read more
Farm support payments should be refocused so smaller producers can turn a profit while enhancing the environment, says a think tank. The Green Alliance argues that the current structure of the government’s Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) is unfair and inefficient because it rewards large arable farms that are... Read more
A top accolade for services to agriculture has been awarded to Sarah Cowlrick, chief executive of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC). Ms Cowlrick received the 2023 British Crop Protection Council (BCPC) award for outstanding services to the UK crop production industry. She accepted the honour at last... Read more
The next few years will be crucial for British agriculture – and there will be winners and losers. To put it bluntly, those who win will be the ones that adapt quickly and read the changing market. With the Basic Payment Scheme now worth 50% of what it was... Read more
Average farmland values in the East Midlands have continued to increase year on year across all land types despite a surge in supply. Some 14,276 acres of farmland were marketed during the first three quarters of 2023, according to a quarterly analysis by Savills. It analysed sales across Derbyshire,... Read more
Non-farm income is an increasingly important source of revenue for farmers as they seek to offset reductions in government support. UK farm income from diversification enterprises has risen to 13% of turnover in 2023, suggests research from rural insurer NFU Mutual. Some 34% of farmers now run a diversified... Read more
Farmers are being urged to seek private funding support alongside grants to bolster incomes as the basic payment scheme is phased out.
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A new online skills and learning service is being made available to growers and livestock producers who want to further their careers.
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The government has awarded up to £30 million to cutting-edge farming projects that help to create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.
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Experts say four recommendations could encourage more farmers to adopt practices that are good for their businesses as well as for the environment.
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