Latest Blogs in Agriculture
Louise Bassett
21st March 2024 Don’t Delay: Farming Equipment and Technology Fund Deadlines

Earlier this week, DEFRA added the closing dates for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).   If you’re a farmer, horticulturist, forestry owner or contractor to the any of the aforementioned, and you’re looking to improve productivity, manage slurry or improve animal health and welfare through the use of new technology and equipment, don’t…

Louise Bassett
21st February 2024 How is the government supporting farmers?

Let’s ask the question, ‘How is the government supporting farmers?’   DEFRA shared a press release from the Prime Minister yesterday, citing his and his party’s commitment to farmers and rural communities.   We already know that Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship payments are being increased across the board by approximately 10%, but…

James Cater
18th January 2024 Farming Group Newsletter – Issue 23

Over And Out   This will be the final Agricultural Newsletter produced during my tenure as Chair of our Farming Group and it would not be right if taxation was not considered in at least one contribution. Mike Blackledge provides for this with a review of the consequences of multiple rates of Corporation Tax where…

Liz Simpson
10th October 2023 Sick Pay: Farming Industry

The Farming Industry has some marked differences is sick pay legislation, PAYE regulations don’t pay sick pay over the statutory daily rate currently standing at £21.88 per day and commencing from the 4th consecutive day of absence. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is payable for the first 28 weeks of sickness, after which the employee can…

James Cater
18th July 2023 Farming Group Newsletter: Issue 22

Sticks and Carrots – No Change Then Over recent years farmers have been incentivised periodically to change their crop choices. We have had ‘yellow years’ as Oilseed Rape coloured our landscape and ‘blue years’ when Linseed was dominant. I suspect that ‘green years’ may be the next favoured colour and I’m not just thinking of…

Ian Piper
3rd May 2023 Tax traps: Beware

With the UK tax system as complicated as ever, there are certain rules which we come across that can very easily give a particularly unexpected (and unpleasant) consequence. Income Tax When either parent has taxable earnings over £50k (after personal pension contributions), entitlement to child benefit is reduced. As higher rate income tax starts at…

Louise Bassett
8th April 2023 Agricultural Subsidies – Key Dates

As the online application process for the 2023 Basic Payment Scheme opens tomorrow, and the application process for Countryside Stewardship (Higher Tier) is already open, please find a summary of the key dates for agricultural subsidies below. Basic Payment Scheme: 14th March 2023 – applications open 15th May 2023 – applications close 9th June 2023…

Mike Blackledge
20th March 2023 The complexities of farming diversification

The ever-changing farming industry is one that provides a multitude of complexities for accountants and tax advisers, not only from the day to day aspects of the business, but also with the historical family arrangements to the issues of ownership and succession.   With the forthcoming changes to subsidies both in terms of the conditions…

James Cater
13th December 2022 Bureaucracy Rules, OK

In a society already dominated by red tape two new registers have been created to assail us. The Register of Trusts, when announced, did not seem unduly onerous. As the requirements have become clearer we are left pondering where trusts may exist that are not immediately obvious.   Of particular relevance to agriculture, land may…

Ben Kilby
9th December 2022 Solar Panels

With the rising costs of energy affecting both homeowners and businesses, many are looking to renewable forms of energy to reduce their costs. Harvesting solar power with solar panels is one alternative. Sites can range from the roof of your house to hundreds of acres of rural land.   Grants are available for homeowners to…