Latest Blogs in Agriculture
Mike Blackledge
8th December 2022 Stamp Duty Land Tax

When dealing with agricultural tenancies SDLT – Stamp Duty Land Tax can be a complex issue. On completion in England of a farm business tenancy – FBT – it’s important to establish whether an SDLT return needs to be submitted, whether it is payable and if so, how much.   For a fixed term FBT,…

Andrew Band
7th December 2022 Unlocking that Farming Potential

The Food & Drinks Sector Council’s latest report on increased productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector calls on farmers to challenge their status quo against what they want to do and what they want to achieve.   Highlighting the numerous challenges faced on an almost daily basis, it focuses on maintaining farming profitability to…

Louise Bassett
6th December 2022 Money for Old Rope?

Applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) opened in June and will remain open year-round so that farmers can apply when it suits them. Interestingly, this will mean that individual farmers and landowners all have differing agreement start dates, unlike the old BPS scheme.   Based on DEFRA’s guidance, once an application has been submitted…

Richard Alecock
5th December 2022 Can’t See the Wood for the Trees…

Google ‘planting woodland and trees’ and you will find dozens of pages of advice but let’s focus on the farmer’s needs and the wide range of benefits to our readers where farmland grazing is poor or your land requires more fertilisers.   Large scale planting can: • Attract wildlife • Provide shelter for livestock •…

James Cater
24th November 2022 Farming Group Newsletter: Issue 21

I can remember thinking that accountancy would be a boring career. Over 40-years later I found myself writing the introduction to our newsletter after a budget – aka ‘fiscal statement’ – which incensed the environmental lobby, attracted criticism on the world stage and plunged the pound to record lows against the dollar.   Now, it’s…

James Cater
23rd November 2022 Late VAT Returns: New consequences

As VAT repayment traders, farmers have long enjoyed the privilege of being able to submit their VAT returns late with impunity. Beware. For VAT Returns for periods beginning after 1 January 2023 late submission will have consequences, even for those due a refund. Each late return will attract a point and, for traders submitting quarterly…

James Cater
1st August 2022 Sugar Beet: Variable or Fixed Price Contracts?

For most of my life sugar beet have represented a stable but unexciting crop. Sugar adjusted yields have seemed reasonably consistent from year to year and the price for which the commodity could be sold has been negotiated by the NFU and British Sugar before growing contracts have been agreed. I have just listened to…

Ben Kilby
22nd July 2022 Mustard: Could this be the answer?

With the reduction of BPS over the coming years and movement in Sustainable Farming Incentives, many farmers/growers are looking for alternatives to traditional crops. One crop that has come to my attention recently is Mustard.   Through a cooperative, English Mustard Growers Ltd, mustard is being sourced throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The benefits…

Louise Bassett
8th July 2022 Sustainable Farming Incentive Goes Live

  As of Thursday last week the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) went live for applications.   With the continuing decline of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), DEFRA is hoping that the SFI will be popular among farmers and landowners, predicting that about 70% will put land into the scheme.   As the name suggests, the…

Louise Bassett
20th May 2022 DEFRA Deadline: Don’t get caught out

Back in March 2022, DEFRA quietly published new regulation affecting users of plant protection products (PPPs). All businesses, organisations or sole traders that use professional PPPs (sprays to you and I) need to register to comply with the new regulations by 22nd June 2022. This applies to all farmers, contractors, estates, landlords who use contractors,…