Business News

You will almost certainly have heard some mention of Natural Capital (NC) by now as it has been the hot topic of the year so far for most of our landowner or farming clients. Through this article, Birketts explores what NC is, and also where you might expect to be able to obtain funding to support any NC projects you might have in mind.

Discussions have begun around increasing levy rates from April 2024 as AHDB claims the board’s spending power has been significantly reduced by inflation and rising costs, limiting its ability to deliver valuable services to the agriculture sector.

A new funding package to boost the rural economy fails to mention the future of permitted development rights, a camping specialist has said.

Over £30 million has been made available to farmers and foresters for equipment and technology under the Productivity and Slurry budget.

Positions are open for three-year terms on the Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sector councils.

Fire and Rescue Services across the Thames Valley have joined forces with NFU Mutual and the NFU to launch a new six-point plan to fight farm fires this harvest.

The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) is launching a social media campaign to raise awareness of the importance of wearing a helmet when riding a sit-astride ATV and is inviting farmers to share photos where they are wearing a helmet with the hashtag #wearitandshareit.

Growers at a farm in Angus have developed an award-winning gin which reduces reliance on synthetic fertilisers and is grown, harvested, and distilled on site.

Latest research from NFU Mutual has shown farmers and other agricultural workers are more likely to be proactive in the face of current economic challenges such as high inflation by seeking financial advice and exploring investment opportunities.

Farm buyers are now eligible to claim delinked payments on recently purchased land, provided they made a valid BPS claim in 2023, the latest guidance from Defra has revealed.

With the frequency of extreme weather events on the rise, there is an increasing need for agriculture to build resilience against climate change, which has been the focus of research carried out by ADAS and the Met Office Hadley Centre to identify ways farmers can adapt their practices to the changing climate.

Did you know that two people die or are seriously injured each year in the UK when their machinery makes contact with overhead power lines? Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks is advocating for farmers to be aware of the power lines around them in an effort to keep them safe and accident-free.