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Farming & food UK vineyard business survey 2026 – open for responses now (UK)    The UK viticulture sector has gone through a period of rapid growth and has had some bumper years recently.  We would like produce a picture of the state of the UK vineyard sector by asking viticulture businesses about the factors that […]

Funding is currently available to help farmers and other stakeholders explore more sustainable ways of managing lowland peat – to preserve soils, cut emissions and maintain agricultural viability. England’s lowland peatlands, which include the Cambridgeshire Fens, Somerset Levels and Moors, and the Lancashire Mosses, are among the country’s most fertile and historically important landscapes. For […]

The Government has recently announced several amendments to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) policy and procedures which have the potential to increase demand for off-site delivery. While the requirement to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity uplift remains unchanged, the reforms suggest a shift towards a more flexible system, particularly for smaller development sites, and a reduced […]

Farming & food Farmers without an existing ELM agreement should consider applying for SFI26 (England)  The government has published some initial guidance for farmers who are eligible to apply in the first application window, which is expected to open in late June.  They are farmers who (i) did not have a live, RPA-administered ELM revenue […]

Landlords in Scotland are facing some important changes this year, as new legislation aimed at strengthening tenant rights and improving standards across the private rented sector begin to take effect.  Damp and mould  From 6 October 2026, landlords will be subject to new responsibilities around the investigation and repair of damp and mould issues.   While Scottish landlords have […]

Farming & food Area of let farmland continues to fall (England) The latest data from Defra on land ownership and tenure shows that the area of land let out (for one year or more) continues to fall (to ~28% of land, from around ~33% in 2010).  The data comes from the June Survey of Agriculture, […]

Escalating fuel, fertiliser and energy costs are set to place even greater pressure on farm margins in the months ahead. The conflict in the Middle East has driven sharp increases in oil prices, with red diesel almost doubling from around 72p/litre to almost 140p/litre at peak. Fertiliser spot prices have also increased by around 30-40%, […]

Farming & food Rural Support Plan (Scotland)  The Scottish Government has published its first Rural Support Plan to give more clarity on how farmers will be supported over the next five years. It confirms the ‘four-tier’ model for farm support with some direct payments continuing, but payments being conditional on meeting enhanced baseline standards. Indirect […]

The Government’s first Land Use Framework for England gives land managers and farmers plenty to consider. The central message is that there is enough land to build homes, restore nature, expand renewable energy and maintain food production – provided it is used in a more efficient and multifunctional way. But equally it acknowledges that different […]

Farming & food The Land Use Framework for England (England)  The government has published England’s first ever Land Use Framework.  It provides ‘broad direction that can inform decision-making on multifunctional and efficient land use’, based on ‘the most advanced spatial analysis ever undertaken in this country’.  The document repeatedly states that: The Framework will be […]

Welcome to this quarter’s health and safety update. In this edition, we look at managing the hidden health risks from livestock when inviting the public on to farms. Springtime farm visits – managing the hidden health risks from livestock As spring arrives, many farms and estates have begun welcoming visitors again. Lamb feeding, open farm […]

Farmers planning to apply for a Capital Grant when the scheme reopens in July 2026 are advised to start their preparations now, with Defra warning it expects there to be more applications than funding available. The Capital Grants scheme provides one-off grants for items or works which will improve air and water quality, support natural […]