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The Scottish Government has announced details of a £14m Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) which opens for applications on 14 July. The FFIS offers grants of up to 100% of the capital costs of eligible investments which are ones that either improve business efficiency and sustainability; protect and enhance the environment; reduce greenhouse gas emissions […]

Water availability is rapidly becoming one of the most critical challenges facing UK farmers and landowners. Climate change is already presenting major difficulties for the agricultural industry. The winter of 2023/24 was among the wettest on record, making crop establishment impossible for many. In stark contrast, spring 2025 was the driest for 50 years and […]

The Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) system for domestic buildings is being overhauled from 16 June 2025, with the aim of producing more accurate and detailed assessments. EPCs for existing houses are calculated using the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) – a simplified version of the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) used for new builds. This […]

Farming & food Effect on Defra budget less than feared from Spending Review (England)  Reaction to the allocation for farming as been largely positive – it was less bad than was feared and there is feeling that the department did a good job to secure its funding.  Support for sustainable farming and nature recovery will […]

As interest grows in Landscape Recovery and similar long-term environmental schemes, land managers are weighing up the opportunities – and the long-term implications. Landscape Recovery is the most ambitious tier of Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes and involves individuals and groups collaborating to deliver a range of environmental benefits at scale. It is a […]

Farming & food Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates increased for many options (England)  Rates will increase by around 34% for each option, bringing them more in line with rates paid by the Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes but still below them for many options.  The rates had not been increased for […]

The Government is proposing stricter Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the private-rented sector, along with significant reforms to the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) regime. This means landlords are facing a number of potential changes which will require careful planning in terms of what to invest in energy efficiency improvements and when. The proposals may […]

Succession planning has become more important than ever for farming families following the changes to the inheritance tax regime, but conversations need to be focused on more than just tax and the transfer of assets. It requires a two-pronged approach – alongside tax considerations there needs to be equal focus on the management of the […]

Farming & food UK – US trade agreement (UK) In one of the first trade agreements that the US has signed recently, the UK government says that the framework that it has agreed has protected our farmers and established a number of useful principles – reciprocity, no reduction of standards – on which to negotiate […]

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), which provides grants for machinery, equipment and technology items which will help to cut costs and drive efficiency, opens for applications on 29 May 2025. Funding is available to farmers in England under three themes – productivity, slurry management and animal health and welfare – with a total […]

Rural economy & property Renters’ Rights Bill – time to prepare (England) The Renters’ Rights Bill aims to ensure a fair balance between strengthening the rights of tenants and preserving landlords’ ability to manage their properties effectively. The proposed legislation has yet to complete its passage through Parliament, but we are not anticipating any significant […]

The Renters’ Rights Bill aims to ensure a fair balance between strengthening the rights of tenants and preserving landlords’ ability to manage their properties effectively. The proposed legislation has yet to complete its passage through Parliament, but we are not anticipating any significant changes to the wording, and it is expected to become law within […]