Our market leading research and articles deliver actionable insights to help our clients make informed business decisions.

Rising wages across the wider economy are putting labour costs back in the spotlight for farmers and landowners. Although many farming and land-based businesses are under financial strain, rising private and public sector wages and increases in the National Living Wage mean employers are under pressure to keep pace. Minimum pay levels for farmworkers are […]

The planned changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) put valuations firmly centre stage for farmers and landowners.  What has for many years been covered almost entirely by Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will soon look very different. With only the first £1m of qualifying property set to attract 100% APR or BPR […]

Farming & food Modelling the impact of IHT reforms on farm profitability (UK)  We have modelled the likely liability and affordability of the proposed changes to inheritance tax on a range of farm sizes.  Our modelling assumes farmers will use some of the most straightforward tax-planning steps – such as dividing assets between spouses, restructuring […]

The window is narrowing for farms and estate businesses to prepare for forthcoming inheritance tax (IHT) reforms, with new analysis highlighting the impact on farm profitability for farms of different sizes and performance levels. The draft Finance Bill confirmed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), due to take effect from […]

Farming & food An EU trade deal with safeguards for farming  (EU) Given UK trade agreements, it’s interesting to see how others are being structured.  After 25 years of negotiations, the trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries, which include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, has been agreed.  Many European farmers are worried […]

Farming & food Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier – complete the pre-application process to be able to apply  Only people who have been invited to apply, received pre-application advice and completed any preparatory work will be able to apply for the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) when it opens for applications in September.  Please contact […]

A new version of the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) – the quality assurance standard for UK woodland carbon projects – has been published with the early indications looking like the update will be financially and practically beneficial to landowners and land managers alike.  Version 3 of the WCC was officially launched on 1 August. However, […]

The window is narrowing for farms and estate businesses to prepare for the forthcoming inheritance tax (IHT) reforms. The recent draft Finance Bill confirmed the planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), due to take effect from April 2026. The implications for farming businesses are significant, and while industry bodies […]

Managing public access can present serious challenges for land managers – from livestock worrying and gates left open, to crops damaged by people straying from footpaths. For some, it also means fly-tipping, motorbike damage or general tension with members of the public who may not understand or respect the working nature of the land. The […]

Farming & food Is your farm turning a truly sustainable profit? (UK) Farming is facing a range of significant challenges, including the ending of Basic Payments, changes to inheritance tax and climate change.  These pressures are sparking urgent conversations – both in the industry and in Government – about what needs to change to support […]

Farming is facing a perfect storm of challenges – from the end of Basic Payments to growing environmental pressures and increasingly extreme weather. These pressures are sparking urgent conversations – both in the industry and in Government – about what needs to change to support farm profitability. Former NFU President Baroness Minette Batters is currently […]

Defra has announced that the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (HT) scheme will open for applications in September 2025, to those who have been invited to apply. It has been a long wait for this moment – the application window was last open in autumn 2023. But it is a welcome move given the current […]