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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 […]

Farming & food Farm profit forecasts highlight pressure on crop growing farms (England) Cereals, general cropping and mixed farms are all expected to have generated lower average profits in 2025/26 than the average over the three years from 2022/23 to 2024/25.  This is due to lower commodity prices and reductions in Basic Payment subsidies.  The […]

Farmers in England have from 17 March until midday on 28 April 2026 to make an application under the 2026 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grant scheme.  Defra has said this will be the final round of FETF in its current form, as it will be revamping its grants offering for 2027.  What does the […]

Farmers in Wales must decide within the coming weeks whether to apply for the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) or remain in the legacy Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Farming businesses are obliged to notify the Welsh Government of their decision using the annual Single Application Form (SAF). The deadline for submission is 15 May. SFS […]

Farming & food SFI 2026 – more details announced (England)  The Secretary of State Emma Reynolds provided some more details of the ‘reset’ scheme at the NFU Conference.  Key points are: Reaction has been generally positive.  There are however a number of key elements still to confirm, the biggest of which is what the total […]

Farmers now have enough detail to begin preparing for a 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application. This is an opportunity to look ahead and consider how SFI could support your business in terms of strengthening resilience, de-risking and shaping a farming system that works for you over the long term. SFI 2026 – key changes […]

Failures in nutrient planning, soil testing and yard drainage systems are some of the most common breaches found on farms during Environment Agency inspections, with some form of non-compliance discovered on around half of farms. Alice Johnson, a member of the farming team within Strutt & Parker, says that the EA has been gradually increasing […]