Category: Inside Track

Farming Focus InBrief – November 2021

  • If you require advice from one of our consultants, do not hesitate to contact them by email or phone.  If you do not have their details please contact the office on 01664 503200 or email [email protected]
  • The English BPS payment rates for 2021 have been published by Defra. The gross rates have increased slightly but the effect of the Agricultural Transition will see farmers receive less than last year.  All payments are being reduced by at least 5% (shown in the table below as the ‘net’ figures).  Those with a payment over £30,000 will face larger deductions – up to 25% on amounts over £150,000.
  • The Welsh Government paid the vast majority of farmers an advance of 70% on their 2021 BPS payments on the 15th October.  Around 97% of claimants received the advance.  The balancing payments will be sent from the 15th December.
  • In the second Budget of 2021, the Chancellor set out the Government’s tax and spending plans with the twin aims of stabilising the Government’s finances post-Covid and promoting the ‘levelling-up agenda’. The latest economic forecasts predict economic growth in 2021 will be 6.5%.  Growth in 2022 is put at 6.0% before falling to 2.1% in 2023.  The biggest economic issue in 2022 looks set to be inflation.  The forecast for CPI is a rate of 2.3% for 2021.  For 2022 the OBR has a central forecast of 4% and there is a strong chance it could be as much as 5%. There was relatively little in the budget that directly impacts farming.  The rise in the National Living Wage plus the 1.25% supplement on National Insurance will further push up labour costs and the Annual Investment Allowance has been kept at £1m.
  • Ahead of COP 26, the UK set out how it will deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in its Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener. It sets out plans across all sectors of the UK economy.  But instead of measures to cut meat and dairy as previously recommended by the Climate Change Committee and the National Food Strategy, the emphasis is on getting farmers to sign up to the new ELM scheme, improve efficiencies in the sector, restore peatlands and increase the planting of woodlands.
  • The UK and New Zealand have announced an agreement in principle on a Free Trade Deal (FTA).  The deal is similar in nature to the UK-Australia trade deal announced back in June and like the Australian FTA, the UK-NZ FTA is subject to further negotiations on the legal text.  Whilst there is an eventual aspiration to fully liberalise agri-food trade, there are adjustment periods for several agri-food products which the UK deems to be sensitive – notably beef, lamb and dairy products.
  • It is reported that the fertiliser producer, CF Industries, will continue to operate its plants in the UK after buyers of carbon dioxide (CO2) agreed to pay higher prices.  The deal operates until January.  This means that ammonium nitrate manufacture will continue for at least the next couple of months (ironically, now as a by-product of CO2 production).  Although this eases some of the concerns about availability, fertiliser prices are likely to be high given gas prices.
  • What is claimed to be Europe’s largest oat processing facility is being built in the East Midlands.  Sited next to Camgrain’s existing store between Corby and Kettering, the plant will supply oat-based ingredients for the food and drink industry.  The mill will be run by ‘Navara Oat Milling’, a three-way joint venture between Frontier Agriculture, Camgrain, and Anglia Maltings Holdings (AMH).  The plant is due to open in 2023.
  • Arable prices are high due to tight markets. The dry conditions experienced by S America last year are continuing and the ongoing La Niña could cause low wheat output from the region again this year.  UK wheat production has recovered but with low stocks, domestic supply will be  OSR supplies are also very low with prices about £215/t more than a year ago.  Only supplies of barley outweigh demand.
  • The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on changes on how to identify, register and report livestock movements together with the proposed implementation of Bovine Electronic Identification (EID).  Responses to the consultation need to be submitted by 2nd January 2022.  The full consultation can be found at https://gov.wales/changes-livestock-identification-registration-and-movement 
  • The problems in the pig sector remain critical. Prices are falling at a time when costs are soaring.  Brexit and Covid have compounded staff shortages, particularly of skilled butchers, which continues to affect throughput in processing plants.  Labour issues have seen some processing plants cutting back output by 25% per week since August.  The result being pigs remaining on farm, taking up room, and eating expensive feed. The Government appears to have finally recognised the industry has hit a crisis point and, in a move welcomed by the sector, it has announced a support package to include; Private Storage Aid, a Temporary Visa system and a Levy Holiday.
  • A reminder that the Future Farm Resilience Fund is now open. If you would like a one-to-one farm resilience review and report carried out by one of our consultants and access to online skills and training, including resilience planning webinars all for free get in touch with one of our consultants. Places are limited.  More information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ricardo-future-farming-resilience-fund-29430290977

This month’s Spotlight looks at the Animal Health & Welfare Pathway.  The first element of this is the Annual Health and Welfare Review which will be available in 2022 and will pay for farmers’ own vets to carry out a yearly Review including diagnostic testing for priority diseases.  Click Here for further information.

If you would like more detail on the topics covered above as well as additional articles on UK farm business matters, why not subscribe to Andersons’ AgriBrief Bulletin? Over the course of each month, we give a concise and unbiased commentary on the key issues affecting business performance in the UK agri-food industry, and its implications for farming and food businesses. Please click on the link below for a 90-day free trial:

https://agribrief.co.uk/

 

Spotlight on Animal Health & Welfare Pathway

Under the new Animal Health and Welfare Pathway farmers will receive a fully funded annual visit by their own vet.  The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway aims to improve the health and welfare of English farmed animals by controlling and eventually eliminating endemic diseases.  The Annual Health and Welfare Review, which is due to be launched in spring 2022 as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI 2022), will be the first element of the Pathway.

The Review will consist of a yearly visit by the farmer’s own vet for the lifetime of the Pathway (planned to initially be 3-years).  The vet will carry out diagnostic testing for priority diseases – Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRS) and for sheep, parasitic resistance to anthelmintic treatments.  Grants are expected to range from £269-£775.  The main difference in the rate is due to the costs of the diagnostic tests which vary across the species.

The vet will also provide farmers with tailored advice and management to improve the health and welfare of their animals.  Having completed this first step, farmers will continue along the Pathway supported by Animal Health and Welfare grants which will be launched later in 2022.  These could include capital grants to improve the sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of the business or increase animal welfare.

Vets will also collect data. This will be used for benchmarking, to increase the health and welfare of the farmer’s own herd/flock, but it will also be shared with Defra so it can get a better understanding of the health and welfare of the national and regional herds/flock.  This information will then be used to inform and develop future policy to ensure it is targeted in the right areas.  There will be a review of on farm medicine usage and farmers are likely to be expected to upload medicines to an e-medicines recording hub

The Review will initially only be available to commercial cattle, pig and sheep farmers in England who are currently eligible for the BPS.  Eventually, it will be open to all livestock farmers above a minimum threshold – 50 pigs, 20 sheep or 10 cows.  The application process is currently being tested, but should be simple, either online or via a telephone call.

The Review is just the first element of the Pathway, a payment by results programme is also in the planning stages, which will reward farmers for achieving higher welfare outcomes by supporting the ongoing costs involved in delivery.

 

 

 

 

Farming Focus InBrief – October 2021

  • If you require advice from one of our consultants, do not hesitate to contact them by email or phone.  If you do not have their details please contact the office on 01664 503200 or email [email protected]
  • Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all recently announced updates to their future farm policies, although none have given any clear proposals for new schemes or timings. However, we do know, in all the regions the BPS will continue in the short term whilst plans continue to be developed and consulted on.  Furthermore, the Welsh Government has confirmed the BPS will continue until 2023. It has also said existing Glastir contracts coming to an end in December 2021 will be given a two-year extension until the end of 2023 with the Farming Connect Programme continuing until March 2023.  The new Sustainable Farming Scheme which will replace the BPS and Glastir is expected to launch fully in 2025.
  • The UK Government has, once again, delayed the implementation of border controls on agri-food imports from the EU.  The postponement is blamed on the combined effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and food supply-chain issues, but it is equally a result of the Hard Brexit the Government negotiated.  Many of the checks and paperwork requirements were due to be fully implemented from the 1st October, but have been delayed until the New Year or later. This effectively retains the lop-sided situation where UK exports to the EU are subject to the full range of EU checks, whilst imports from the EU are currently allowed into our market with far fewer restrictions. 
  • Defra is giving a ‘heads-up’ that the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund will open in England for a 6th round in December.  The fund supports facilitators, either individuals or organisations, to bring farmers and foresters together to produce landscape-scale Countryside Stewardship agreements.  A total of £2.5m will be available under the latest round, which will close to applications on 19th January 2022.  Further details expected soon.
  • The sugar beet price for the 2022 crop will be £27 per adjusted tonne.  This is a significant increase over the price for this year’s crop of £21.10 and £22.00 on the one-year and three-year contracts respectively.  This will be a flat-rate price, with no market related bonus as has been available recently. The fact that the announcement comes so late highlights the difficulty the two parties had in reaching a price agreement.  With buoyant prices for alternative crops and growing costs rising, a sizeable uplift was required to keep the area planted up.  The Virus Yellows insurance scheme, will continue for 2022.
  • Defra has given Rothamsted Research permission to run field trials on wheat that has been genome edited. The trials will be on CRISPR-edited wheat, which has been designed to have reduced levels of the naturally occurring amino acid, asparagine.  Asparagine turns into acrylamide when bread is baked or toasted which has been found to cause cancer in rodents and is considered as ‘probably carcinogenic’ to humans and is therefore a huge problem for food manufacturers.  It is expected the Government will propose allowing gene editing to be used commercially in the UK for both crops and livestock, following a consultation held this year.
  • Arable markets remain firm. Over 6m tonnes of wheat have already been traded with the EU, over 50% more than this time last year, pushing prices upwards.  Demand from China is fuelling buying from speculators, which in turn is increasing the volatility in the market.  Furthermore, there are reports Russia may impose an export tax on its grains, making global supply tighter.  Dry weather in Canada has reduced yields there, fuelling OSR prices.  Barley prices are also good, just a £7 per tonne discount to wheat with milling oats about £20 per tonne above feed oats.
  • The GDT average price index experienced a significant rise in September after consecutive declines since April and is now back above the $4,000 mark at $4,011. There is a general upturn in the global dairy commodities market, although still a little way off levels seen in the spring.  A ‘fly in the ointment’ could be a slow-down in demand from China but reports of a shift in demand from other parts of Asia and the Middle East could compensate for this.  Domestic Farmgate milk prices remain strong.  The average farmgate milk price for August is 31.24ppl, 11% more than last year.  But production has been falling due to poor grass growth.  The AHDB expects production to run below year earlier levels until the New Year.  Although the milk price is good, feed prices remain high meaning the milk to feed price ration will not encourage more production.  Rising labour and energy costs are also squeezing margins.
  • Farmgate beef and sheep prices remain strong. The GB all prime cattle deadweight average stands about 40ppkg above last year’s level.  The GB deadweight NSL SQQ is in the region of 60ppkg above 2020 prices and over £1 per kg higher than the 5-year average.  Supporting prices is tight supply.  The prime cattle and cow kills were both down by 4% and 5% respectively for the period January to August compared with 2020.  The UK monthly sheep meat production has been below last year and the 5-year average for every month so far this year, with July and August experiencing particularly sharp year-on-year declines.  In the period January to August, the lamb kill totals 7,255,200 head, almost 900,000 less than for the same period in 2020. 
  • A reminder that the Future Farm Resilience Fund is now open. If you would like a one-to-one farm resilience review and report carried out by one of our consultants and access to online skills and training, including resilience planning webinars all for free get in touch with one of our consultants. Places are limited.  More information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ricardo-future-farming-resilience-fund-29430290977
  • FPC Future, an agritech event, takes place on 4th November at the Lincolnshire Showground. With its exhibition, conference and tours of the University of Lincoln, it seeks to provide growers with all the agritech information they need. This event should be of interest to those looking at opportunities in the fresh produce sector as well as ascertaining how new technologies could boost productivity by helping their workforce to become more efficient. Registration is free – www.fpcfuture.co.uk

This month’s Spotlight looks at the situation regarding the surge in gas prices and the knock on effect on the fertiliser market and the wider food chain.   Click Here for further information.

If you would like more detail on the topics covered above as well as additional articles on UK farm business matters, why not subscribe to Andersons’ AgriBrief Bulletin? Over the course of each month, we give a concise and unbiased commentary on the key issues affecting business performance in the UK agri-food industry, and its implications for farming and food businesses. Please click on the link below for a 90-day free trial:

https://agribrief.co.uk/

 

Spotlight on Fertiliser and CO2

The nitrogen fertiliser market has been in turmoil during September which has resulted in knock-on effects into the wider food chain.  The root cause is the surge in natural gas prices.  This has been caused by low stocks (the UK has very little storage), high demand (partly due to the lack of wind, reducing renewables output) and constrained supply (lower availability from Russia and the Middle East).  The effects are being seen in the consumer market with some energy supply firms going bust as the Government price cap leaves them having to supply energy at below the cost of buying it.  Over the short-to-medium term, energy bills (electricity, gas and oil) will all rise.

Natural gas is the major feedstock of ammonium nitrate (AN) production.  As prices have risen it has become uneconomic to manufacture fertiliser and, on the 17th September, CF fertilisers announced it would be shutting its two UK plants.  Yara has already reduced output at its Hull plant.  The cost of AN rose to around £500 per tonne.  Aside from the price, availability is likely to be just as much an issue, with little product on the market and orders not being taken.

The CF plants supply around 60% of the UK’s carbon dioxide – generated as a by-product.  The gas has a variety of uses in the food chain including stunning poultry and pigs prior to slaughter, displacing air in food packaging and carbonating beer and soft drinks.  The interruption in supply had the potential to cause major disruption.  The Government stepped-in and offered financial incentives for CF to restart its plants for a three-week period from the 21st September.  It appears that only the Billingham plant and not the one at Ince will reopen.  After this period, it is hoped that high prices will encourage the market to deliver new supplies of CO2.

Forecasters do not believe that gas prices will fall anytime soon.  This suggests that fertiliser production in the UK and Europe will remain constrained for a number of months.  Although additional tonnages are coming in from other places, this is likely to be in limited amounts.  Therefore, it seems fertiliser prices may well remain high at least for the remainder of this season.

 

 

 

 

Farming Focus InBrief – September 2021

  • Andersons’ consultants are continuing to support their clients during the pandemic. If you require any advice, please contact your  usual consultant, or the office on 01664 503200 or email [email protected].
  • The deadline for applications to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFI) Pilot has been extended until 30th September 2021 (originally 1st September).  The Pilot is for those who expressed an interest in the scheme earlier in the year.  Furthermore, Defra continues to make amendments to the online guidance for the SFI Pilot.  There seems to be a lot of guidance, we think the best place to start and ‘navigate’ from is https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sustainable-farming-incentive-pilot-guidance. The extension might suggest that not as many have signed-up to the scheme as Defra hoped.  If you expressed an interest in the scheme earlier in the year and would like help with applying, do not hesitate to contact one of our consultants.
  • Farmers in Scotland could receive 95% of their 2021 BPS payment as early as September.  Once again, Scotland has announced it will be running a National Basic Payment Support Scheme.  This will mean loan offers will be made, calculated at 95% of a claimant’s anticipated BPS payment including the Greening amount, capped at a maximum of £133,638 (€150,000).  Letters will be sent out in batches, with the first set arriving from mid-August.  Similar to the scheme in 2020, those wishing to make use of the scheme will need to opt in.  Balance payments will be made from December 2021 when the payment window opens. In Wales, the aim is to make a BPS advance payment of 70% of the estimated claim value from 15th October 2021.  Payment will be made automatically subject to submission of an eligible BPS claim and the necessary supporting documents.  Balancing payments will be made from 15th December subject to completion of the full validation of the claim.  In England there has been no announcement regarding ‘early’ payment.  As in previous years payments are expected to commence on 1st December 2012
  • Covid and Brexit disruptions are impacting on costs and availability in some parts of the economy. Rising costs of steel and timber from global demand and restricted production are also affecting building projects.  Globally, costs for containers and bulk shipping have risen considerably.  At home a shortfall of HGV drivers is causing problems.  An existing shortfall has been exacerbated by EU drivers leaving due to a combination of Brexit and Covid.  Covid has also delayed HGV driving tests meaning few new drivers are coming through.  High-profile shortages such as Nando’s chicken and McDonalds milkshakes have already been reported (although the former is as much about a shortage of poultry processing staff as transport issues).  There are few reports of deliveries to and from farms being affected, but it will be an area of concern over the coming months.  It may be advisable not to let stocks on farm run too low as orders may take longer to arrive than usual and haulage of grain or livestock may have to be booked earlier.
  • Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship agreement holders with 5-year options ending on 31st December 2021 and further 10 or 20-year options (called CS 5 in 10 Agreements) could be offered a replacement agreement under domestic regulations. These will run for 10 or 20 years and although not completely clear, it appears the options coming to their 5-year end will be extended so this land continues to be managed environmentally.  NE will carry out initial assessments to see if an agreement is suitable for a replacement.  If this is deemed to be the case, the RPA will write to agreement holders inviting them to apply.  It will be possible to terminate a replacement agreement early, without penalty, at the end of an agreement year if a place in ELM has been secured. 
  • Defra has confirmed the Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative is to be expanded to cover the whole of England by March 2023. The programme gives farmers support to reduce air and water pollution.  Some funding via CS is only available with support from a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) and if the land is in a priority catchment area.  It is unclear whether this announcement will mean the whole of England now falls within this category and these grants are available to all. There will be extra funding for more NE advisors to be available to help farmers implement practical solutions to reduce pollution.  But it will also fund 50 new EA inspectors to carry out an increased number of farm inspections.
  • The Farm Business Grant (FBG) opened in Wales on 1st September 2021 for expressions of interest.  The closing date is 1st October and successful applicants will have four months in which to purchase and claim for items.  The FBG provides a 40% contribution towards capital items which have been pre-identified to improve technical, financial and environmental performance.  A budget of £2m is available under this round.
  • A reminder that the Future Farm Resilience Fund is now open. If you would like a one-to-one farm resilience review and report carried out by one of our consultants and access to online skills and training, including resilience planning webinars all for free get in touch with one of our consultants. Places are limited.     More information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ricardo-future-farming-resilience-fund-29430290977
  • FPC Future, an agritech event, takes place on 4th November at the Lincolnshire Showground. With its exhibition, conference and tours of the University of Lincoln, it seeks to provide growers with all the agritech information they need. This event should be of interest to those looking at opportunities in the fresh produce sector as well as ascertaining how new technologies could boost productivity by helping their workforce to become more efficient. Registration is free – www.fpcfuture.co.uk

This month’s Spotlight looks at the latest the latest situation regarding the spreading of organic manure this autumn and the impact of the Farming Rules for Water.   Click Here for further information.

If you would like more detail on the topics covered above as well as additional articles on UK farm business matters, why not subscribe to Andersons’ AgriBrief Bulletin? Over the course of each month, we give a concise and unbiased commentary on the key issues affecting business performance in the UK agri-food industry, and its implications for farming and food businesses. Please click on the link below for a 90-day free trial:

https://agribrief.co.uk/

 

Spotlight on Autumn Manure Spreading

Recently there has been a lot of talk about the Farming Rules for Water and specifically the spreading of organic manure in the autumn.  The issue is, under Rule 1, when organic manure is applied to agricultural land, the application must not exceed the needs of the soil or crop on the land and must not give rise to a significant risk of agricultural diffuse pollution.  This effectively makes autumn and winter spreading on a lot of farms impossible.  For example, if spreading can only take place if there is a crop need, this would mean grass, which is dormant at this time of year, would have no crop need and therefore spreading cannot take place.  The rules are not new, but it appears the EA note has highlighted the issue to the industry and perhaps indicates a more robust approach to enforcement from the EA.

However, for this autumn, the Environment Agency (EA) has released a Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) on the application of organic manure.  This means if the conditions of the RPS are followed it will be possible to have a plan to apply organic manure to agricultural land that may exceed the needs of the soil or crop on that land.  But importantly, the plan must not cause a risk of pollution.  Those using the RPS will still need to show that applications do not exceed the requirements of the crop for the whole duration of its growing cycle.  Farmers must also be able to show that using the RPS is the only option and it has not been feasible to store the organic manure at the place of production or use.  They must also demonstrate that it has not been possible to store the manure off-site or send it to an AD plant or other effluent treatment plant.

Following lobbying from the NFU, the EA updated its guidance further on 25th August to include a ‘hierarchy’ of actions:

1).  If you can follow Rule 1 of the Farming Rules for Water, then you do not need to use the RPS – carry on with your planned activities.

2).  If you can follow the conditions in the RPS – tell the Environment Agency you are using the RPS as described in the ‘contact’ section (see below) and carry on with your activities.

3).  If you cannot comply with the conditions in the RPS, email  [email protected] or call 03708 506 506 (general enquiries).  The Environment Agency will assess the risk of your activities.  For this autumn, it will allow activities that will not cause significant risks (significant risk may result from repeated applications to the same field or spreading close to protected sites, such as Natura 2000 sites). You must not start your activities until the Environment Agency confirms you can do so.

Contact details for the EA and full guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spreading-organic-manure-on-agricultural-land-rps-252/spreading-organic-manure-on-agricultural-land-rps-252.  The RPS will be withdrawn on 1st March 2022, unless there is a further extension.  This is only a short term ‘fix’ to the problem, which will arise again next autumn.  Many in the industry have raised concerns as to how practical the rules are.  A move to more storage and spring and summer spreading looks like the only solution, but this will take time and money.  If you are having difficulties adhering to the rules or require further clarification, please contact one of our consultants for advice.

 

 

 

 

Farming Focus InBrief – August 2021

  • Andersons’ consultants are continuing to support their clients during the pandemic. If you require any advice, please contact your  usual consultant, or the office on 01664 503200 or email [email protected].
  • The Future Farm Resilience Fund opens this month (August) in England and will run until March 2022. It is designed to provide business support to farmers during the early years of the Agricultural Transition.  Nineteen organisations have been awarded funding to deliver a variety of business support, which will be free of charge.  This initial phase will be fed-in to design the final scheme which will run from 2022 to 2024.  Andersons, in partnership with Ricardo are one of the organisations delivering support and will offer one-to-one farm resilience reviews, resilience planning webinars and access to online skills and training.  If you would like some free business support to help plan for the future, more information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ricardo-future-farming-resilience-fund-29430290977 or contact one of our consultants to sign up.
  • Defra has confirmed the new Farming Investment Fund (FIF) will open for applications in October this year. This is for capital items and is expected to be similar to the previous Countryside Productivity Small Grant scheme, where a 40% grant was available for pre-identified capital items.
  • A new Welsh Agriculture Bill is to be laid before the Senedd this autumn.  It will contain the powers to enact the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).  The Welsh Government has suggested the new support scheme should start in 2024 (although this is not 100% certain).  The Bill is unlikely to give details of how the SFS will work in practice, this is still being worked on.  Instead, it will set the legal framework under which the scheme will operate.
  • It was announced by the AHDB at the Cereals Event that the levy board was working in collaboration with Defra to produce an industry-standard carbon calculator for farming.  The aim is to have a tool available for the start of 2023. There is a plethora of different carbon calculators being used in UK farming at present, all with different methodologies and producing different results.  In addition, an industry group has been granted funding to develop a Farm Soil Carbon Code.  This would be similar to the existing Woodland and Peatland Codes, providing a set of formal protocols that would allow farmers to quantify and verify reduced greenhouse gas emissions and/or soil carbon capture as a result of adopting regenerative farming practices.  The lack of a formal standard is one of the issues holding back the development of a market in carbon offsetting in farming.
  • Defra and Natural England have announced the potential creation of two new AONBs, plus the extension of two existing ones.  The new ones are a Yorkshire Wolds AONB and a Cheshire Sandstone Ridge AONB.  The extensions are to Surrey Hills and the Chilterns.  Unhelpfully, the statement (see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/natural-england-announces-landmark-new-programme-for-protected-landscapes) gives no details on the precise areas to be covered by the designations.  A consultation is promised later in the year.
  • The second part of the National Food Strategy has been released. Whilst the recommendation of a sugar and salt tax made headline news, other recommendations directly affect farming more.  Such as guaranteeing the budget for Agricultural payments until at least 2029 and ring fencing some of the money to put towards schemes which would fund taking out of production 20% of the least productive land to create environmentally friendly landscapes.
  • British Sugar has announced the beet price for the 2022 season will be a minimum of £25.   This compares to £21.10 being paid for the current crop (under one-year contract terms).  The idea behind the company releasing an ‘indicative’ price before negotiations are complete seems to be to persuade growers to keep beet in the rotation as they plan their cropping decisions. The NFU is holding out for a higher contract price.  In recent years a contract price has not been announced until September.
  • According to the AHDB’s 2021 Planting and Variety Survey, GB winter wheat plantings have recorded a year-on-year rise of 26% to 1,742K hectares.  Every region recorded a rise in plantings. In contrast, the total GB barley area has recorded an 18% year-on-year fall to 1,119K hectares as growers ‘correct’ their rotations from their enforced spring cropping regime last season.  The winter barley area rose 15% to 350K hectares, with spring barley plantings recording a 28% fall on the year to 769K hectares; still quite historically high.  58% of the GB barley area is of a malting variety. The area of oats has risen by 1%, whilst OSR plantings have fallen by a further 15% since last year.  This makes the cropped area the lowest since 1989 (including spring OSR).  Ironically, crops look good this year and those growing it look like being rewarded with a high gross margin so it may encourage a small resurgence of OSR for 2022.
  • The UK potato crop escaped the storms which hit mainland Europe, but conditions are ideal for blight. New crop prices have been supported as stocks have been slow to the market.  Easing of Covid-19 restrictions has seen an increase in demand for processing and chipping potatoes.  The warm weather has helped demand for salad, but less so for maincrop packing types.  The loss of data from AHDB means it is difficult to know the area planted in the UK.  World Potato Markets initially assumed a 5% decline, but it may be less.  Any decline would result in one of the smallest crops ever; an average yield would mean a crop of just over 5mt.  Planting in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands is estimated to be down by 4.5% to less than 500,000ha, with up to 20,000ha impacted by storms, although some should be salvageable.

This month’s Spotlight looks at the latest information released on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).  This is the first component of ELM. This initial phase of SFI will open for applications in 2022 Click Here for further information.

If you would like more detail on the topics covered above as well as additional articles on UK farm business matters, why not subscribe to Andersons’ AgriBrief Bulletin? Over the course of each month, we give a concise and unbiased commentary on the key issues affecting business performance in the UK agri-food industry, and its implications for farming and food businesses. Please click on the link below for a 90-day free trial:

https://agribrief.co.uk/

 

Spotlight on Sustainable Farming Incentive 2022

More details have been announced on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI); the first component of Environmental Land Management (ELM) and the one most farmers should be able enter.  These details are different to the SFI Pilot for which those who expressed an interest are now drawing up an Agreement.  These details are for the ‘main’ scheme which will open in spring 2022 for applications to this first phase.  The scheme will then gradually expand until all elements are available from 2024/25 onwards.  Between 2022 and 2024, the SFI will run alongside existing schemes (e.g. Countryside Stewardship).  Farmers will be able to choose which schemes to participate in and can participate in multiple schemes if they wish, but they will not be paid twice for the same action.

SFI 2022

In this initial phase, the SFI will concentrate on soils and introduce the first element of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway which will be available under SFI.  There will just be four Standards within SFI 2022, these are:

  • Arable and Horticultural Soils Standard
  • Improved Grassland Soils Standard
  • Moorland and Rough Grazing Standard
  • Annual Health and Welfare Review

The payment rates and the standards outlined below are indicative, the final versions will be available by November 2021 following further refinements and feedback from farmers and stakeholders.  The most up-to-date information can be found at; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-transition-plan-june-2021-progress-update

The Arable & Horticultural Soils Standard and the Improved Grassland Soils Standard – Farmers will be rewarded for management practices which improve the soil structure and soil organic matter.  With the aim of promoting clean water, improving climate resilience, biodiversity and food production.  There will be three ambition levels for each of the soil standards.  The indicative rates are:

Moorland and Rough Grazing Standard – Farmers will be rewarded for assessing the range of habitats and features present on their moorlands.  This has the aim of identifying the pressures on them and also the risks posed by wildfires.  For 2022 there will only be an Introductory level; higher levels of ambitions are planned for later in the Agricultural Transition.  No indicative payment rate has been announced for this Standard.  The plan is for this Standard to be developed further during the summer with farmers and stakeholders.  It will be finalised by November 2021 along with a payment rate.  This Standard will be available to all Moorland farmers, including those already taking part in Countryside Stewardship.

Annual Health and Welfare Review – This is the initial phase of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.  It will involve a Defra-funded yearly visit from a vet.  It is initially planned to be available for three years.  The review will include;

  • Data collection to benchmark against the national herd/flock and to track progress on the holding
  • Actions to improve biosecurity, including training, capital investment, changes to farm management practices (unclear whether this will include additional funding)
  • A review of medicine usage.  Including uploading medicines to an e-medicines recording hub
  • Recommendations to improve health and welfare and signposts for further support to help make changes.
  • Diagnostic testing for priority diseases – Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRS) and for sheep, parasitic resistance to anthelmintic treatments.

Payments are expected to range from £269-£775.  The main difference in the rate is due to the costs of the diagnostic tests which vary across the species.

More Standards – More Standards will be added to the SFI between 2022 and 2024.  Priority will be given to those Standards which make the most significant contribution to the environment, climate and animal health & welfare outcomes and those that have multiple benefits.  Consideration will also be given to how each Standard extends the opportunity to more types, location and sizes of farm.  The Standards which are currently under consideration are;

 

·        agroforestry standard ·        farm woodland standard
·        hedgerows standard ·        dry stone walls standard
·        arable and horticulture land standard ·        heritage standard
·        waterbody buffering standard ·        farmyard infrastructure standard
·        improved grassland standard ·        orchards and permanent crops standard
·        low and no input grassland standard ·        peat soils standard

 

All our consultants are keeping abreast of the new schemes, if you would like to discuss anything with them do not hesitate to contact a member of the team.  We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more information.

 

 

 

Farming Focus InBrief – July 2021

  • Andersons’ consultants are continuing to support their clients during the pandemic. If you require any advice, please contact your  usual consultant, or the office on 01664 503200 or email [email protected].
  • The UK and Australia have agreed the outline terms of an historic free-trade agreement – the first all-new deal signed by the UK since it left the EU.  As such, it is seen by many as an important precedent for future trade deals, particularly concerning agriculture.  Whilst the deal has been announced, it is an agreement in principle and subject to further negotiations on the legal text. There is an eventual aspiration to fully liberalise Australian goods entering the UK market.  However, there are lengthy adjustment periods for most agricultural products – up to fifteen years for beef and lamb. But the UK grazing livestock and sugar sectors in particular will be exposed to increased competition from Australia in the long-term.  Additional competitive pressure is likely to emerge when the likes of New Zealand and others strike trade deals with the UK.  Of course, having generous quota access with eventual full liberalisation does not necessarily mean that Australian imports will reach these levels, particularly as there is plenty of demand in Asia-Pacific and the UK is a long way from Australia.  But the access offered to Australia is sizeable and of concern to British farming, particularly as it is the first of several trade deals.
  • Further details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot scheme are now available. Those who submitted an Expression of Interest in the pilot will be shortly asked to make an application.  The pilot agreements will commence in October 2021 and continue until late 2024.  If you expressed an interest and would like advice on drawing-up an application, please contact one of our consultants.
  • The new England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) is now open.  The EWCO is available in addition to the Woodland Creation and Maintenance grant provided under the Countryside Stewardship scheme.  It supports the creation of a range of woodland types, but it will have more emphasis on the environmental and public benefits of woodlands. Sizes range from a minimum of 1ha per application with 0.1ha blocks. Capital grants covering the standard costs of buying and planting a tree, up to a maximum cap of £8,500 per ha is available – this compares to a maximum of £6,800 per ha under the Woodland Creation and Maintenance grant via the CS.  Maintenance payments for 10 years and further ‘Additional Contributions’ of between £400 and £2800 per ha are also available.
  • Tenants will be able to challenge their Landlords’ refusal to allow them to enter into land management agreements under new regulations which came into effect from the 21st June.  It applies to 1986 Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancies only.  Tenants can apply to arbitration to vary the terms of the tenancy, or to gain Landlord’s consent, to enter one of the new financial assistance schemes (such as ELM) or to comply with a statutory duty (e.g. erecting a slurry store to be NVZ compliant).  The regulations apply to England with equivalent Welsh ones expected later in the year.
  • The first estimates of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) for 2020 (unsurprisingly) show a sharp decline compared with 2019.  TFP measures how well inputs are converted into outputs and thus gives an indication of the efficiency and competitiveness of the farming industry.  After a significant increase in 2019 (+4%), TFP has fallen back further by 6.7% in 2020.  The decrease was mainly due to a -6.3% decline in the overall levels of production but there was also a small 0.5% increase in the volume of inputs. The main driver was the drop in crop output of -12.4%.  Cereals decreased by -26% due to the challenging weather.  OSR and sugar beet experienced declines of -41% and -23% respectively. The overall livestock output declined by -0.6%.
  • Reports from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) show the Weighted Average farmland price for the full year 2020 was £10,390 per acre (£25,674 per Ha).  This is a hefty 20% rise over the two surveys combined for 2019, where the price was £8,602 per acre (£21,257 per Ha).  The Weighted Average Value excludes those sales which have been identified as having a residential value of more than 50% and a regional adjustment is also made.
  • Bovine TB cattle vaccination trials commenced in June in England and Wales with the aim of rolling out cattle bTB vaccinations by 2025.  This would be a ‘game changer’ and cannot come soon enough, particularly for those that live with the drudgery of constantly testing. The Government has also said it will end issuing new licenses for intensive badger culls as from 2022.  Many farmers will be disappointed to hear this, especially as even under the Government’s own admission it has led to a ‘significant reduction’ in the disease. 

This month’s Spotlight looks at the forecasts for Andersons’ Meadow Farm model. Click Here for further information.

If you would like more detail on the topics covered above as well as additional articles on UK farm business matters, why not subscribe to Andersons’ AgriBrief Bulletin? Over the course of each month, we give a concise and unbiased commentary on the key issues affecting business performance in the UK agri-food industry, and its implications for farming and food businesses. Please click on the link below for a 90-day free trial:

https://agribrief.co.uk/

 

Spotlight on Andersons’ Meadow Farm

The Andersons Centre’s mixed lowland farm model ‘Meadow Farm’ has been updated.   The table below shows the final results for 2019/20 and 2020/21, and an estimate for the current year, and an early forecast for 2022/23.

The 2019/20 year was affected by low livestock prices, particularly for beef.  But the beef price recovered throughout 2020 and is currently very strong.  The lamb price also continued to perform well throughout the year and with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiated with the EU, prices this spring have exceeded expectation.  Meadow Farm sells all its finished cattle from August to October and lambs from July, with all having left the farm by the end of December.  Therefore, it didn’t fully capitalise on the very high lamb prices seen in the first quarter of 2021.  Even so, as the table shows, the livestock gross margin in 2020/21 was the strongest it has been for some time.  After a tough winter and spring, it looked like the arable results from harvest 2020 would be poor.  However, as a result of the rise in crop prices seen through autumn 2020 the gross margin strengthened.  Overheads fell, in part due to a drop in the fuel price, but also because of a decline in machinery and property depreciation.

With such a poor year in 2019/20 the proprietors of Meadow Farm did not invest in any big pieces of machinery.  But such low levels of reinvestment are not sustainable.  The result being the combined margin from production for 2020/21 is the strongest it has been for a number of years, however the margin from production is still negative and it still takes the BPS and CSS payments to provide profit.

Looking ahead to the rest of the current 2021/22 year, livestock prices are expected to remain good, but not quite at the levels of 2020/21 once averaged over the whole year, especially the lamb price.  The arable gross margin is budgeted to remain similar as a drop in crop price is compensated by better yields.  Overheads reduce, due to lower machinery depreciation, but some of the machinery will soon need replacing.  The margin from production is not as good as 2020/21 but is still better than recent history.  2021/22 is the first year of the Agricultural Transition and the BPS is reduced by 5%, but the addition of this still leaves a good profit for the business relative to other years.

The final column is the first (tentative) forecast for 2022/23.  Livestock prices are expected to drop back further, likewise arable prices and yields are expected to be more ‘normal’.  Overheads rise due to increased fuel prices and a small machinery purchase means the depreciation increases.  The margin from production is not as good as the last couple of years and the BPS is reduced by 20%, meaning the business surplus is back to 2019/20 levels.  The proprietors of Meadow Farm are hoping the new Sustainable Farming Incentive can recoup some of the ‘lost’ BPS.

Meadow Farm is typical of many livestock holdings in England, it is a notional 154 hectare (380 acre) beef and sheep farm in the Midlands.  It consists of grassland, with wheat and barley for livestock feed.  There are 60 spring-calving suckler cows with all progeny finished, a dairy bull beef enterprise and a 500 breeding ewe flock.  The business is subsidy-dependent, but with direct payments decreasing from 2021 it will need to adapt; maybe through restructuring to reduce its overheads, which are fundamentally too high, or perhaps by taking advantage of the new ELM scheme, or possibly a combination of both.

If you would like advice as we transition away from the BPS our consultants are ready to help, do not hesitate to contact one of us.

 

 

 

 

 

Farming Focus InBrief – June 2021

  • Andersons’ consultants are continuing to support their clients during the pandemic. If you require any advice, please contact your  usual consultant, or the office on 01664 503200 or email [email protected].
  • UK farm profits fell by 20% in real terms between 2019 and 2020 based on latest Defra Total Income from Farming (TIFF) data. TIFF measures aggregate profitability of all UK farming businesses for the calendar year. The main reason for this decline was a 15% fall in the value of crop output. Income from diversification declined by almost 25%. Livestock sector output was broadly flat whilst costs declined in real terms. Looking to 2021, there are good prospects for a recovery with crops looking in good condition and prices, for crops and livestock, looking generally good (with 1-2 exceptions).
  • The Queen’s Speech which sets out the Government’s legislative agenda for the forthcoming Parliamentary session included a number of bills of relevance to the farming and rural sector. The most notable is the Environment Bill which is planned to be passed before the end of the year. Three Animal Welfare Bills are also planned which will include provisions to ban live animal exports for slaughter or fattening. A Planning Bill is set to include provisions for the ‘zoning’ of sites for development and plans to increase the numbers of homes built.
  • The farming industry has come together to call on the Government to protect the agricultural sector under any Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia. The farming sector is asking that some tariff and tariff rate quota restrictions remain whilst UK standards (environment, labour, food safety and animal welfare) are maintained. Some within Government are pushing for tariff-free and quota-free trade. Whilst imports from Australia are currently small in many cases, the deal sets an important precedent for future trade deals with the likes of the US and Brazil.
  • Plans for nature restoration and woodland creation have been unveiled as part of the Government’s plans to tackle climate change, address biodiversity challenges and help to deliver its net-zero commitment. The England Wood Creation Offer (EWCO) is due to open for applications shortly and replaces the Woodland Carbon Fund. It will be administered by the Forestry Commission and support will be available for diverse woodland types, from a minimum of 1 Ha per application. Payment rates are not yet published. From 2024, EWCO will transition into ELM and EWCO agreement holders will be able to transfer across to ELM at agreed points without penalty. 
  • The UK organic farming land area grew marginally in 2020. Latest Defra estimates put the organic land area at 489,000 Ha, up 0.8% on 2019. This accounts for 2.8% of the UK farmed area on agricultural holdings. It is mostly permanent pasture (62%) and temporary grassland (20%) with cereals accounting for 9% of area. Grazing livestock numbers on organic farms are down with sheep 13% lower and cattle numbers down by 9%. Pig numbers were down marginally (-0.6%) whilst poultry numbers rose by 2%. 
  • AHDB restructuring, due to the votes by the horticultural and potato sectors to end their levies, means that it is seeking to make around 140 staff redundant (30% of workforce). The majority will be in the two sectors concerned but it is also looking to make wider efficiency savings.
  • Wheat prices have fallen by £20/t since their highs of early May and currently stand at around £172/t. This is driven by improved weather conditions globally and projected records for cereals yields in the US. Feed barley has also slipped in line with the wheat price. Malting barley premiums are mixed. Growing and ripening conditions are ideal for barley across Europe. 
  • Chinese imports of maize look set to continue at high levels for 2021/22 marketing year. Historically, it has imported 5-6 million tonnes annually. In 2020-21, it imported 25 million tonnes. Some analysts believe it has already booked a similar amount for the year ahead. This could tighten global supply in 2021/22 and push the whole grain price matrix higher. 
  • UK farmgate milk prices remain good with further rises reported in May. Arla has announced a further 0.44ppl rise for member suppliers from 1st June. Several other suppliers have also increased their prices including: Muller (+1ppl for non-aligned suppliers); First Milk (+0.5ppl); Meadow Foods (+1.25ppl); Yew Tree Dairy (+2ppl); Freshways (+2.5ppl from July) and; Medina Dairy (+2.7ppl from 1st July). 
  • Finished beef and lamb prices have cooled somewhat in recent weeks. In early May, the deadweight beef price passed the 400 p/kg price for the first time.  For week ending 29th May, the GB all prime average price stood at 394 p/kg, returning to early April levels. These prices are still strong however. Whilst the orders from the catering sector have risen there is some evidence that retail orders have dropped slightly. Deadweight pig prices have continued to increase, with EU-spec SPP currently at nearly 152.8 p/kg.

This month’s Spotlight looks at Defra’s consultation on Lump Sum and Delinking of BPS in England. Click Here for further information.

If you would like more detail on the topics covered above as well as additional articles on UK farm business matters, why not subscribe to Andersons’ AgriBrief Bulletin? Over the course of each month, we give a concise and unbiased commentary on the key issues affecting business performance in the UK agri-food industry, and its implications for farming and food businesses. Please click on the link below for a 90-day free trial:

https://agribrief.co.uk/

 

Spotlight on Lump Sum and Delinking of BPS

The long-awaited Defra consultation on Lump Sum payments and Delinking of the BPS has finally been published.  The consultation seeks views on who should be eligible for the Lump Sum payments and how these and Delinked payments should be calculated.

Lump Sum Payments

These will be offered to those who wish to exit the industry.  Defra’s intention is that there will be a one-off application window in 2022 with no scope to apply after that.  Proposed conditions and eligibility rules include:

  • Only those who claim the BPS will be eligible, it is an exit scheme and therefore there will be no age restrictions.  To prevent recent entrants from leaving with a lump sum, Defra is proposing that applicants must have made their first Direct Payment (BPS) claim in 2015 or earlier.
  • The BPS applicant would have to give up their land in England.
    • An owner/occupier would have to sell and/or rent out their land, or transfer by gift.  The proposal is if an owner/occupier decides to rent out their land this must be via an FBT and for a minimum of five years.
    • A Tenant must surrender their tenancy, this can be a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) or An Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancy.  AHA tenants will also be eligible if they pass on their tenancy under a succession.
    • Those receiving a Lump Sum would be able to retain occupation of their residential and commercial property and up to 5% or 5ha (whichever is the smaller) of their land.
  • All English BPS entitlements held by the applicant would be cancelled, including any that have been leased-in from another farmer.  Those that have been leased-out would be cancelled at the end of the lease.  This could present a problem where a Landlord has leased or Transferred entitlements to a Tenant with an obligation to return to the Landlord – will the Landlord accept the Surrender if he will be left with land without any entitlements? 
  • It will be an all-or-nothing scheme – it will not be possible for applicants to keep some entitlements and take a partial Lump Sum payment.
  • If a Lump Sum payment is received, the farm business cannot claim any further direct payments (BPS).  This includes any Directors of a Limited Company and all Partners of a Partnership.  If any recipient enters into a new land management agreements (or adds land to an existing agreement) such as Countryside Stewardship or ELM, during the Agricultural Transition, the Lump Sum payment will have to be repaid.
  • The tax treatment of Lump Sum (and Delinked) payments is currently being discussed with HMRC and guidance is expected shortly.  This will be crucial to how attractive the ‘offer’ is to many farmers – i.e. will the payment be taxed as capital or income.

With regard to the actual payments, Defra expects to be able to fund all the eligible applications it receives and therefore it will not be a competitive scheme.  There will be no rules on what the lump sum can be spent on.  The amount a claimant will receive will be;

Lump sum Reference Amount   X   2.35

A 2.35 multiplier means the payment will be approximately equivalent to the amount a farmer could have received in Direct Payments for 2022 to 2027 under the phasing out of the BPS.  The Reference Amount will be the average value (if more than one year is used) of BPS received (for English entitlements) before any penalties or progressive reductions have been applied in a Reference Period.   Defra is asking for views on the Reference Period, but is proposing a three-year average based on 2018, 2019 and 2020 BPS years.

There is a proposed payment cap of £100,000, meaning a maximum Reference Amount (average BPS claim) of about £42,500 would not be affected by the cap.  There will be measures put in place to deal with changes to farm businesses since the start of the reference period (‘mergers and scissions’) and also to prevent artificial changes to businesses to claim payment.

Full rules for the Lump Sum scheme are promised by the end of October this year.  This is to allow time for farmers to consider the merits of the scheme (and potentially Tenants to negotiate with Landlords) before applications are invited in ‘early 2022’.

Defra has clearly said exiting farmers will have to give up their entitlements.  It has also stated that it intends to end the New and Young Farmers National Reserve scheme (offering free entitlements) from 2022, meaning from next year we could already see land which will not have any entitlements over it.  On the face of it, it looks like new entrants will be losing out, which seems strange as part of the reason for the Lump Sum encourage new and young entrants by freeing-up land.  Defra has said the proposal will create ‘more lasting opportunities for new entrants to access land’ and in the press release it has said it is working on a scheme with industry leaders, local councils, land owners and new entrants on a New Entrants Scheme.  This will be available in 2022 with details expected to be published later this year.

Delinked Payments

These are expected to be introduced in 2024 and will mean businesses can reduce the area they farm or even cease farming and they will still receive payments for the rest of the Transition Period.  Delinking will not be optional.  Delinked payments will be made to those who were receiving a BPS payment in a Reference Period (see below) and in 2023 (if the Reference Period is earlier than this).   Defra has said Tenants who received BPS during the Reference Period, and still farm at the end of it should be eligible to receive the delinked payment. Again, this throws up questions about Tenancies which end during the Agricultural Transition; it seems to suggest that the Tenant will receive the Delinked payment and the Landlord will not have a payment to ‘give’ to a new Tenant.

The actual payments will be calculated for each year from 2024 to 2027 based on the BPS payments made to the applicant in the Reference Period less the progressive reductions for each year.  Defra is asking for views on the Reference Period.  It is proposing the average of 2018 to 2020 (the same as the Lump Sum) for ease, but acknowledges a longer period, which includes 2021 and 2022 would take account of more business changes.

Defra acknowledges that Delinking payments means there will no longer be an annual BPS claim, meaning it loses data on land use.  Having no link between payments and land also means  cross-compliance will no longer operate.  These points are not part of this consultation, indicating there will be another consultation later.

The consultation is open from 19th May until 11th August.  The  full consultation document can be found at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agricultural-policy/lump-sum-and-delinked-payments-england/supporting_documents/lumpsumexitschemedelinkedpaymentsconsultation.pdf.  Responses can be made online via https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agricultural-policy/lump-sum-and-delinked-payments-england/

Whilst the detailed scheme rules for the Lump Sum will not be known until October, those potentially wanting to take advantage of it should be having discussions with the relevant parties (bankers, advisors, landlords, etc.) sooner rather than later.