Know How / Partnerships

Case studies

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ARABLE

Collaborative options available to help arable farmers

There’s a perception that farmers often felt they were in competition with their neighbours or more widely with others producing similar outputs.  But the benefits of collaboration, rather than competition,…

LIVESTOCK

How swapping jobs with dairy farm owner helped a new entrant

An owner and farmworker have swapped places on a dairy farm on the Welsh Borders. The reversal of roles for semi-retired farmer Philip Davies and his former herd manager, Hannah…

DAIRY

How joint venture helped young couple farm in own right

Two seasons of collaboration with a neighbour gave Rhodri and Siwan Jones the confidence and cash to start dairying on their own. Rhodri trained as a solicitor and met Siwan,…

LIVESTOCK

4 successful livestock collaborations to learn from

A secure supply of livestock, improved liveweight gain in lambs and benefits to soil health are among the rewards of collaboration for five farmers in Scotland and Northumberland. Here, they…

PARTNERSHIPS

Joint land ownership allows Dutch milk producer to extensify

Dairy producer Pieter van der Valk is balancing profitable farming with ecological benefits through an innovative model whereby farmers and private investors jointly own land. When he heard that his…

PARTNERSHIPS

Collaboration tips for arable farmers who want to save costs

Collaboration is seen as one solution to the problem of rising costs and greater uncertainty, and one arable farming group in north Northamptonshire is showing the value of working together.…

Practical advice

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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How a business LPA can provide farming continuity

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows a trusted person (or a group of people) to make certain decisions on your behalf if you are unable to. There are two…

PARTNERSHIPS

Limited partnerships can help to smooth the succession path

Land and asset values, Basic Payment Scheme cuts, inheritance and capital gains taxes, management responsibility and business risks are all important elements in succession considerations – and in whether a…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to set up a farm machinery sharing syndicate

As farmers transition to more resilient systems, greater scrutiny is applied to fertiliser, seed, herbicide and other agronomy costs, but is that same degree of analysis applied to machinery outlay?…

BUSINESS

Reasons to address farming succession grow stronger

The combination of rapidly falling Basic Payment Scheme income, tax certainty for the time being and the changing demands on land use and policy make it even more pressing to…

LIVESTOCK

Sharing livestock machinery: Advice and options

Justifying a new tractor or baler for a beef and sheep enterprise on a family farm is becoming increasingly hard as costs inflate to erode margins. The depreciation and power…

BUSINESS

Crop buyers' contract terms farmers should be vigilant about

Growers should check the annual terms of trade issued by buyers to make sure they are aware of all requirements and restrictions, say advisers. These terms apply for each crop…

Insights

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PARTNERSHIPS

Partnership court case clarifies inheritance issue

Farming partnership and inheritance issues continue to lead to stressful, expensive and lengthy legal proceedings. Partnerships are still governed by Victorian legislation – the Partnership Act 1890 – points out…

PARTNERSHIPS

Ways farmers can collaborate to tackle costs and low prices

An unfair characterisation or otherwise, farmers historically have had a reputation for being reluctant to co-operate with each other, often lagging behind other industries when it comes to working together.…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Essex farm bought for £2m to showcase rewilding

An Essex farm is to showcase how rewilding can generate an income for landowners, while enhancing biodiversity and the environment. Landscape company Ground Control bought Grays Farm, in the village…

PARTNERSHIPS

The scheme helping new entrants start joint ventures

In late September this year, the Scottish Government launched an initiative to bring together existing landowners and new entrants who are struggling to find a way into farming. The Scottish…

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

What's it like being a father and son dairy team?

Father and son team Richard and Tom Calver have a combined 69 years in farming, running a dairy herd and cheesemaking business. Based at Westcombe Dairy in east Somerset, the…