Diversification

Jeremy Clarkson has come up with a new idea for expanding his farming business. The owner of Diddly Squat farm is thinking of making cricket bats as a side hustle.

Farm and estate property consultancy Carter Jonas has called for clarity over the tax treatment of land put into environmental schemes.

Rural properties and farmland in the UK offer a diverse range of opportunities and investments, with various sectors experiencing distinct cycles of growth and change. For farmers and landowners, understanding these trends is crucial for making informed decisions about their investments. Carter Jonas delves into the current state of the market across different sectors.

Despite Wales being the most popular country in the UK for outdoor holidays, Welsh landowners are turning away from pop-up campsites – amid uncertainty over the future of Permitted Development Rights.

In the Houses of Parliament this week, UK environment secretary Steve Barclay discussed easing rules for farmers who would like to diversify their businesses. The topic had been previously raised by celebrity and farmer Jeremy Clarkson. 

Alder Carr Farm Shop, in Creeting St Mary near Needham Market, has been named the best small farm shop of the year at the prestigious Farm Retail Association awards. 

Ahead of next week’s spring budget, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling for a permanent reduction in VAT for accommodation and attractions enterprises to boost rural tourism.

Farmers are being encouraged to try out business diversification and start planning how to introduce agritourism on their farms ahead of this summer.

One of the highlights of the Farm Business Innovation Show 2023, held in Birmingham in November, was the exploration of how diversification projects are breathing life and value back into rural spaces.

The Farm Business Innovation Show took place at the NEC, Birmingham, in mid-November. The event is dedicated to empowering farmers, landowners and agricultural professionals with the knowledge, tools and inspiration to drive innovation, diversification and growth in their businesses.

With unpredictable input costs, volatile markets, and future uncertainty, UK farmers are facing extraordinary challenges. Whilst the drive towards net zero may seem like an additional pressure to many, could it also be an opportunity for farm businesses to assess how they can move towards a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable future, asks Farmplan director Piers Costley.

Higher demand, coupled with the soaring costs of agriculture, has prompted many British farmers to look into new ways to grow and diversify their income. Bev Dumbleton, chief operating officer at Sykes Holiday Cottages, shares some advice on holiday lets.