Farming Business UK: There is no shortage of expert help and advice for anyone running a farm business in the United Kingdom.
As a rule, it starts with writing a business plan and understanding how to run your business accounts.
There are several benefits in writing a business plan for your farm. It adds credibility and promotes your skill set as a farm owner or land manager.
Farmers should benchmark the business and plan ahead for future activity and expansion.
There is extra guidance on farming business management and using farm compliance tools. The other important sections cover the rights of farm workers and pay schemes.
Guide to Farming as a Business
Agricultural Sick Pay
ASP Guide
People who work in agriculture and farming have sick days too. But, as a rule farm workers would receive Agricultural Sick Pay (ASP) instead of SSP.
Holiday Pay
Agricultural workers can also get statutory holiday leave. Use the government site to calculate agricultural holiday entitlement in England and Wales.
Agricultural Skills and Training
Agricultural training, skills courses, and qualifications are available through Lantra. They are the ‘Sector Skills Council’ for agriculture and farming in the United Kingdom.
Agricultural Worker Rights
The section explains the rights of agricultural and farm workers in the United Kingdom. It includes pay rates, holiday leave, overtime, and the agricultural minimum wage.
Animal Medicine and Microchips
Check how to report animal medicine or a microchip problems or adverse reactions. The page explains what to do if a pet, other animal, or a human has an unexpected reaction to a veterinary medicine.
You can also check if an online retailer is accredit to sell pet medicines (e.g. part of Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) through the Veterinary Medicines Directorate).
Note: Farmers can use Cattle Tracing System Online to register cattle births. The BCMS website also tracks details of individual animals and movements of the herd.
Farms and Farming
Farm and Livery Horses
Keeping farm and livery horses means you need to look after their welfare and stables. Check the legal requirements of having horses on farms and in livery yards.
Milk Production Holdings
As a rule, you need to register your milk production facility with the relevant authority. There is a specific application form to register with the FSA in England and Wales.
Farm Vehicles and Machinery
Information in the section addresses farm vehicles health and safety and its associated risks. Common types of accidents and fatalities on farms involve farming vehicles and machinery.
Most farm vehicles need registering with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The section explains how to register a farm vehicle and get the right approval for DVLA.
Farming Business Support
Click through to get farming business support and helpline contact details. Farmers can often get support and instant advice on the telephone.
Note: The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs set out some of the changes expected for farmers and land managers in England through the Agricultural Transition Plan 2021 to 2024 (e.g. the path to sustainable farming).
Planning Permissions
In general, planning permission for farms comes under the same planning regulations as other types of land and property. But, some special planning rules and conditions apply.
Register as a Biomass Supplier
Once you register as a biomass supplier you will be able to supply biomass woodfuel. Registered suppliers sell woodfuel to traders and consumers who use the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Registering Land
Information in the page explains how to register land with the Rural Land Register. Check when and how to make land registration and what documents to send with an application.
Transporting Animal Byproducts
The strict regulations that apply when transporting animal by-products (ABP) in the United Kingdom help to prevent the spread of deadly diseases (e.g. BSE, foot and mouth).
Note: Another section contains information about starting a career working in agriculture and how to get a job in farming or one of the associated industries.
June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture
As a rule, completing Defra June agricultural survey is a requirement. They send you an email request or a survey form by post around late May or early June each year.
Soil Protection Review
Check out the information and guidance on the Soil Protection Review. You can now use an online tool to complete the annual farm soil management and protection review.
Update a Rural Payments Claim
You can sign in or register to make a rural payments claim or to update your details. You can now use the new GOV.UK Verify to prove your identity for first time registration of an account.