Future Farming Resilience

Navigating the Agricultural Transition


The Future Farming Resilience programme runs across the South West. Please join our newsletter to receive updates about the programme, as well as additional agricultural support, grants schemes and news from Defra.

Free, information and business skills development workshops to help farmers and land managers navigate the changes brought about by the Agricultural Transition.

Between 2021 and 2027, the government will gradually reduce and then stop Direct Payments. Instead, farmers will be supported to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions.

There will be three levels of support aimed at paying for sustainable farming practices, creating habitats for nature recovery and making landscape-scale change such as establishing new woodland and other ecosystem services.

The move away from Direct Payments will be a big change for some farmers, so they will happen over a 7-year transition period to give time to plan and adjust. The Future Farming Resilience Fund has been funded by Defra to allow us to support farmers and land managers with this transition.

The support is free and available from October 2022 to any farmer or land manager currently in receipt of BPS payments. We are able to support farmers throughout Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.


Answering your questions

Let's answer your questions and talk about the opportunities from the Agricultural Transition:

  • How fast is my BPS reducing?
  • What new opportunities are there for my farm now?
  • Are there new grants to grow the business?
  • Where does organic or regenerative farming fit with the agricultural transition?
  • What’s the succession plan for my business?
  • How can I diversify my business?
  • Can I increase my productivity to improve my profits as the BPS reduces?
  • How can I maintain cash flow and profitability?
  • Will the Sustainable Farming Incentive work on my farm?
  • What other help is available to address the pressures on my farm business?

Podcast

In this podcast, Foot Anstey's experts talk to our Director, Stewart Horne, about the huge changes to agricultural funding that farmers are now facing. They discuss the concerns farmers have with the changes, as well as highlighting some of the funding support now available, future funding changes, and how farmers are best placed to capitalise on them.

Find us at these forthcoming shows

BIP at the Royal Bath & West Dairy Show
BIP at the Royal Bath & West Dairy Show

Somerset
4 October > Royal Bath & West Dairy Show

About us

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Our team of friendly agricultural advisors have a wealth of experience and expertise across all types of farm business. Through this free support, they can tailor the advice to your specific needs and prepare you for the changes ahead.

Who we're working with

To deliver this support across the South West, we are working with a number of partner organisations, who bring their own skills and expertise to help farmers adapt to the changes happening across the agricultural industry.

Devon County Council Logo
ND Plus Logo
Creedy Associates Logo 2
FWAG Logo
DR Logo
SBA Logo
Cosmic logo

Areas we can help you with





One to One Advice

We have a local network of highly experienced consultants and advisors who can sit down with you and get under the skin of your farm business. They will work with you to assess your current position, how the changes are going to affect you and your farm and discuss the options available to you. Carried out in-person or remotely, they will perform a thorough, independent review of all your activities and help to develop an agreed action plan for the future.

Book a One-to-One Appointment

If you would like to talk to an agricultural advisor about your farm business please fill in your details below and we'll get back to you shortly.

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    Agricultural Transition Workshops

    Join us at one of our local agricultural transition workshops. They we will be running these throughout Devon initially from October 2022 and for the rest of the region from November. These sessions will outline the changes, how to handle the reduction in BPS payments, discuss new grant schemes and assess options for the future.

    All of our available workshops can be found below.

    Farm Grants Update & Navigating the Agricultural Transition

    Launceston Town Hall Launceston Town Hall, Launceston, Cornwall/Scilly, United Kingdom

    Helping farmers, their families and their businesses to navigate the Agricultural Transition. With the change in farming support moving away from the Basic Payment Scheme there will be grants available towards environmental improvement, animal health and welfare, and reducing carbon emissions. The Future Farming Resilience Fund has been funded by Defra to allow us to support farmers and land managers ... Read More

    Free

    Farm Grants Update & Navigating the Agricultural Transition

    Great Torrington Town Hall Oak Room, High Street, Torrington, Devon, United Kingdom

    Update on grants available to farming businesses and help to navigate the Agricultural Transition. With the change in farming support moving away from the Basic Payment Scheme there will be grants available towards environmental improvement, animal health and welfare, and reducing carbon emissions. The Future Farming Resilience Fund has been funded by Defra to allow us to support farmers and ... Read More

    Free

    Farm Grants Update & Navigating the Agricultural Transition

    Buckland Newton Village Hall Major's Common, Buckland Newton, Dorset, United Kingdom

    Helping farmers, their families and their businesses to navigate the Agricultural Transition. Between 2021 and 2027, the government will reduce and then stop Direct Payments. Instead, farmers will be supported to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions.. This is the biggest change in farm support for generations and all farmers need to think how ... Read More

    Free

    Farm Grants Update & Navigating the Agricultural Transition

    Teign Valley Community Hall Bowden Room, Rainbows End, Christow, Devon, United Kingdom

    Update on grants available to farming businesses and help to navigate the Agricultural Transition. With the change in farming support moving away from the Basic Payment Scheme there will be grants available towards environmental improvement, animal health and welfare, and reducing carbon emissions. The Future Farming Resilience Fund has been funded by Defra to allow us to support farmers and ... Read More

    Free

    Specialist Topic - Small Group Webinars

    In addition to the transition workshops and one-to-one support, we will be delivering a range of specialist, small group workshops where we can discuss and focus on particular topics to help improve your farm business and manage your transition. We will be developing these over the course of the programme. The topics we're currently covering include:
    • Exiting the industry
    • Woodland creation
    • Family succession planning
    • Business diversification
    • Adding value to food and drink
    • Productivity
    • Environmental schemes
    • Business planning and cashflow
    • Marketing
    • Grant schemes.

      Biodiversity Net Gain: An Introduction for Farmers and Landowners

      Online , United Kingdom

      Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a new piece of legislation that forces developers to contribute to nature recovery, by ensuring that biodiversity is left in a measurably better state, after a development than before. Where developers cannot deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity on their site, they must pay other landowners to create and improve habitats on their behalf. This ... Read More

      Free

      SFI Scheme: How to Prepare and Submit a Successful Application

      Online , United Kingdom

      The Sustainable Farming Incentive is Defra's flagship offering to the farming community. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is available to the farming community, rewarding farmers for environmental benefits provided through their land management practices. As the area-based Basic Payment Scheme is phased out, SFI represents an important consideration for farmers seeking to maximise farm income. For farmers who choose to enter ... Read More

      Free

      Woodland Creation Grants and Incentives

      Online , United Kingdom

      Understand the benefits and application processes when considering the English Woodland Creation Offer to plant trees on your farm. This workshop takes you through a step-by-step guide to help you to understand the advantages and application processes when considering planting trees on your farm as part of a diversification plan. The many holistic environmental benefits of woodland creation will be ... Read More

      Free

      Exploring SFI Options for Your Farm in 2023

      Online , United Kingdom

      With the reduction of income from the Basic Payment Scheme over the next few years, all farmers are considering how to develop their businesses. With the reduction of income from the Basic Payment Scheme over the next few years, all farmers are considering how to continue to develop their profitable farm businesses. As part of the Agricultural Transition, Defra introduced ... Read More

      Free

      Digital Training

      Digital agency and social enterprise, Cosmic will be providing training to help improve your digital skills, which will include free workshops, as well as one-to-one advice, and training to help build digital confidence and enable your to better manage the day-to-day running of the farm business.

      This could include making applications and requesting payments for Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements, submitting tax online to HMRC, or promoting a diversified farm using social media, Google or paid online advertising. The sessions are delivered in a no-nonsense, practical, and supportive manner, free of jargon! They will:

      • Help to identify your digital technology needs from the very basics through to advanced skills
      • Provide training from highly skilled practitioners who have years of experience and the proven ability to tackle Digital and technology challenges
      • Support you in a uniquely kind, friendly and inspiring way
      • Grow your confidence and trust in technology in a safe and responsible way
      • Increase your confidence, reduce isolation, and improve digital literacy

      All of our available workshops can be found below.

      Using Xero for Your Online Farm Accounting

      Online , United Kingdom

      A step-by-step guide to managing your farm accounts using online accounting software, Xero. With Xero, you can automate everyday financial tasks and easily track and pay bills. More farm work, less paperwork. During this workshop our trainer will guide you through: The Xero dashboard and how to navigate it Chart of accounts Bills Invoices Registering assets CAT returns Reports Payroll ... Read More

      Free

      Excel for your Farm Business

      Online , United Kingdom

      Learn how to use Excel to support your farm business with creating spreadsheets, managing information and keeping records Excel is one of the most important tools for Farm Admin. The workshop will teach you the basics of using Excel to support your farm business with creating spreadsheets, managing information, and keeping records. We will explore how Excel can be used ... Read More

      Free

      Using Xero for Your Online Farm Accounting

      Online , United Kingdom

      A step-by-step guide to managing your farm accounts using online accounting software, Xero. With Xero, you can automate everyday financial tasks and easily track and pay bills. More farm work, less paperwork. During this workshop our trainer will guide you through: The Xero dashboard and how to navigate it Chart of accounts Bills Invoices Registering assets VAT returns Reports Payroll ... Read More

      Free

      Excel for your Farm Business

      Online , United Kingdom

      Learn how to use Excel to support your farm business with creating spreadsheets, managing information and keeping records Excel is one of the most important tools for Farm Admin. The workshop will teach you the basics of using Excel to support your farm business with creating spreadsheets, managing information, and keeping records. We will explore how Excel can be used ... Read More

      Free

      Rural Support & Wellbeing

      Living and working in the farming community can be hugely rewarding, but it also comes with its own unique challenges. 

      Maybe it’s the day-to-day practicalities of running your business. Maybe it’s worries about money, safety or rural crime. Or perhaps you have concerns about succession or you're feeling isolated and lonely. Whatever support you need, you can access help.

      The Trading Standards Farming Partnership includes lots of organisations who all understand the challenges of farming and can support you to overcome them. Talk to their team and they can link you up with the support you need.

      Mental Health Awareness Workshops

      The Rural Support and Wellbeing project aims to raise awareness of the rural wellbeing support services available to the farming community through specialist workshops and representation at rural events, such as livestock markets and agricultural shows.

      Over the course of the winter, the team will be running a series of winter wellbeing webinars to give you an opportunity to focus on particular topics to help you think about your own wellbeing, as well as your farm business. These will be running on the first Thursday of every month, from 6pm to 8pm.

      Find the latest workshops below or sign-up to our agricultural newsletter to be notified as soon as new workshops become available.

      Rural Support: Cost Of Living

      Online , United Kingdom

      Overview The Rural Support and Wellbeing project, run by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards service, aims to raise awareness of the rural support services available to the farming community, through specialist workshops and representation at rural events, such as livestock markets and agricultural shows. The Wellbeing Webinar series runs on the first Thursday of every month, from ... Read More

      Free

      Rural Support: Farm Safety

      Online , United Kingdom

      Exploring farm safety. Guest speakers to be announced. Overview The Rural Support and Wellbeing project, run by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards service, aims to raise awareness of the rural support services available to the farming community, through specialist workshops and representation at rural events, such as livestock markets and agricultural shows. This project is being delivered ... Read More

      Free

      Rural Support: Finance & Technology

      Online , United Kingdom

      Exploring finance and technology. Guest speakers to be announced Overview The Rural Support and Wellbeing project, run by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards service, aims to raise awareness of the rural support services available to the farming community, through specialist workshops and representation at rural events, such as livestock markets and agricultural shows. This project is being ... Read More

      Free

      Rural Support: Finance & Technology

      Online , United Kingdom

      Exploring finance and technology. Guest speakers to be announced Overview The Rural Support and Wellbeing project, run by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards service, aims to raise awareness of the rural support services available to the farming community, through specialist workshops and representation at rural events, such as livestock markets and agricultural shows. This project is being ... Read More

      Free
      If you'd like to receive updates about this support programme, as well as the latest information on agricultural grants, government schemes and news from Defra, please fill in your details below. (You can unsubscribe at any time).