CLA Rural Business Uncovered

What is a veteran? The CLA and the Armed Forces Covenant – our three pledges The unique skills sets of veterans Rural employers working with the veterans community The Veteran Rural Skills Partnership How CLA members can help Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Developing local food networks and strengthening support for locally sourced food has a multitude of benefits. Buying locally sourced food reduces food miles meaning less fuel is used in transportation, reducing its carbon footprint, it supports nearby businesses, creates local employment, keeps money circulating within the local economy and much more.   Judicaelle Hammond, CLA Director of Po...

We delve into what the new biodiversity net gain regulations mean for land managers and rural businesses wanting to submit planning applications.   The introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain in the planning system by the Environment Act 2021 is expected in 2023, following consultation, publication, and implementation of regulations. The new policy will require, as a condition of...

This podcast covers the ins and outs of what farming sustainability means and how it can be measured.   Defra recently launched their Sustainable Farming Incentive, and the Welsh Government are in the process of developing their Sustainable Farming Scheme. In many respects, sustainable farming has come to equate with reduced impact on the environment, whether that is climate, air, water...

We discuss the impact of the drought this year and the importance of water management going into 2023.    Last summer was the joint warmest for England and was notable for the extreme heat of 18-19 July where temperatures reached excess of 40C for the first time, breaking the previous all-time temperature record. With pressures on water resources from climate change and a growing populat...

This episode explores the potential and opportunities of making agroforestry central to land management plans.     Net zero targets and the need to mitigate climate change is driving strong interest from the Government in tree planting because of their ability to sequester carbon. We hear a lot about woodland creation targets, but agroforestry can play a role too.    Graha...

  Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Farming and other agricultural related professions are known to face particular mental health challenges, with higher than average rates of depression and suicide. According to the Farm Safety Foundation, 81% of farmers under 40 believe that mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today and 92% be...

What are the key things to consider when looking to obtain planning permission through land promotion?  With development land being a highly prized commodity these days, landowners with surplus land looking to sell can take advantage of the commercial opportunities offered by housing development. If you are a landowner interested in maximising value of your land through securing planning...

Many rural businesses involve using large machinery for long hours and it is important that we can keep everybody safe. Health and safety law in the UK is criminal law and businesses have a statutory duty to conduct a thorough assessment of risks and implement policy and procedures to mitigate risks.   Libby Bateman, CLA North Rural Adviser, discusses how to mitigate against weather rela...

To kick-off season 4 we share with you an episode on the current energy crisis. Energy prices are currently the highest the UK has ever seen with forward curve prices showing increases until 2025.   Charles Trotman, CLA Senior Economics and Rural Business Adviser, explains his forecast for the next 12 months, the potential knock-on effects, the rise of fertiliser prices and whether the G...

This episode covers the issue of nutrient neutrality, which affects protected nature conservation sites that are at risk of pollution by nitrates or phosphates.   Where Natural England or Natural Resources Wales identify a protected waterbody as being at risk from nutrient pollution, they will require any development which creates overnight accommodation in the same catchment to demonstr...

This week we bring you an International Women's Day podcast special.   As agriculture is often perceived as a male-dominated industry, it’s important we recognise the leading role women are playing. Farming, like any industry, needs to continue to attract new talent and ideas and employ skills of both women and men.   What will you hear? Lucinda Douglas, CLA North Director, shares the ma...

This episode focuses on the key factors to consider when determining if woodland creation is the right move for you.    The UK Government is very keen to see much more woodland planted across the country as one of the ways to tackle the climate change issue. But creating woodland is essentially an irreversible decision, so landowners need to think carefully about if and where t...

We explore how different business structures are treated for tax purposes and key issues for you to think about.   Do you currently run a rural business? Are you planning to diversify or start up a new venture? Having the right business structure is crucial and, as each farming business operation is different, you may need to review how your business operates to ensure you have...

We are pleased to share with you a podcast episode on the approach to levelling up and the challenges that lie ahead.    Levelling up is the flagship policy of Boris Johnson’s Conservative government, with the idea to bring people and communities previously considered left behind to an equal standing with more prosperous areas such as the southeast by 2030.    Though much of th...

This week we are pleased to bring you a podcast episode on how farming is represented in the media and its consequences.    With the UK’s growing interest in sustainability and the exit from Common Agricultural Policy there has been an increase of representation of farming in mainstream media. While young farmers are using social media’s power to facilitate...

In this podcast we are pleased to bring you an episode on the opportunities of farm diversification.    While diversification can have risks, it covers a wide range of potential new income streams and many businesses have found successful and profitable ways of expanding and developing their business.     What will you hear? Fraser McAuley, CLA Senior Policy...

In this episode we discuss the agricultural transition, the new schemes and what they mean for the farming and land management sector.   Since the vote to leave the European Union, we have spent several years talking about the replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy with new schemes designed in the UK. In England the agricultural transition has now begun with farmers seeing th...

With climate change an increasingly urgent priority on the global political agenda, what does this mean for farming?    Alice Green, CLA Land Use Policy Adviser, shares with us the opportunities there are for the sector to take action on climate change, how the farming industry should be responding to the Global Methane Pledge and gives advice to farmers who are starting t...

This week we bring you a podcast on rural crime that will provide insights on the issue of fly tipping, which has soared to a record-high over the past 12 months.   Defra’s fly tipping statistics, released on Wednesday 8 December, make for grim reading, showing a 16% increase across England with over 1.1 million incidents being recorded between April 2020 and March 2021. The re...

In this bonus episode, we bring you an interview with Mark Tufnell, the newly elected President of the CLA as of 11 November 2021.   Mark, who owns and manages a traditional estate in the Cotswolds, has been actively involved in the CLA for over 20 years at branch and regional level now lays out his priorities that will be at the heart of his tenure. In this exclusive interview...

We are delighted to offer a podcast that will be highly relevant and informative for any landowner or farmer considering planning a building project and what you need to consider insurance wise.   Landowners and farmers are always looking at diversification opportunities as a way of generating new income streams. These projects often involve developing and making changes to existing farm...

In recent years, businesses and governments have increased their efforts to try to measure and quantify the importance of the environment to them. Whether this is healthy soil for growing food, trees that capture carbon, or providing space for wildlife, the concept of natural capital can start to put a monetary value on these benefits that nature and the environment provide.  ...

With major changes in agricultural policy, in particular the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme, it is expected that there will be some restructuring within farming businesses and the industry as a whole. This will allow room for new entrants and for businesses to become more efficient through the sharing of resources or by expanding and taking on more land.   In this episode, Andrew Shi...

In this episode we are joined by Sally Bendall, Managing Director of Hollow Trees Farm in Suffolk, a working farm which also has a highly popular farm shop, café and deli, a family trail with play areas for children. Sally shares with us the challenges and the lessons learnt along the farm’s diversification journey, but most importantly how the family have kept the farm at the heart...