Julie Robinson, Agriculture Partner at Roythornes Solicitors, explains why putting land into a biodiversity net gain project is not a walk in the park for farmers. Following the Government’s announcement on 27 September, we now have confirmation...
With land sales and new farm business tenancies being finalised ahead of Michaelmas, Julie Robinson looks at how parties might deal with the transition between the Basic Payment Scheme and delinked payments, due to be introduced in England in 2024. ...
It will not have escaped attention that the Government plans to do away with legacy EU laws to free up housebuilding in nutrient neutrality catchments. This blog looks at whether and how farmers will be affected by the proposed changes. The Government has...
Animal welfare is high on the political agenda, with Trading Standards (a department in your local council, usually the borough or district council) being prompt and thorough to investigate reports of animal welfare breaches. Trading Standards is responsible...
Last week, Farming Minister Mark Spencer MP announced that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which has been making its way through Parliament for nearly two years, would be dropped and the measures it contains introduced separately. Our animal welfare...
Livestock worrying by dogs costs British farmers millions of pounds every year and causes an immense amount of distress to farmers and their animals. Most issues are caused by ignorant, irresponsible, or uncaring dog owners who do not know how to control...
More and more often, the situation is arising where a landowner is approached by a developer who wants to offer them a substantial sum of money to purchase all or part of the agricultural holding. Alternatively, the landowner is looking at ways...
The Upper Tribunal has ruled that where an appeal is made, pursuant to Regulation 22 of The Welfare at the Time of Killing regulations 2015, to the First Tier Tribunal and then that decision is subsequently withdrawn or not relied upon by the Respondent...
Fly-tipping is a huge problem for many farmers and landowners and can be expensive to deal with, particularly if you get landed with a large fine. Fly-tipping is essentially the deposit of waste onto land which is not permitted to receive it. As a landowner...
Last August, Rebecca Ironmonger from our Regulatory Team discussed the Environment Agency’s Regulatory Position Statement on the use of organic manure over Autumn/Winter 2021/22. Here, Rebecca provides an update on the EA’s approach. Last week,...
For many farmers, the spreading of manure or sludge from water sewage treatment plants is an essential part of the process of preparing the soil for crops and for disposing of excess manure that they do not have the capacity to store. The Reduction and...
This article aims to answer some questions about UK farm employers’ access to seasonal workers under the Government’s extended Seasonal Workers Pilot. The end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 marks the end of freedom of...
For farms with seasonal workers due to arrive from abroad on or after 8 June 2020, there is an extremely useful exemption from the general 14-day self-isolation rule. However, there is some small print that employers need to be aware of, and not all farms...
This blog highlights some legal considerations for landowners and tenant farmers to bear in mind when applying to the Government’s new Woodland Carbon Guarantee scheme (WCaG), supported by an associated woodland creation project. The long-term...
This article focuses on activities you need to take to stay within the law if you are controlling wild birds to prevent serious damage to livestock, feedstuffs, crops, fruit etc., previously covered by General Licence 04. The legal position The basic...
The short answer to our client’s question is yes. Farm businesses are engaging in a whole raft of collaborative ventures as they focus on increasing their competitiveness and preparing for the future. Why are farmers opting for joint ventures? ...
In difficult years we are asked about the options available to farmers who cannot fulfil the deliveries they have agreed to in forwarding grain contracts. Below we take a look at the provisions of the Agricultural Industries Confederation Ltd (AIC) 1/16...
We are still seeing examples of employers failing to serve the correct documentation before handing over the keys of a cottage to new farm workers. They think they are granting an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) and that they will be able to recover...
The Single Payment Scheme definition of permanent pasture has come under challenge in the EU Court of Justice. The SPS defines permanent pasture as “land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation...
Manorial rights are one of the more arcane aspects of land law, but that doesn’t mean they can be ignored, particularly with a Land Registry deadline for their registration looming. What are they? Before 1926, in addition to freehold land and...
