Rural Business
Agribusiness News February 2025 – Inputs: The Benefits of Co-operating with Co-operatives
The role of Co-operatives in supporting agribusiness in Scotland Co-operation is the quiet engine room of Scottish farming. Collectively, producer co-ops generate over £1bn turnover to Scottish agriculture each year. Some 65 producer co-ops represent over 25,000 memberships across all major enterprises. From dairy to daffodils, pigs to potatoes, soft fruit to shellfish, cauliflowers to…
Capital Gains Tax and Reliefs
Following the Autumn Budget the rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) was increased with immediate effect – CGT is a Tax on the profit generated when you sell or dispose of an asset where the value has increased, this applies to sales of Agricultural land and farms. For farmers this means that any…
National Minimum Wage and Employment Taxes
National Living Wage (NLW)/National Minimum Wage (NMW) The table below shows the increase in National Living Wage/National Minimum Wages proposed in the Autumn Budget National Minimum wage paid to Apprentices, Under 18s and 18 to 20-year-olds. National Living wage is paid to anyone over 21. Approx increase in Gross pay per annum based on…
Inheritance Tax and Reliefs
The key headline for agriculture in the Autumn Budget is the change announced to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR). Both APR and BPR are types of Inheritance Tax (IHT) relief and are central to consider in any succession planning decisions in any farming family. While APR is exclusively an agricultural relief,…
Agribusiness News January 2025 – Global Trends
The UK and European agricultural economies have been on a slow journey back to more stable conditions in the wake of the disruptive effects of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. While agricultural trading patterns have shifted to account for these, new shocks such as the conflict in the Middle East continue to drive economic…
Agribusiness News January 2025 – 2024 Environmental Roundup
Key policy developments November saw the passing of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill by the Scottish Parliament, outlining a move from annual emissions targets to 5-year budgets, now similar to the rest of the UK. The previous interim target of a 75% reduction in Scottish national emissions by 2030 was scrapped in…
Agribusiness News January 2025 – Policy Brief
Round up of 2024 In March, the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced. It is aimed at how land in Scotland is owned and managed in rural and island communities. Proposals include, in certain cases, prohibiting landholdings over 1,000 ha from being sold until Ministers can consider the impact on the local community. This could…
Agribusiness News December 2024 – Sector Focus: The Trump Effect
By Kev Bevan. On January 20th, 2025, the new Trump presidency will formally start. For at least the first couple of years Capitol Hill will also be controlled by the Republican party, which should be supportive of the President’s agenda. Looking ahead, how might a Trump Presidency influence domestic, European and global agriculture? American domestic…
Agribusiness News December 2024 – Policy Brief
Preparing for Sustainable Farming Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) was introduced in 2022 as part of the first phase of Track 1 of the National Test Programme (NTP). The aim was to help farmers and crofters prepare their farms and crofts to meet the conditions of future agriculture policy and support. With the claim year…
Agribusiness News November 2024 – Policy Brief
Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme The Scottish Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP has confirmed that the 410-day calving interval threshold for eligibility the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme will be kept for the 2026 Scheme year. However, under the Scheme terms and conditions, the calving interval threshold could be reduced by up…