The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC) is not just finance for farmers…

AMC

The AMC is not just finance for Farmers and definitely not just for farms! A common misconception is that the AMC only lends finance to farmers to buy farms and agricultural purposes and although that is the core of the business they are also very competitive in supporting anyone with a rural business or property […]

Posted on January 26th, 2016 by

Why you should refinance your farm overdraft.

Are loans a better alternative than extending the overdraft? With poor farm gate prices across all farming sectors many businesses are feeling the financial pressure on cash flow.  Finance is generally tight and banks are not always willing to help. In the arable sectors yields were generally good, but commodity prices remain stubbornly low and […]

Posted on November 17th, 2015 by

BPS October 2015 Update – What happens next?

The Rural Payments Agency  (RPA) are sending out a BPS update leaflet to farmers and agents who submitted a BPS 2015 application. The leaflet sets out what farmers can expect from the RPA in the coming months and confirms the exchange rate for payments. The main focus of the leaflet is on when and how […]

Posted on October 28th, 2015 by

How to use your SSAS pension to take control of your existing pension pot, save tax and buy land

In this blog Andrew Troughton of Carver Knowles, Chartered Surveyors and Land Agents in Worcestershire explains all: Disclaimer 1 – This article is not about Pension Auto Enrollment, but looks at how farmers can use SSAS Pensions (Small Self-Administered pension Schemes) to take control of, and better use their pensions. Disclaimer 2 – We are Land […]

Posted on September 11th, 2015 by

What new grants are available to farmers and rural businesses?

Growth program for the rural economy providing grants to small rural businesses. What is the growth programme? In a nutshell, it provides funding to help projects in England which create jobs and help rural economy growth.  The grants are funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).  The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) manages […]

Posted on July 30th, 2015 by

What else could I do with my farm buildings?

We are often asked what else could I do with my farm buildings, particularly in recent weeks when all agricultural sectors seem to be struggling with low prices and high input costs. Alternative income streams can provide a stable income to level out the undulations of farming activity and either give extra cash to invest […]

Posted on July 27th, 2015 by

Do I need a valuation of my property?

Farmland valuation

Every property owner in the UK will require a valuation of their assets from time to time for a variety of reasons, not just when they are thinking about selling. Property valuations are a huge part of the work we undertake and form a major part of our training and qualifications, therefore it is always […]

Posted on March 17th, 2015 by

Have farmland values reached their peak?

Worcestershire and Gloucestershire farmland achieves sale prices well over guide.

Over the last couple of years you will have seen headlines in the press saying that farmland is a better investment than gold. Returns on land have been excellent, with prices rising by a further 12% last year, as outlined by the RICS Farmland Market Survey. Questions are being asked about how long it can be […]

Posted on February 16th, 2015 by

Now is the right time to assess cash needs and consider restructuring debt

The beginning of the year is typically the time when farmers take stock of their finances – often in readiness for the annual bank manager review. Given the generally poor outlook for farm-gate prices especially in sectors such as potatoes and dairy, the task this year may not be one to be relished. However, finding […]

Posted on February 12th, 2015 by

Farm loans – A guide to securing a loan against a farm.

This blog introduces the main criteria to consider when borrowing against a farm and helps you understand want lenders are looking for and how to put stronger loan applications together. This should help ensure that proposals stand out and have a better chance of being approved. There are 2 key elements: Security The more simple part is […]

Posted on January 30th, 2015 by