News, information and updates


Farm diversification ideas – racehorse training yard

Stables are subject to business rates

Carver Knowles have acted on behalf of a local dairy farmer to seek planning consent for the change of use of some redundant dairy buildings into a modern racing yard, complete with warm up arena and all weather gallops. This diversification project will provide a stable income (if you excuse the pun) and a better […]

Posted on January 15th, 2015 by

NFU conference 2015 – ‘Could we survive without Europe?’

NFU

You are invited to the annual Pershore and Upton upon Severn branch of the NFU conference which aims to provoke a debate on the question of Europe. Thursday 22nd January 2015 at 7:30pmThe Frank Parkinson CentrePershore CollegePershoreWR10 3JP Could we contemplate where we would be without it and the support that our competitors would continue to enjoy […]

Posted on December 23rd, 2014 by

Have we seen the last of the Soil Protection Review?

Most farmers are now familiar with the Soil Protection Review booklet that was part of the Cross Compliance requirements for the Single Payment Scheme. It was an important book – failure to give it to an RPA inspector within 30 minutes of an RPA inspection was likely to land you with a 3% fine of […]

Posted on December 22nd, 2014 by

The need to Review your Contract Farming Agreements

It is tempting that once you have got a Contract Farming Agreement in place to forget about it especially if everyone seems happy. However with the volatility in commodity prices and the Greening requirements under the new Basic Payment Scheme now needing to be considered, what was considered suitable before may no longer be suitable […]

Posted on December 22nd, 2014 by

BPS update

fields and land

With the autumn drilling season over, many farmers will have already worked through the mind-boggling array of regulations regarding what, how much and when to drill, in order to comply with the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme Greening regulations. The Carver Knowles team has assisted a number of clients plan their cropping and EFA requirements this […]

Posted on December 22nd, 2014 by

Positives and pitfalls of new Permitted Development rules

Malverns Hills and Church

The launch of the new permitted development rules in May 2014 appeared to pave the way for a wealth of conversions of agricultural buildings into dwellings. The scant details in the legislation and the seemingly open approach for new residential properties in the countryside appeared to be a huge positive for the rural landowner. However, […]

Posted on December 22nd, 2014 by

Horses and Planning Permission

horse grazing

It’s the dream of many horse owners – to own their own paddock. But how many realise that planning permission may be needed. You purchase a paddock off a local farmer intending to keep your horse on it, but the field has previously been used for grazing cattle and sheep. If you use the field […]

Posted on December 22nd, 2014 by

How to reduce Capital Gains Tax on farmland: Entrepreneurs Relief

Worcestershire and Gloucestershire farmland achieves sale prices well over guide.

Whilst definitely not being tax experts, we are frequently asked by farmers and landowners where to start with Capital Gain Tax when selling property. Capital gains tax (CGT) is paid on gains arising from the growth in value of property. Typically tax is paid on the difference between the base value (either when it was […]

Posted on December 22nd, 2014 by

Where are we with Environmental Schemes and Rural Grants?

Whilst there has been a great deal of information published about the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)and how it will work with Greening this autumn, until now we haven’t heard much about the changes to the other sources of funding that have previously been available through the Common Agricultural Policy. Essentially the Basic Payment Scheme funding […]

Posted on December 15th, 2014 by

Where do I start with a tender for a farm tenancy?

Farm and out buildings image

Tendering for a farm is something that you do very infrequently and maybe just once or twice in your farming career. At the same time letting agents tend to prefer it when the tender is the farmers work, not ours as land agents. They want to get to know you, establish if you balance the […]

Posted on December 15th, 2014 by