Category Archives: Farming

English BPS & the Lump Sum Exit Scheme

Defra have at last put some meat on the bones of the guidance for applying to claim the English Lump Sum Exit Scheme – unfortunately the guidance is still lean in some areas. Full current guidance is at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lump-sum-payments-for-farmers-who-leave-or-retire-from-farming-and-delinked-payments/lump-sum-exit-scheme-and-delinked-payments-how-the-payments-will-work If you claim the Lump Sum, you would not be able to claim BPS going forward…

How can I manage costs and drive the profitability of my farming business? 

Your farming business is incredibly important to you – not just because of your connection to the land and your passion for your community, but because it’s how you support yourself and your family. There are so many elements of business you’re considering, and a very important one is your finances. By being aware of…

Is expansion the right way forward for my farming business?

When you think about expanding your farming business, you’re imagining all the possibility and profitability that will come with more land, more livestock, higher production.  It’s an attractive thought. But what you may not have considered quite as realistically is the cost and infrastructure that comes with expansion. More land, livestock and production can mean…

Should I change farming type to be more profitable? Beef to dairy, sheep with cows?

sheep, beef, equipment

As a farmer it can be tempting to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. You see your peers doing things differently – different livestock, meat over dairy, or diversifying their income and mixing it up. Although it may seem a desirable option for your business, there may be situational…

Funding opportunities for Farmers

Many businesses are having to grow a thick skin and build resilience during these difficult times. If anyone knows about building resilience through uncertainty, it’s Farmers, who are often forced to rapidly adapt to the circumstances of the year as it unfolds.  We know from our experience working with Farmers, finance can be the biggest…

Farming – UK Government announces trade tariff rates in the event of a No-Deal Brexit

Thinking about Farming during 2020, no one can escape the effects being seen from Coronavirus, with some producers affected significantly more than others. The average output from Agriculture in 2020 is anticipated to stay stable, but there are extremes from this. Milk price for April 2020 has ranged from generally 17p to 32p (ignoring the…

Why we care about the mental health of our farmers

farmers, stress, cash flow

Last month, a few of the Saint Team attended Xerocon in London, to catch up on software news and updates, and hear insightful talks about how we can help business owners to connect, both through the use of technology and on a personal level.  The theme at this years’ conference was people. The conversation centred…

Making Tax Digital (MTD) and Farming

MTD, farming, VAT, Xero

As you will have no doubt heard, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are introducing a new way to file a business’ VAT returns from 1 April 2019. For VAT registered businesses with a turnover over the VAT threshold, currently £85,000, this is generally mandatory – there are exceptions, via religious beliefs, age exception and internet…