Farm Business
Business Appraisals and Financial Planning
A pre-requisite to business planning is having farm performance critically appraised by someone who is qualified and independent. A review is not designed to be complicated or time-consuming or to merely highlight known challenges (which all farms have). It should be thorough and focussed on identifying costs of production and critically assess physical / financial performance, whilst identifying opportunities and management options to enhance future farm income.
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An essential component of the review process is MHAB's unique financial spreadsheet, bespoke to the physical and financial considerations of individual farm businesses. The tool uses actual farm costs and yields, and compares cropping performance with SFI income options, enabling the farmer to monitor and update overall Net Farm performance. ​​​​​​​​​​
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Financial spreadsheet
Grant Funding
​Whilst the Government say they are keen to promote a wide range of grant funding services for farmers, the CS Capital Grant Scheme remains withdrawn for new applicants until later this year. Grants will also be significantly capped at £25k for concreting and farm tracks, and £35k for fencing and hedging options. Applications submitted before 24th November 2024 will be processed as normal under the previous scheme and will not be affected by new capping restrictions.
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The Farming Equipment & Technology Fund (FETF) is set to be reintroduced spring 2025, although there may not be the choice of options that were previously available.
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Full application deadlines for invited applicants for the following grant schemes are as follows:
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The Improving Farm Productivity grant (robotic / automation equipment or solar system) (round 2): by 31st July 2025
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Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare grant (round 1): by 30th January 2026​
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Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant: by 30th April 2025​
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Under the Improve Animal Health and Welfare grant, farmers who keep cattle (not dairy), sheep or pigs can get funding towards a Vet visit to carry out an annual health & welfare review, and an endemic disease follow-up.
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DEFRA Grants​​​​​​​​​
SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive)
SFI 2024 is the main environmental scheme available to farmers with over 100 management options. Each option has a specific environmental 'Aim(s)' that needs to be achieved, and advice is provided on how to do this. Agreements are for 3 years (can be up to 5-yrs) and payments are quarterly in arrears.
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Many options allow supplementary options to be 'stacked' on top, significantly enhancing the total payment value that can be received. Options that are 'rotational' can have a reduced area of up to 50% in years 2 and 3 of the Agreement, or the area can be increased.
There are currently 10 actions that have a combined 'limited area' of up to 25% of the total farm area. However, this does not apply to like-for-like options included in an existing Mid Tier Agreement. Limited area actions are:
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CIPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips (IPM2 in the SFI 2023 offer)
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CAHL1: Pollen and nectar flower mix (AHL1 in the SFI 2023 offer)
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CAHL2: Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land (AHL2 in the SFI 2023 offer)
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CAHL3: Grassy field corners or blocks (AHL3 in the SFI 2023 offer)
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CIGL1: Take improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management (IGL1 in the SFI 2023 offer)
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CIGL2: Winter bird food on improved grassland (IGL2 in the SFI 2023 offer)
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WBD3: In-field grass strips
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AHW1: Bumblebird mix
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AHW9: Unharvested cereal headland
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AHW11: Cultivated areas for arable plants​
​For farmers with more than one SFI agreement, the 25% limit applies to the total eligible area entered into ‘limited area’ actions across all SFI agreements, including 2023 agreements applied for on or after 26 March 2024.
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Examples of effective stacking (subject to meeting prescription requirements) include:
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Arable /ha
SOH2 (Spring cover crop): £163
CAHL2 (Winter bird food): £853
AHW2 (Supplementary winter feeding): £366
SOH3 (Multi-species summer cover crop): £163
CIPM4 (No insecticides): £45
CIPM3 (Companion cropping): £55
SOH1 (No-till) £73
PRF1 (Variable rate application of nutrients): £27
​ £1,745/ha (£706/ac)
​Grassland
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​CLIG3 (Low input grassland): £151
GRH11 (Cattle grazing supplement): £59
GRH8 (or GRH7): (Hay-making supplement): £187
£397/ha (£161/ac)
​Other management options to consider, include:
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Hedgerow management
CHRW1 (Assess hedgerows): £5/100m/side
CHRW2 (3 cutting options): £13/100m/side
CHRW3 (Hedgerow trees): £10/100m/whole hedge
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​Management Plans
CIPM1 (Integrated Pest Management Plan): £1,129/yr
CNUM1 (Nutrient Plan): £652/yr
CSAM1 (Organic matter and Soil Health Review): £6/ha + £97/yr
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​Agreement holders also receive a payment towards the management of their Agreement, of £2k in Yr 1, and £1k in years 2 and 3.
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SFI Options
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Due to budgetary pressures and that, apparently, the SFI scheme is not meeting government environmental targets, the short to medium future of SFI appears uncertain.
Higher Tier Scheme
The revamped Higher Tier scheme requires the endorsement of the Natural England Project Officer and the application window will not be open until June 2025.
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CSHT agreements will last for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. This will depend on the CSHT actions in your agreement with the longest duration (most actions will last for 5 years, but some will last for 10, 15 or 20 years). ​​The scheme includes: 
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132 management actions and 151 capital items 
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Quarterly payments to improve cash flow  
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Monthly agreement start dates rather than singular annual start date
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Online application process and payments through Rural Payments Agency  
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Farmers in HLS or have a Higher Tier agreement that is about to expire, have the option to switch to the new HT scheme and are advised to discuss how best to do this with Natural England.
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Revenue payments can be found at:
Capital items under HT can be found at:
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