Find Your Perfect Farming Solution

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From Mid and Higher Tier Stewardship Agreements through to the Sustainable Farming Incentive, we are able to offer the complete service. 

Pre application support, application submissions, on-going support and claims to ensure compliance with all aspects of the agreement and maximise benefits to your business.

Neil has successfully supported farmers in the following schemes:

Higher Tier Stewardship

Mid Tier Stewardship

SFI - Pilot 2022

SFI 2023/2024

Mid Tier Capital Grants

FETF

Animal Health and Welfare Pathway

Whether  your business is purchasing fertiliser or making use of organic manures to meet crop need, accurately planning crop requirement and supplying the correct amount of nutrient at the right time is essential to maximise the return from inputs whilst minimising risk to the surrounding environment. 

Neil has been a FACTs (Fertiliser Advisor Qualification and Training Scheme) Qualified Advisor  through the BASIS certification since 2006. Neil is able to complete nutrient management plans to meet the requirements of the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) regulations, as well as to comply with the NUM1 Nutrient Management Planning option within the SFI.

"Humans rely on just 6 inches of soil and the fact that it rains for their existence" (Paul Harvey). 

Utilising this valuable resource whilst ensuring it is protected has long been the role of farmers and  land managers, but the  intensification of agricultural over previous generations has seen soil health move into the spotlight.

As a starting point, a soil management plan can help to identify where issues exist, predict where they might arise, and help plan to mitigate these risks.

Neil has worked with clients to prepare soil management plans historically linked to Cross Compliance through the Soil Protection Review, and more recently linked to the SAM1 option in SFI; Assess soil, produce a soil management plan and test for soil organic matter

How well are your enterprises performing?

With pressure on farm finances, it is important to understand which enterprises are performing well, and which enterprises need attention.

Conducting a simple gross margin exercise for each enterprise, and using industry standard benchmarks for comparison, an enterprise analysis can help to show where there is slack in the system.

The use of industry benchmarks can then show how a business compares against the bottom 25%, average and top 25% of similar businesses.

There are so many variables within a farm business that make wholesale change difficult., but by identifying a number of areas where incremental change can be made, over-all improvements can be achieved.

The day to day running of a farming business has become more complex in recent years. Variable commodity prices alongside increasing input costs have put pressure on cashflows and borrowing for many farms. 

Having a better understanding of peaks and troughs across the year, alongside projections as to as and when additional borrowing may be required are crucial to ensure the smooth running of the business.

Managing finances is never easy, but from simple budgets to more detailed cashflow projections, Northern Agri Consulting can provide services to help take away some of the stress.

Did you Know? - The Farming Rules for Water were introduced in England in 2018, which state that if any fertiliser or organic material is applied to land at least once every 3 years, a routine soil sample (pH, P, K and Mg) should be taken at least once every 5 years.

Without a good understanding of the nutrients within the soil, we cannot apply the correct amounts to support crop production.

For example, if your pH is below target then the nutrients being applied to your land might not be achieving what you expect.

Soil analysis and nutrient management planning are now a legal requirement as a result of the Farming Rules for Water, but these should not be seen as a legislative requirement.

Knowing your soils and good nutrient management are vital to save the business money, reduce environmental risk and have a positive impact on the carbon footprint.

At Northern Agri Consulting, we can provide quotes to undertake soil analysis, as well as reviewing existing soil samples.

What is the cheapest feed available to any livestock farmer? Grass.

The quality of silage production will affect the amount of supplementary feed needed to achieve the livestock outputs desired.

Analysis of forage samples can provide detailed information about the ME, CP, NDF and digestibility of the material, amongst other factors.

Based on the analysis, the business can determine whether the stock can achieve the production expected on forage alone or whether additional supplements are necessary.

If buying concentrates without knowing the quality of the forage available, are you spending money on inputs that either aren't needed, or don't match the inputs needed?

Carbon auditing is a subject that has been in the press for many years.

Why undertake a carbon audit? There are many reasons. 

Firstly, the Government aim is for all businesses to be Net Zero by 2050. Reaching Net Zero may be a long term task, and therefore understanding today where the business sits on this journey will help to understand the road ahead.

Secondly, and most importantly, is that a carbon footprint when positioned alongside a set of accounts can help to link carbon to profitability.

As a rule of thumb, a good carbon footprint will generally sit alongside a profitable set of accounts. Conversely, a poor carbon footprint might link to a loss making business.

Why is this? Carbon flows can be viewed as a measure of business efficiency. If your farm business is reducing waste and maximising the resources available, it will be more profitable and return a good carbon footprint.

Contact us today to see how we can support your journey to Net Zero.