Strategy

Autumn 2026

Health, Welfare and Resilience: Why DEFRA Wants Farmers Working Together

Animal health and welfare are often viewed as compliance issues, yet disease prevention, biosecurity and collaboration may be among the most important business resilience tools available to livestock enterprises.

Autumn 2026

WHEN CASH NEEDS A JOB: Why Rural Businesses Should Think About Surplus Cash

Many rural businesses carefully manage land, equipment and livestock, yet surplus cash often receives far less attention. An important question remains: what role should cash play whilst it is waiting to be used?

Autumn 2026

WHY BIGGER NUMBERS DON'T ALWAYS MEAN BIGGER PROFITS: Lessons From A Volatile Dairy Market

In volatile markets, higher output does not automatically mean higher profitability. The most successful businesses often focus less on production volume and more on the value created by every unit produced.

Winter 2026

Food, Incentives and Resilience: Are We Asking Rural Businesses to Deliver Conflicting Outcomes?

As expectations of rural businesses continue to expand, an important question is emerging: can food production, environmental delivery and business resilience always be achieved through the same incentives?

Spring 2027

FEWER FARMS, BIGGER BUSINESSES? What Two Decades Of Change Might Mean For Rural Communities

Farm numbers may be falling, but agricultural land remains largely unchanged. The more important question is what consolidation means for rural businesses, communities and the future shape of the sector.

Autumn 2026

Carbon Credits and Dairy Farming: Who Owns the Carbon?

Carbon is increasingly becoming embedded within milk contracts, supply chains and sustainability programmes. The challenge for many dairy businesses is understanding who actually owns the value being created.

Autumn 2026

Land Use Framework: From Policy to Decision-Making

National land-use frameworks may provide direction, but their real value lies in helping businesses make informed decisions about land, resources and future opportunities.

Autumn 2026

SFI 2026: Application Windows and What to Consider

The opening of SFI 2026 application windows presents opportunities for many businesses, but participation should begin with business objectives rather than funding alone.

Autumn 2026

The Case for Federation: Why the Farming Roadmap 2050 May Signal a New Era of Agricultural Collaboration

The Farming Roadmap 2050 suggests that collaboration may increasingly become a practical necessity rather than a voluntary choice, creating new opportunities for efficiency, resilience and innovation.

Autumn 2026

From Sustainability to Regeneration: A Practical Reflection

Regeneration is increasingly becoming part of the rural business conversation, but what does it actually mean in practice, and how does it differ from sustainability?

Autumn 2026

Soil as a Resource: Applying the Soil Management Hierarchy in Practice

Soil is often discussed in scientific terms, yet its value as a business resource may be equally important. Applying a soil management hierarchy can help improve resilience, productivity and long-term land performance.

Autumn 2026

Nature Markets and Environmental Delivery: From Mechanism to Outcome

Nature markets are often discussed in terms of mechanisms and transactions, but the real challenge may be delivering meaningful environmental and business outcomes.