Comment – Sharpen Your Pencil

It was pleasing this week to hear some certainty from DEFRA about this years offer for SFI, and whilst for some farmers, the £100k cap on annual SFI claims might be a bind, it will only the hurt the largest, strongest businesses. which, DEFRA will argue, can stand it the most. See here for the full rundown.

Likewise the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026 opens on 17th March and closes on 28th April, so have a look at this list and get some prices ready. Perhaps pop this link round a some customers?

These schemes are all well and good, but fundamentally, farmers need to be making money to spend it, and with cereal prices languishing (mainly due to global oversupply), for many that is a challenge. Mind you, those of us in the livestock world are doing a little bit better.

This week, I also had the pleasure of dinner and speaking with a local farmers discussion group. The subject was innovative agricultural technology and safety. It was interesting that many in the room didn’t recognise that they were surrounded by technology, even on the Western fellside in Cumbria, and that having adaptive cruise control and lane assist on their Ranger (other Hilux’s are available) meant that they were at Level 3 Autonomy already! Perspective is a wonderful thing.

Given my recent comments about oil prices and tariffs, and this weekends headlines, I’m going to shut up.

Have a good weekend.

Andy