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Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier wet grassland option

Two new CSHT single-focus agreements open for expressions of interest

November 2026

Farmers and land managers can now submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for traditional orchards and wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl under Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). The two new single-focus agreements opened on 3 November 2026.

What agreements are available?

Single-focus agreements are simplified agreements focused on delivering a priority environmental action. The two new topics are:

traditional orchardswet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl

They join the single-focus agreements introduced in July for:

species-rich grasslandscheduled monument management

More than 1,100 EOIs have been submitted for single-focus agreements so far.…

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Administrator/Manager to lead and develop our payroll bureau based near Devizes

October 2026

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys managing client relationships, ensuring compliance, and delivering a high-quality service to a varied client base.

You will take responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operation of our bureau payroll service, ensuring payrolls are processed accurately, efficiently and in accordance with current legislation.

Our payroll team provides a comprehensive and flexible service for businesses ranging from single-employee companies to organisations with over 100 employees.

Key Responsibilities

Managing the end-to-end payroll process for a portfolio of clients.Leading and supporting payroll team members… Read More

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

National Planning Policy Framework updates 2026 (NPPF)

October 2026

The updated NPPF is the biggest change to Planning Policy in a generation, with Rural Landowners set to receive benefits from a more supportive and streamlined based system.

The NPPF has been modernised to benefit domestic food production, animal welfare, the environment, and will support applications from farms wanting to grow their agricultural business. Top grade agricultural land will remain protected.

The new framework gives way to sites or allocation of sites that can support the modernisation or the expansion of an agricultural business.

This could include items such as livestock buildings, grain stores, and other infrastructure buildings so that farms…

Gamechanger Farming - An industry leading integrated Beef Supply Chain from Sainsbury’s and ABP. Providing opportunities for Dairy farmers, Rearers, Growers and Finishers.

October 2025

Gamechanger Farming - An industry leading integrated Beef Supply Chain from Sainsbury’s and ABP. Providing opportunities for Dairy farmers, Rearers, Growers and Finishers.

What’s Gamechanger Farming ?

A partnership between Sainsburys & ABP, it provides farmers with greater security and stability embracing the very best in Exclusive Aberdeen Angus genetics provided by industry leading genetic partners, Genus ABS and Cogent Breeding. The programme delivers great quality and tasting British beef with transparency, traceability and reduced carbon footprint for Sainsburys consumer baskets.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) opens for applications today (29th May).

FETF 2025 applications now open 🐑🐄🚜

May 2025

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) opens for applications today (29th May).The window to apply will be open for 6 weeks, closing midday on the 10th of July.A total of £46.7 million will be available for farmers, growers, foresters, and contractors through the FETF, which provides grants for machinery, equipment, and technology to help cut costs and boost efficiency in your farming or forestry business.Funding is available under three themes:• Productivity• Slurry Management• Animal Health and WelfareYou can apply for each of the grant themes but can only submit one application for each theme.…

Opportunity to join AKC

May 2025

We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic team member to join the AKC team to assist with client bookkeeping and some payroll support. Our client base is predominantly working for farm and rural businesses.

The Role

Initially the position will be office based at our office in Erlestoke. Once settled into the role there will be some client visits to complete work on site, within a hour’s radius of the AKC office. Plus the opportunity to partly work from home can be considered if desired.

Key Responsibilities:

Bookkeeping tasks will include entering sales and purchase invoices, reconciling the bank, submitting VAT returns, running monthly…

We wish you a Happy Christmas

December 2024

We wish you a Happy Christmas & a peaceful New Year from all the team at AKC

The office will be closed from 5pm 23rd December and will reopen 9am 2nd January.

Payroll will be working reduced hours between Christmas and New Year.

If you have an urgent enquiry please email your usual contact

Shows 2024

June 2024

This year we will be attending:

Groundswell Down to Earth Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show

We look forward to seeing you there!

New Planning Laws

June 2024

Government has announced new planning laws for England, allowing farmers greater freedom to grow and diversify their businesses.

The NFU vice president who brought forward these issues in the last consultation is pleased with the items included in the announcement – these include:

Expanding and extending the size of buildings that can be erected with permitted development, and Expanding the changes of use within buildings on farms.

Following these changes, farmers now have scope to convert agricultural buildings and land into business opportunities, without the need for a planning application. This includes larger farm shops, outdoor sports facilities, farm training centres…

Tackling endemic diseases in cattle and sheep – A New Support

June 2024

Tackling endemic diseases in cattle and sheep – A New Support

DEFRA has announced a new support to help farmers tackle BVD and various health conditions in sheep. The Farm to Fork Summit saw the Prime announce this new support, which will be available from Summer 2024, to help livestock farmers with these ongoing issues.

Livestock farmers can receive a set fee for each animal species:

Sheep - £639Cattle with no BVD - £215

Where BVD is present within beef and dairy herds, a higher rate will be offered from between £837 to £1733.

The support will initially be available for sheep and beef cattle, with dairy cattle added soon after.

The…

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