Taking Stock

Taking Stock ended in Spring 2021 but our work to help farmers prepare for the future continues through other Defra funded projects.

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Over the coming years, farming will undergo a period of radical reform. How prepared is your farm business for the changes and opportunities ahead? Taking Stock is a free pilot programme designed for beef and sheep farmers in the South West of England funded by Defra.

Find out more about Taking Stock

10 ways beef and sheep farmers can plan for ELMs, by Helen Aldis, Head of Business Development, Farming and Land Use

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1. A 60-minute webinar covered:

• Is it all about the money?
  Hear the proposed changes to payments to farmers and land managers being implemented by Defra and how their phasing out will affect your business.
• Public money for public goods.
  We’ll cover what Defra currently consider to be a public good so you can be rewarded for what your farm already provides, and assess what practices you can adopt and how you can evidence it.
• Getting to grips with ELM.
  We’ll outline how the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme is likely to work and what is different from current payment schemes.
• Animal health and welfare pathway.
  Find out about grants available and ways in which your livestock can help in your delivery of public goods.

To access the webinar, sign up to the programme by submitting your details via the form below. We will then get in touch with information on a short entry survey and send you the link to watch the webinar at a time convenient to you.

2. Farm business resource book 

A resource book and toolkit has been developed to help your farm business consider the impact and opportunities the proposed changes to farm support and funding will have. These resources will help you to take stock of your business, and assess and identify what the new range of support from Defra can offer you. You can also arrange a chat with one of our team to discuss your specific circumstances.

The Soil Association will also keep participants in Taking Stock updated with any new announcements or details from Defra.