Welcome to Rural Matters Summer 2023 Edition

Summer is an exceptionally busy time for rural businesses and landowners, with many competing demands on our time, whether you are involved in agriculture, a tourism enterprise, conservation, forestry, or land agency.

As I write, the market for land and farms has picked up again after a slow start to the year and land values remain historically high. Despite open market transactions being relatively quiet the level of private deals has been considerable.

The reasons for selling are diverse but the changing subsidy framework in England and in Scotland is one of the pertinent factors, causing some uncertainty but also significant opportunity.

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The flurry of announcements from policy makers relating to natural capital, biodiversity net gain, sustainable farming and naturebased solutions may seem baffling but underpinning the buzz words is a basic commitment to looking after the land. This is something with which we can all agree

Land-based businesses prove time and time again how resourceful and resilient they are. I am constantly impressed by all those rural businesses managing to adapt to a rapidly changing society, embrace innovations in technology while maintaining the long-term focus on sustainable land use.

I hope you enjoy the opinions and insights shared in these pages and I wish you all a very productive season.

Ian Hope

07968 209 543 ian.hope@galbraithgroup.com

Head of our Rural Department

4 Fight or Flight

The Impact of Avian Influenza.

6

The emerging Free Market for Biodiversity.

5 Supermarkets promise a lot and deliver little for homegrown meat producers.

8 Biodiversity Net Gain offers interesting opportunity for landowners.

9

Farmstrong Scotland ‘Live well to farm well’

9 Environmental Land Management Scheme and the Landscape Recovery Scheme.

10 Biodiversity Strategy 2045 and Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.

Galbraith is a leading independent property consultancy. Drawing on a century of experience in land and property management the firm is progressive and dynamic employing over 200 people in offices throughout Scotland and the North of England. We provide a full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential, rural and energy sectors. Galbraith provides a personal service, listening to clients and delivering advice to suit their particular opportunities and circumstances.

12 Contract Farming Agreements. What do I need to know.