Trade and policy

Having left the European Union following Brexit, farmers and growers are now looking at the future changes in domestic policy and trading relationships. Explore the latest information and analysis on how this will affect farming businesses.

The government in England has announced three future environmental schemes to replace the current Basic Payment Scheme. Below you will find the most up-to-date information on each of the schemes. 

• A new government scheme that rewards environmental land management
• Offers payments for carrying out ‘environmentally sustainable actions’ such as improving soil health, hedgerows and integrated pest management
• SFI pilot underway, with wider rollout of scheme starting in summer 2022

• Defra and Natural England have created the Nature Recovery Network (NRN)
• Pays for actions such as creating, managing or restoring habitats, natural flood and species management
• Aims to create or restore 500,000 hectares of additional wildlife-rich habitat 

• This government scheme focuses on landscape and ecosystem recovery
• Offers payment for projects that aim to recover threatened native species and priority habitats, or restore streams and rivers
• Applications are open now for the first round of pilot projects

Following EU exit and the new Global Britain foreign policy focus, the UK is free and keen to sign trade deals with a number of countries around the world. AHDB will be analysing how these trade deals will affect UK farmers. 

Our free Farm Business Review Tool can help you assess your business and get ready for a world without BPS payments. You can enter your farm data and see the impact the reduction in payments will have on your farm business as well as carry out a Business Resilience Assessment and see how well your farm is performing by using the KPI calculator. Plus, we have resouces on business planning and finances. 

Sign up below to receive the latest Horizon reports on the issues we see affecting the agriculture and horticulture industry direct to your inbox. 

When faced with challenges, it’s reassuring to know that there are a number charities offering practical advice, guidance and support. 

Listen to the latest analysis and advice from our experts who discuss how trade and policy changes could impact the agri-food industry.

Browse our playlist for the topics that most relate to you.

June, 26th 2021

It was recently announced that agreement has been reached between the UK and the US to temporarily suspend the tariffs imposed on a variety of products as a result of the longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute. In this blog our International Market Development Director Dr Phil Hadley shares his views about what this means for UK food and farming.