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Ceres Rural Smart business solutions for progressive farmers, landowners, and the rural economy, guided by science, and independent advice.

It was fantastic to see so many people at the launch of our new Kent office last night.Having a base in the county is a ...
22/10/2026

It was fantastic to see so many people at the launch of our new Kent office last night.

Having a base in the county is a really exciting step for us. It means we can be closer to our clients in the South East and offer an even more joined-up service across everything Ceres does.

There were some incredibly positive conversations on the night, and we're looking forward to continuing them over the months ahead.

A huge thank you to Hinxhill Estate for hosting the party, and for giving our new office a home on the estate.

Why land quality is becoming a planning battlegroundFor years, the agricultural quality of a development site was a foot...
21/10/2026

Why land quality is becoming a planning battleground

For years, the agricultural quality of a development site was a footnote in the planning process. Not any more.

Local planning authorities are asking harder questions about what is being built on, and they want evidence rather than assertion. Where a scheme would take Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land out of production, that loss is weighed in the planning balance, and the weight it carries depends on the quality of the evidence put forward.

In our latest blog, we cover:

→ What an Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) assessment actually measures, and why the line between Grade 3a and 3b matters more than any other
→ When you are likely to need one, from residential and strategic land promotion to solar, infrastructure and planning appeals
→ How our ten ALC-qualified consultants across Northamptonshire, Shrewsbury, Oxford, Stamford, Saffron Walden and Chelmsford can mobilise quickly when deadlines are tight

If you are promoting a site, preparing an application or heading to appeal, the earlier land quality is understood, the more options you have.

Read the full blog: https://ceresrural.co.uk/insights/why-land-quality-is-becoming-a-planning-battleground/

To discuss an ALC assessment or request a quotation, contact Charles Garrard or your usual Ceres Rural contact.

Today, Ceres Managing Partners Richard Means and Charlie Ireland met with Secretary of State Dame Angela Eagle at Defra ...
20/10/2026

Today, Ceres Managing Partners Richard Means and Charlie Ireland met with Secretary of State Dame Angela Eagle at Defra HQ for a constructive discussion on some of the key issues currently facing UK agriculture.

It was encouraging to hear recognition of the challenges many farming businesses are navigating, including recent weather conditions and drought, market volatility, high input costs, and uncertainty around SFI and other support schemes.

Topics discussed included:

• The future of SFI and Countryside Stewardship, and how policy can support both food production and biodiversity.
• How a more efficient planning system could help farmers improve resilience and diversify, including through investments such as irrigation reservoirs.
• The development of natural capital markets, where they can add value, and why they are not a universal solution for the industry.
• What closer alignment with the EU could mean for the future of British farming.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. While a single meeting will not resolve all the challenges currently facing the sector, open and constructive dialogue between government and industry is important.

Richard and Charlie were able to draw on both their own farming experience and the insights gained through working with farming, estate and agribusiness clients across the UK, helping to ensure the realities facing the sector were represented in the discussion.

Thank you to Dame Angela and her team at Defra for their time. We look forward to continuing the conversation.

20/10/2026

SFI26 may have closed, but there are other opportunities out there.

For example, the Thames Water Catchment Fund is open across the Lee catchment until the 30th November, with support for cover crops, buffer strips, pesticide handling and storage infrastructure, w**d management kit and your own innovative ideas for water-friendly farming.

Add FiPL (if you’re in a National Park or National Landscape) and premium payments from the likes of ADM, Muntons and McCain – there’s still options to consider.

You just need to know where to look. Get in touch with Ceres Rural today: https://ceresrural.co.uk/contact/

Let's talk poultry.Chicken is about half the meat we eat in the UK, and the sheds to produce it don't exist yet. Stockin...
16/10/2026

Let's talk poultry.

Chicken is about half the meat we eat in the UK, and the sheds to produce it don't exist yet. Stocking density is dropping from 38 to 30 kg/m², so the industry needs around 600 more sheds just to stand still, and consents are slow. Integrators are competing for growers and for sites.

Swipe for the two routes in, what a four-shed site costs, and the planning hurdles.

If you are considering poultry, Charles Garrard and Peter Mason would be pleased to discuss your options. Their contact details are on the final slide.

If the fire service was called to your farm tonight, would they have the information they need before they arrived?The l...
15/10/2026

If the fire service was called to your farm tonight, would they have the information they need before they arrived?

The lead article in this quarter's Health & Safety Bulletin looks at the fire and explosion at a farm in Essex in July. More than 100 firefighters were involved at the height of the incident. Three fire engines and two officer vehicles were destroyed, and 20 firefighters were taken to hospital, all since discharged.

While the circumstances of the incident remain under investigation, it highlights the importance of ensuring the fire and rescue service has accurate information about dangerous substances stored on site. In an emergency, having that information in advance can be critical to informing the response.

Under NAMOS, storing 25 tonnes or more of dangerous substances means notifying your local fire service and marking the site entrance. There is a separate threshold for ammonium nitrate fertiliser. The 25 tonnes relates to the total quantity of dangerous substances on site, not just one product, which is often where confusion arises.

Also in this issue: welding, electric gates, the CDM Regulations, and vibration and dust.

Read it here: https://ceresrural.co.uk/magazine/health-safety-bulletin-october-2026/

If you're not sure where you stand, Robert Gazely, our Rural Health & Safety Expert, is the one to ask. Call him on 07592 041617 or email [email protected]

14/10/2026

Free on-farm training this winter – open to ALL farmers 🌱

We’re running four practical learning days as part of the Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) Farmer Training Programme.

Led by specialists from LENs and Ceres Rural, each day combines expert insight, host farm experiences, farm walks and peer-to-peer discussion, looking at how soil health, natural capital and ecosystem services can fit into a profitable, resilient farming business.

📍 Wednesday 11th November – Rookery Farm, Diss
📍 Tuesday 17th November – Castle Howard Estate, York
📍 Wednesday 2nd December – Manor Farm, Northamptonshire
📍 Wednesday 9th December – Law Farming, Royston

10am–4pm. Open to any farmer, you don’t need to be part of LENs to come along. Places are free but limited.

Find out more and book your place: https://ceresrural.co.uk/insights/free-on-farm-training-this-winter-lens-farmer-workshops-with-ceres-rural/

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Got a spare field or an empty barn that isn't earning its keep?We've put real numbers on eight diversification ideas so ...
13/10/2026

Got a spare field or an empty barn that isn't earning its keep?

We've put real numbers on eight diversification ideas so you can see what each one costs to set up, what it could bring in, and how long it could take to pay back.

The quickest? A dog walking field (from £8k–£10k to set up) and pop-up camping could both pay back in under a year.

Tap through all eight, then send us a message or call 01223 679 679 to talk through which might suit your farm.

Read the full blog here: https://ceresrural.co.uk/insights/farm-diversification/

Figures are indicative and exclude planning costs. Every site is different.

Join us this Friday for the next RQ Rivers Trust cluster group meeting.📅 Friday 16th October, 9:30am for a 10:00am start...
12/10/2026

Join us this Friday for the next RQ Rivers Trust cluster group meeting.

📅 Friday 16th October, 9:30am for a 10:00am start
📍 New Street Farm, SG11 1PJ

This time we're looking at deer management and developing local food supply chains, a practical and increasingly important opportunity for the region.

Our speakers:
• Chris Rogers, Euston Estate, on first-hand experience of deer management at Euston and the lessons learned
• Bethany Eaton, Affinity Water, on the Herts Food Futuring and Roots to Market projects, connecting farmers and suppliers directly with end users

A practical morning, and a good chance to meet others in farming, land management and the local supply chain.

To come along, email Charles at [email protected] so we know numbers. Please share with anyone who might be interested.

Thank you to everyone who has already RSVP'd. We hope to see you there.

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Cambridge
CB114ER

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+441223679679

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