Advisory Services

Farmers are facing a sea-change in the way that they are required to manage their businesses. The focus has moved away from production based subsidies to schemes based upon principles of good agricultural and environmental management. These need not mean reduced incomes, though for many farmers that may well be the result, but it will mean different strategies. There really is no time like the present for taking action to maximise your opportunities.

Oakbank are very experienced in this area and can offer a comprehensive advisory service. This ranges from a short review of an ELS application, through to a complete Farm Environment Plan. Our advisors can help with part of the process or complete the application for you.

There are elements of these schemes that offer a tremendous opportunity for improving the habitat and biodiversity of your land. The options need to be chosen and sited well, integrating them into the whole farm system, with an on-going management plan. This is an area that Oakbank have a strong background, particularly the encouragement of wild game birds. If you share our passion please give us a call.

Many of you may be considering the enhanced opportunities that the Higher Level Scheme will have to offer. We feel that it is important to look at all of the new schemes before embarking on any or all of them. This is because some options are available in more than one scheme and it may be more beneficial to put some areas into an HLS application rather than using it in the ELS. There are some important distinctions and considerations to be made, but we can advise you in light of your own unique set of criteria. Our advice could help you to significantly improve the financial and environmental performance of the farm business.

For an informal discussion of how we can help you through the current maze of legislation just give us a call on 01480 890686.