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Working in farming - business advice

As a farmer there are a number of government-funded and supported options available to you for business advice. These include:

  • Business Link
  • Farm Management Accounting material
  • Farm Benchmarking

In addition Natural England provides free land management advice on a range of environmental and related topics. This service is provided through farm walks, farm visits,workshops and a range of other means.

Business Link

Business Link is the national business support advice and information service. Business Link provides practical advice to all businesses and offers access to a wide network of business support organisations.

Farm management accounting

Defra's guidance material is designed to assist you with management accounting, including making more use of financial accounts, farm planning and budgeting. This is aimed at all farmers, including those who have not been involved with business management, planning and budgeting.

The following booklets and spreadsheets will give you an introduction to basic farm business management techniques..

Cover: Part 1: Using the farm accounts to point the wayCover: Part 2: Mapping out a farming futureCover: Converting the Farm's Financial Accounts into Management Accounts : A Practical Guide

Farm Business Benchmarking Online

Cover: Farm business benchmarking online: management accounting for farmersThe Farm Business Benchmarking Online tool allows you to compare your farm performance against group averages for other farms of a similar type and size as your own. This program is based on Farm Business Survey data.

More information about this free online services can be found in the booklet, Farm business benchmarking online: management accounting for farmers (PDF document, 114 KB).

Farm Business Advice Service

The Farm Business Advice Service closed on 31 March 2007.  The service is now delivered by Business Link. This was a free service set up to help farmers in England consider the implications of the Single Payment Scheme to their business.

Further information

See also

Contacts

  • Defra helpline - 08459 335577

Page last modified: 21 May 2008
Page published: 1 July 2006