Butler Sherborn has the practical technical and business skills to advise owners of farm and estate businesses on the best way of actually farming their land.

The Alternatives

These are conventionally the owner:

1. Undertaking the management solely or with a farm manager (together with the implied capital investment).
   
   

2. Letting the land under a farm business tenancy.
   
   

3. Entering into a "shared" farming arrangement which may be through a management/contracting agreement, partnership or other form of share farming.

The right solution will depend principally upon the personalities involved and their individual wishes for the future of their holding. The factors analysed are many and include the system of farming. the equipment on the holding and the dwellings. The financial position is critical: we assess whether capital needs to be released, the requirement of the business for capital investment and the various returns available as calculated by objective budgeting and sensitivity analysis.

Those near retirement may wish to release capital but remain involved in the business and find a form of share or contracting farming attractive. Estate owners may find the simplicity of the farm business tenancy attractive. Others may simply want to enjoy the benefits of owning land but not become involved in the actual farming and capital investment in which case a contract management agreement might be appropriate.

Whatever the position and whichever the chosen solution. Butler Sherborn is experienced in analysing the financial employment and personal implications to enable objectives to be met.

Summary

The scope of our specialist rural practice means that we are also able to advise on tenure and the proper management of any property occupancy associated with farms and estates, e.g. residential tenancies, commercial property and woodlands. Butler Sherborn is aware of, and takes advantage of, support and environmental schemes which may be applied to a clients holdings and businesses. We take a pride in ensuring that advice on any aspect of a client's farm or estate business is not taken in isolation from the remainder of that business. We are able to implement the owner's decision, manage subsequently and provide business management to include our specialist farm book-keeping and accountancy department.

Fees

Fees will be either on a fixed fee basis or an hourly rate for setting up arrangements or an annual fee, where we are retained in management. Fees are reviewed annually and vary according to the level of expertise involved in the instruction eg partner, professional assistant or research assistant.

For further information email: richard@butlersherborn.co.uk