Agricultural Law - 2024 Virtual Conference

Introduction

Chaired by Nerys Llewelyn Jones, this live broadcast conference with a panel of leading experts offers a comprehensive update as to the current hot topics in this fast-moving area.

Each session will provide a full opportunity for questions and answers.

Conference Agenda

This live and interactive 5 hour conference will cover the following:

10am-11am: Agricultural Tenancies Update

Chair: Nerys Llewelyn Jones, Agri Advisor Solicitors

This session will discuss the recent cases in relation to agricultural tenancies. Including the following:

• Changes to Succession for Agricultural Tenancies - implementation and practical considerations
• Utilisation of Mediation and Arbitration for disputes
• Landlord and Tenant Perspectives

Morning Break

11:10am-12:10pm: Tax Update on Farming

Julie Butler, Butler & Co. Chartered Accountants

This tax update session will concentrate on the tax position on everything new in the farming industry and what problems farmers are facing. Understanding farm ownership, partnership agreements, 100% BPR v 50% BPR and TRS registration will be key features. Farm Succession planning will be a focus of the presentation and farmers being able to pass the farm to the next generation tax efficiently against the background of agriculture uncertainties. Considerations around ‘farming for the environment' and the impact of farm tenancies following the Rock Review will be an essential element.

• Maximising 100% BPR & APR where appropriate
• Tax planning for the vineyard and other diversification projects
• Business plans and tax loss planning in the farming transition
• Carbon Contracts and the impact on land devaluations for CGT
• Carbon Credits paid in advance and the matching of future maintenance costs
• SDLT considerations - mixed usage and definition of a residence in Bewley
• The marginal nature of Capital Allowances claims
• Change of Basis Period impact on loss claims
• Farm development projects, Rollover Relief and BPR on Hope value

12:10pm-1:10pm: Rent Reviews under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995

Philip Meade, Davis Meade Property Consultants

Rent reviews under the two Agricultural Tenancy Acts can be a minefield of deadlines and procedural requirements.

Find out what those deadlines are, what the procedures are for serving the relevant notices and appointing an arbitrator and how the rent properly payable for an agricultural holding is calculated and negotiated under both Acts.

• Starting the process
• Notices and deadlines
• Appointing an arbitrator and an overview of the arbitration process
• Rent properly payable under the 1986 Act
• Rent properly payable under the 1995 Act
• An overview of key legal precedents

Break for lunch

2-3pm: Nature Finance: Risks & Rewards

Charles Cowap

Biodiversity Net Gain is now firmly a part of the planning scene in England. Other 'nature finance' opportunities are promised, but these are all long-commitments. This session will explore the risks and how to assess the proper rewards ensuring you are not sold short by some of the deals on offer. Charles Cowap has been working on the practical implications of ecosystem service payments and natural finance initiatives since the early 1980’s following the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Charles will draw on this experience and insight to take us through the risks that must be evaluated and planned for before making long-term commitments which are likely to outlive current landowners, binding their children and with implications beyond.

Afternoon break

3:15-4:15pm: Agricultural Policy Update

Nerys Llewelyn Jones, Agri Advisor Solicitors

This session will explore the following:

• What next after BPS?
• Schemes available to farmers and landowners - eligibility criteria and conditionality
• How Schemes work alongside each other?
• Considerations when buying and selling land, tenancies and licences