ICAEW.com works better with JavaScript enabled.

Farming and Rural Business Conference

28 & 29 September 2022

Technical and practical sessions to help finance professionals to stay up to date and provide clients with the expert level of service they need.

Watch on demand

Highlights

Sessions will cover a range of practical and technical issues to keep you at the top of your field, enabling you to provide your clients with solutions to the challenges in this ever-changing sector.
star

Hear from experts on how farmers will specifically be affected by the latest tax changes

star

Get the latest from DEFRA on changes coming through the system

star

Get the views of agricultural bankers, economists and working farmers

2023 programme

Chairman’s welcome and introduction
David Missen, ICAEW Farming & Rural Business Community Subject Matter Expert.
Future Farming and Countryside Programme - Farming reforms and next steps
Briony Turner, Head of Strategic Policy in the Future Farming Countryside Programme at Defra joins us to look at the latest developments in the process of the changing subsidy regime - and how members, as professional advisers, can help.
Update on UK farming: a look at current trends, policy changes and profitability outlook
Richard King, Head of Business Research at The Andersons Centre, provides an overview of the prospects for the farming industry looking at policy, markets and profitability.
Sowing the seeds to improve mental health in agriculture
Emma Haley, Charity Manager, will be discussing how YANA positively impacts the mental health of those in agriculture. YANA’s priority is to help improve and sustain the mental health of those working in the countryside. Because here’s the thing: we can all do much better at looking after ourselves or those we care about when it comes to good mental health.
Break
A working farmer's perspective
Gareth Wyn Jones, farmer, joins us to give his take on the latest in agriculture; covering sustainable food, wool production, the Ukraine war and European food crisis.
Tax update
There are a lot of developments at the moment - MTD, the transitional relief, potential changes in capital allowances, ATED, Stamp Taxes and all the implications of green farming - Ros will look at recent legislation and how it will affect our farming clients.
Closing comments
David Missen, Subject Matter Expert, ICAEW Farming & Rural Business Community
Chairman’s welcome and introduction
William Nixey, Chair, ICAEW Farming & Rural Business Community
Bank finance for the estate and farm market
Mark Ashbridge, Managing Director at Ashbridge Partners will be covering the rural finance sector, interest rates (where next?), fixed rates & protection as well as reviewing green finance and how this will impact the finance market.
Funding the food chain of the future – to seize the opportunities which will appear. What has changed and what hasn’t?
Inflationary pressures, climate change and sustainability requirements all seem to make Brexit and the aftermath of the Covid pandemic potentially distant memories. Join Allan Wilkinson, HSBC UK to unpick some key questions incuding; How do businesses take all this in their stride and move forward with their plans and seize the opportunities which undoubtedly will appear? What will their funders continue to look for, whether on farm or further along the food processing chain? What strategies will be needed to operate at pace and with success?
Monetising natural capital for farmers, a pragmatic view
David Meredith, Principal Rural Business Consultant at DJM Consulting, will discuss natural capital: the exciting opportunity it presents, why it’s where the world is heading, existing monetising opportunities (nutrient neutrality, BNG etc) and pitfalls and traps for farmers.
Break
Sustainability and the rural economy
Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Partner at MHA MacIntyre Hudson joins us to give us the run down on the political perspective of agriculture and food, cutting through the green noise and tips for SME businesses.
Connecting data - the opportunity for UK agriculture and the role of the accountant
There are exciting opportunities for accountants to support the connectivity of UK Ag. David Kirby from Figured discusses the role the accountant can play in supporting farmers and others to access quality financial and production data in order to make better decisions.
ICAEW Farming Committee - Panel session
The ICAEW Farming Committee gather for a panel session covering topics including; how farmers are reacting to the subsidy cuts, getting to grips for the change of basis period and the tax consequences of greening. This is your opportunity to raise your questions and opinions on the points covered by our speakers over the past couple of days.
Closing comments
William Nixey, Vice Chair, ICAEW Farming & Rural Business Community

Our speakers

Meet the expert speakers supporting this event.

David Missen
David Missen Consultant, Larking Gowen

David is a former partner, and consultant to Larking Gowen. Based in East Anglia, specialising in agriculture and associated private client work, David has an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting businesses and individuals in the farming industry.

Headshot
Richard King Partner & Head of Business Research, The Andersons Centre

Richard was brought up on a mixed family farm on the Oxfordshire/ Buckinghamshire borders. He attended Harper Adams College, Shropshire and gained a BSc (Hons) in Rural Enterprise and Land Management and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1997. Richard joined Andersons' Research team in Melton Mowbray in 1998. The team analyses and interprets agricultural policy and market developments, and provides specialist business research, training, briefings, and publishes information. He became editor of the Agricultural Budgeting and Costing Book in 2000 and joined the Andersons Centre Partnership in 2003. He is a member of the CAAV’s Farming and Environment Committee.

Headshot
Emma Haley Charity Manager, YANA

Emma Haley is the Charity Manager at YANA, the local rural mental health support charity. She has worked in the charity sector, and mental health, for over 12 years. Emma is also a Trustee of HOPE after Suicide Loss, a charity that supports those bereaved by suicide. On a day-to-day basis Emma is focused on leading YANA through a phase of development and growth, ensuring the services are the best they can be at all times.

Headshot
Gareth Wyn Jones Working Farmer

Gareth Wyn Jones is the nation’s favourite farmer. Born in the beautiful Carneddau mountains in North Wales, he has lived all his life at Ty’n Llwyfan, on the windswept slopes where his family have farmed for over 370 years. The farm breeds 3,500 sheep and 300 head of cattle. He features regularly on mainstream television, is an author of a best-selling book, a regular contributor on social media and is known as the “tweeting farmer”. He constantly seeks to educate the public about sustainable/seasonal food, farming, and its heritage, time-honoured traditions and challenges.

Ros Martin profile
Ros Martin CTA Tax Consultant & Lecturer

Ros Martin CTA is a consultant and lecturer covering all aspects of direct tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax. She was an Inland Revenue fully trained Inspector until 2000 when she left to become a consultant advising on tax planning for large and small businesses and individuals as well as dealing with full and aspect enquiry work. Her clients are mainly small and medium sized accountants and the consultancy work gives a particular opportunity to understand the key issues of concerns for such professionals and consider the practical aspects of the application of legislation.

Headshot
David J Meredith Principal Rural Business Consultant, DJM Consulting

David Meredith is the Principal Rural Business Consultant at DJM Consulting, a consultancy firm that he started in 2004, which has since expanded and gone from strength to strength. With over 30 years of working for farmers, David is able to draw on his wealth of experience and expertise to the benefit of his clients and tribunals. His enthusiasm for all things rural coupled with his gentle approach, grit and determination to succeed for his clients on every task has proved invaluable.

David Kirby profile ;pic
David Kirby Executive Vice President, Europe & Americas, Figured

A Yorkeshireman with an interest in tech and innovation, David moved to NZ for a few months… which eventually turned into five years. He has previously led strategy and change across retail, banking and supermarkets both in the UK and New Zealand. With a head for transformation, innovation and thought leadership, he is now leading the charge for Figured in the UK

Headshot
Mark Lumsdon-Taylor Partner, MHA MacIntyre Hudson

Mark specialises in the rural business, agriculture, horticulture, food manufacture, education and healthcare industries as well as supporting organisations from a wide range of sectors to develop and deliver impactful sustainability and ESG strategies.

In partnership with

Figured logo
Find out more

See all our events

ICAEW runs a variety of events in support of financial professionals in business and practice. From full-day conferences offering the latest updates for specific sectors to webinars offering support on technical areas and communication skills. There are hundreds of learning opportunities available.

Browse all ICAEW events ICAEW's flagship events