The end of the school summer holidays has prompted interesting debate in my office. Some parents are craving the return of routine, relishing not having to organise and pay for childcare or holiday clubs. Some are entering new territory, preparing to wave young children off to school for the first time. Almost all are annoyed that holidaying in August is so expensive, not that sun seeking outside the UK has been necessary this year.
The debate occasionally returns to why our schools break for six weeks over the summer. Historians have long challenged the idea that this is to do with the farming calendar, citing unpredictable harvests and the advent of mechanised farming. Whatever the truth, the children would have been next to no use this year, with many farmers experiencing the earliest harvest they can remember.
Harvest results are, in general, below average. Success stories are few and far between and poor yields, combined with rising costs, have put pressure on the finances of a number of our farmers.
I wrote in June about conversations I am having with clients about their future in farming. These are difficult but necessary conversations when the industry is under such pressure. This harvest has done nothing to give confidence to our farmers, some of whom are now weighing up autumn planting alongside increasing overdrafts and the risk of a repeat of 2026’s weather patterns.
The job, for ICAEW members, of advising their clients goes well beyond tax and accountancy. Whether we’re working in practice or within farming businesses, we are trusted advisors and sounding boards for our clients. This is recognised in this community and the advisory board, which I have the honour in chairing, spends a great deal of time thinking about how we can help equip members to meet these expectations.
On 24 September we will host our annual conference, titled “Farming in 2026 – the Big Re-set”. Our Conference programme has been carefully designed to help members match the pace of the agricultural sector. We are bringing together leading farmers, professionals and sector experts to share their stories and opinions on the future of our sector.
I really hope you will join us on 24 September as we explore the opportunities, challenges and solutions driving the next phase of UK agriculture. Book your place now Farming & Rural Business Conference 2026 | ICAEW
Good to luck to all of you for the coming Autumn, whether you are returning to normality, coming to terms with change, or just trying to book a reasonably priced holiday.
*the views expressed are the author’s and not ICAEW’s
