What if the future of farming isn’t bigger, but smaller, slower and powered by solar? As discussed in our exploration of creating a pathway for alternative farm fuels, there are some specific challenges associated with moving away from diesel in agriculture. Electric powertrains face significant challenges in agricultural vehicles due to energy density limitations. Lithium batteries are approximately 25 times less energy-dense than diesel fuel. John Deere had a go at developing an electric version of a typical diesel tractor weighing about 9 tonnes, to find that the electric equivalent weighed 18 tonnes. Furthermore, the electric tractor could only operate for about 10 hours at 80% load, compared to the 12+ hours expected from a conventional diesel tractor. So, if

Farm fuel is at a crossroads. With the UK’s push towards net-zero, diesel-powered machinery—once the backbone of agriculture—is facing mounting costs and potential regulatory pressure. But how can farms realistically transition to cleaner fuels without compromising performance? In a recent Farm of the Future webinar, Neil Tierny, CEO of Hykit, discussed how a partnership with JCB is overcoming one of the biggest barriers to hydrogen adoption—making refuelling as simple as diesel. This case study explores how hydrogen-powered machinery is evolving and what it means for UK farmers.   JCB and hydrogen JCB first explored hydrogen fuel cells for heavy machinery, but real-world tests revealed major drawbacks—cost, weight, and durability. In harsh agricultural conditions, fuel cells proved unreliable. Instead, JCB pivoted

For over a century, diesel has powered the machinery that drives British agriculture. Yet, as the industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonise, the reliance on subsidised red diesel is becoming unsustainable. The RASE Farm of the Future report highlights an urgent need for farmers to transition toward alternative fuels—solutions that are practical, cost-effective, and suited to the unique demands of agriculture. But how can this shift happen in an industry shaped by seasonality, high energy demands, and rural infrastructure challenges? To create a pathway for a transition to alternative fuels for agriculture, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), the vehicle manufacturers, the farming community regulators and the government will need to work together. A recent Farm of the Future webinar began the

The changes to inheritance tax relief for farmers has brought succession planning to front of mind, as post April 2026 it will no longer be possible to pass many farms onto the next generation without any tax consequences.   Speaking in a recent Farm of the Future webinar, Samantha Doherty from the Succession & Tax team at Thrings explained how the changes announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget can impact farms, then delved into some of the options to prepare for the changes.   APR and BPR changes Currently farmers will continue to receive 100% relief on Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) assets, which will remain the case until April 2026. After April 2026 it will

Succession planning for farms is crucially important, can be messy (but not always) and can involve alternative models, such as community buyouts. A recent Farm of the Future webinar, chaired by Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland from the James Hutton Institute’s International Land Use Study Centre, delved into why succession planning is so important for farming families, how to approach it and some alternative models for when there is no successor. This blog explores how succession can lead to transformational change in farm businesses. It includes insights into how to approach a conversation about succession planning with family members, shared by professional facilitator and communicator Heather Wildman from Saviour Associates. It also includes an introduction to alternative models for farm succession, shared

Having a succession plan in place is crucially important for farming families, as it can help prevent serious disagreements and the emotional turmoil that can come with them, as well as the cost of solicitors’ fees if those disagreements end up in court.   Speaking in the Farm of the Future webinar, ‘Planning for succession: Why, when and how’, litigation solicitor Esther Woolford from the Clarke Willmott agriculture team shared how disagreements around farm business succession can end up in the courts. She said: “In a farming family, the business is interwoven into the fabric of the family, and agreements can be reached around that kitchen table, but not documented, and unfortunately, sometimes disputes may follow.” Common scenarios that can

BNG can provide an opportunity to generate a new income stream by creating or enhancing habitats on their land that can be sold as biodiversity units to developers who need to offset and deliver 10% improvement in biodiversity for each of their projects. However, BNG requires long-term legal commitments of at least 30 years, so seeking professional advice is crucial before entering into any BNG agreement.

Farmers can secure income by restoring biodiversity through public funding like ELMS or private schemes like BNG and carbon storage. Options can complement farming, but legal advice is key.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became a legal requirement for developers in England in 2024. But what is BNG? And what opportunities, if any, does it create for farmers? A recent Farm of the Future webinar covered this topic in depth, and can be watched in the RASE members’ resources. The following blog covers some key insights from the webinar, including the policy background, what BNG is trying to achieve, how it works in practice and options for farmers and landowners considering getting involved in a BNG project. What is Biodiversity Net Gain? All new development projects covered by the BNG legislation must deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity gain, as calculated using a standardised biodiversity metric. These projects must make sure

As decarbonisation and removing fossil fuels from the food system creep higher up the socio-political agenda, the agricultural industry must start planning for what will fuel agriculture post red diesel. To start the conversation, RASE and Yorkshire Agricultural Society co-hosted an event at Askham Bryan College in October 2024, which looked at the future of fuels in agriculture. View the event highlights video here or read on to find out more about what was covered. The tour of the ‘Electric Cow’ and demonstrations The event began with a tour of Askham Bryan’s anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, dubbed the ‘electric cow’. Attendees were able to see how the college processes its slurry to produce biogas. The biogas is then used to