News
For over 38 years, Hugh Townsend has been the country's "go-to" commentator on farm quotas and intangible assets sold off-farm. Having become the country's leading and most innovative quota agent he was broadcast to 3.8 million listeners on Radio 4's PM programme, interviewed by Eddie Mayer on the 1st April 2015 – the “Dawning of Europe without Milk Quotas”, click here.In 2016, BBC1 interviewed Hugh Townsend on the future of farming following the Referendum, click here. In 2021 he published the first book of its type “the UK Environmental Credits User Guide” , and more recently in 2024 ITV filmed at one of our BNG Habitat Banks which was broadcast on Monday 3rd June (click here) To view the uncut footage of the interview click here
Hugh Townsend developed the most creative arrangements to promote an efficient market in farm quotas, in the early eighties, including leasing milk quota without land, before the Milk Marketing Board introduced leasing for a part of the milk year. He has represented clients in leading court and arbitration cases successfully defending transfers of milk quota, and developed the new system of second TQ1 forms protecting the transfer of quotas with land.
In 1991, Farmers Weekly published the first sale price index from Hugh Townsend, countrywide, and started to publish farm quota sales and leasing graphs, which can be seen on our Milk Quota & Entitlements pages. Prices for intangible assets are still published weekly from this UK leading Brokerage House.
On BBC television, he has defended dairy farmers who have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals in the farm quota market, and was again on television to comment on the "footballers buy milk quota" rumpus.
In 1990, the firm held the first auction of sheep and beef quota making the market in these new intangible assets and is still the leading BPS entitlement broker in the UK regions following England abolishing their scheme in 2023.
The firm also now sells Biodiversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality units, Woodland and Peatland Carbon, in addition to Water Abstraction Licenses, and holds National Sales by tender every six weeks.
19.05.2021 – GOVERNMENT BOOSTS SUPPORT FOR WOODLAND PLANTING AND CARBON TRADING
The Forestry Commission have recently announced a range of new grants aimed at encouraging Woodland Creation. English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) This scheme is set to replace the Woodland Carbon Fund (WCF), which was closed to new applicants on the 31st March this year. Both schemes fund the capital cost of planting new woodlands, plus…
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31.03.2021 – Western Morning News – Increasing interest in CS scheme as BPS subsides
The UK’s departure from the EU has led to a variety of changes to the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme. This has brought both limitations and new opportunities, which are important to new applicants and existing agreement holders alike. New Capital Items As part of a drive to improve air quality, two new capital items have been added to the Scheme as…
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26.03.2021 – Farm Facts 2021
Our 12th edition of Farm Facts is out now – a handy pocket reference for farmers, solicitors, accountants, farm agents and all types of agricultural adviser. “I’ve been in receipt of Farm Facts for a number of years now and find it excellent.” “Its amazing what you have packed into such a useful guide.” “I…
Read More 24-03-2021 – Western Morning News – New and Young Farmer Entitlements – The Time Could Be Now
The RPA have recently confirmed that they are consulting on whether this will be the final year for national reserve entitlement allocations. This may then be many farmers’ last chance to gain an asset of some value for relatively little expense. When a farmer or landowner meets certain criteria, they can claim free BPS entitlements from the…
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23.03.2021 – Farmers Weekly – Entitlement values firm in first year of BPS reduction
Brokers are starting to see more activity in the market for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlements, with prices marginally higher than at the same point last year, despite 2021 being the first year reductions will take effect. Read more
Read More 17.03.2021 – Western Morning News – Incentive offers options for level of commitment
Details of the pilot of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – the next step in the Government’s landmark plans to reward farmers and land managers for sustainable farming practices – were published last week. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has now opened for expressions of interest, which must be made by the 11th April, to…
Read More 15.03.2021 – ENGLISH ELM – SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE – PILOT SCHEME TIER 1 – DEADLINE 11TH APRIL 2021
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has now opened for expressions of interest, which must be made by the 11th April, to start an agreement in 2022. The payments will be on top of the BPS payment. The SFI is tier one of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. We now know that the SFI combines…
Read More 17.02.2021 – Western Morning News – BPS Claims 2021 – Lessons Learnt
The English BPS claim window is to open on the 18th March. So now is a good time to remember just a few of the Scheme’s intricacies, both from its inception and from more recent changes. Commons usage It is well known that anyone with pannage or pasturage rights over any of the nation’s commons,…
Read More 03.02.2021 – Western Morning News – RPA Update the Future of Farming: BPS, Countryside Stewardship and ELMS
The passing of the Agriculture Act 2020 anticipates a formal move from the BPS area payment to the ‘public money for public goods’ of the Environmental Land Management Scheme. The Act allows funding for practices aimed at improving biodiversity, air and water quality and soil health. The Rural Payments Agency have since released details of…
Read More 5.1.2021 – Farmers Weekly – Carbon credits explained – Long term income option for farmers
Farmers looking to combine environmental benefits with a guaranteed long-term income stream should consider carbon credits. By planting trees, restoring peatland or adapting soil management plans, landowners can help both remove and reduce the amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Buyers – generally either the government or large companies looking to offset…
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