Agriculture & Farming
Farms, horticulture, fisheries, forestry and agricultural services.
Business activities
This sector covers the following areas of business activity:
Key regulators
These regulatory bodies oversee compliance in this sector:
- GLAA Prevents worker exploitation. Licences labour providers supplying workers to agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering, and food processing/ packaging. Investigates labour abuse …
- NatureScot Scotland's nature agency. Advises government, manages protected areas, licenses activities affecting wildlife. Formerly Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
- AHDB Statutory levy board funded by farmers, growers, and others in the agriculture and horticulture supply chain. Collects levies on livestock, …
- APHA Safeguards animal and plant health for the benefit of people, environment and economy. Issues export health certificates, manages disease outbreaks, …
- DAERA Northern Ireland departmental authority for agriculture, environmental policy, rural affairs, fisheries and veterinary matters. Acts as the NI competent authority …
- DEFRA Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works …
- Forestry Commission Government department responsible for protecting, expanding, and promoting the sustainable management of woodlands in England. Issues felling licences, administers woodland …
- Natural England Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, …
- NIEA Northern Ireland's environmental regulator. Part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Issues environmental permits, regulates waste …
- Red Tractor Independent food and farm assurance scheme covering standards for food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection. Not a statutory regulator …
- RPA Executive agency of Defra. Administers agricultural subsidy schemes including the Basic Payment Scheme, Environmental Land Management schemes, and farming grants. …
- VMD Executive agency of Defra. Regulates veterinary medicinal products in the UK. Authorises veterinary medicines, monitors safety, and enforces requirements for …
Guided journeys
Step-by-step guides for businesses in this sector:
Ecological compliance for development projects
Learn the full lifecycle of ecological obligations when developing land, from protected species surveys and wildlife licensing through to biodiversity net gain and post-construction monitoring.
Start journey →Do I need an environmental permit?
Quick assessment of whether your business activities require an environmental permit from the Environment Agency or local council.
Start journey →Do I need permission to fell trees or remove hedgerows?
Quick check covering felling licences, TPOs, conservation areas, and hedgerow regulations. Determine what permissions you need before carrying out tree or hedgerow works.
Start journey →Starting farming: complete compliance journey
New farmers: everything you need to register, comply, and access funding - from CPH numbers to environmental schemes. Follow this step-by-step journey from day one.
Start journey →Failed a farm inspection: what to do next
What to do when you receive a non-compliance notice from a farm inspection. Covers understanding your notice, your rights, taking corrective action, and preventing future failures.
Start journey →Becoming a livestock keeper: complete compliance guide
Comprehensive guide to livestock keeping compliance - from getting a CPH number to meeting welfare requirements. Covers cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats.
Start journey →Livestock movement issues: how to resolve
How to resolve common livestock movement compliance problems including missing or lost tags, late movement reporting, standstill breaches, and missing cattle passports. Covers which body enforces what, severity levels, corrective actions, and preventing future issues.
Start journey →What regulations apply to my farm?
A quick decision-tree navigator that helps you identify which regulations apply to your specific farm based on what you keep, grow, and do. Each answer reveals applicable regulatory bodies and links to the relevant compliance guides.
Start journey →Moving livestock: quick compliance check
Pre-movement compliance checklist for cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. Three quick checks: tagging correct, standstill clear, documentation ready.
Start journey →Understand Environmental Land Management schemes
A learning path through Environmental Land Management schemes - understand SFI, Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery to choose the right option for your farm
Start journey →Start an agriculture business
Set up and register a farming or agricultural business - from choosing your structure to registering land and getting support
Start journey →Farm compliance calendar
Month-by-month calendar of key farm compliance deadlines covering SFI scheme declarations, TB testing windows, NVZ closed periods, scheme payments, and tax filing. Bookmark this page for quick reference throughout the year.
Start journey →Farmer compliance checklist
A comprehensive compliance checklist for UK farmers covering livestock, environmental, animal welfare, health and safety, financial, and scheme obligations. Includes frequency of compliance tasks, enforcement bodies, and consequences of non-compliance.
Start journey →Obtaining an environmental permit for regulated activities
Determine if you need an environmental permit, navigate the application process, and understand permit conditions for pollution control
Start journey →TB breakdown: what to do now
A step-by-step guide for cattle farmers who have just received positive TB test results. Covers immediate actions in the first 48 hours, working with APHA during the breakdown, protecting your compensation, managing your business under restrictions, and the path back to TB-free status.
Start journey →Livestock compliance for farmers
Complete guide to identifying, tagging, moving, and keeping records for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer
Start journey →Diversify your farm business
Explore farm diversification opportunities - farm shops, holiday accommodation, renewable energy, equestrian facilities, event spaces, and rural business units
Start journey →Farming on SSSI land in Scotland
A learning path for Scottish farmers and land managers with SSSI-designated land - understand your conservation obligations, manage deer and muirburn lawfully, and maintain compliance with NatureScot requirements
Start journey →Water Framework Directive compliance for businesses
Complete compliance pathway for businesses whose activities may affect water body status — from understanding the WFD framework through identifying which licences, permits, or consents you need, to applying, monitoring, and reporting. Covers England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Start journey →Becoming a sheep or goat keeper: end-to-end compliance
New to keeping sheep or goats? This journey walks you through the five things every keeper in England must do: register your land, get your flock or herd mark, tag your animals, set up a holding register, and learn the movement rules.
Start journey →Guidance for agriculture & farming
Sector-Specific
- Comply with livestock movement standstill periods — Legal requirements for standstill periods after livestock arrive on your holding. Covers standstill lengths by …
- Prepare for farm inspections and audits — How to prepare for regulatory inspections and farm assurance audits. Covers which bodies inspect farms, …
- Identify and tag livestock correctly — Legal requirements for identifying and tagging cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. Includes species-specific tagging …
- Host weddings and events on your farm — How to set up and run a farm wedding or event venue. Covers planning permission, …
- Report livestock movements and comply with standstill rules — How to report cattle, sheep, goat, pig, and deer movements using government traceability systems. Includes …
- Commercial fishing licence and compliance — How to get a commercial fishing licence and comply with UK fishing regulations. Covers vessel …
- Set up equestrian or livery services on your farm — How to comply with VAT, licensing, and insurance requirements when offering livery, riding lessons, or …
- Keep holding registers for livestock — Legal requirements for recording livestock identification, movements, births, deaths, and annual inventories. Covers cattle, sheep, …
- Biocides and Pesticides Authorisation — Get HSE CRD authorisation for biocidal and pesticidal products.
- Recognise and report notifiable animal diseases — How to identify signs of notifiable diseases in livestock and report suspected cases to APHA. …
- Agricultural tenancy rights in Scotland — Comprehensive guide to agricultural tenancy law in Scotland, covering both the 1991 Act (pre-2003 secure …
- Set up camping or glamping on your farm — How to comply with planning permission, licensing, and safety requirements when offering camping or glamping …
- SFI closure and transition to future farming schemes — What the SFI closure means for farmers and how to plan for the transition. Covers …
- Comply with farming environmental regulations — How to comply with environmental regulations for fertiliser storage and application, pesticide use, cross-compliance standards, …
- Understand farm rules after cross-compliance ended — What environmental, animal health, and land management rules still apply to farms now that cross-compliance …
- Set up and run a compliant farm shop — How to register, comply with food safety, and handle VAT when selling produce directly from …
- Register land to keep livestock — How to obtain a County Parish Holding (CPH) number before keeping cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, …
- Install renewable energy on your farm — How to get planning permission and financial support for solar panels, wind turbines, and other …
- Comply with Farming Rules for Water — How to comply with the 8 Farming Rules for Water that apply to all farmers …
- Prepare for the end of BPS delinked payments — What farmers need to know as delinked payments end in 2027. Covers payment reduction schedules …
- Understand Landscape Recovery funding for large-scale environmental projects — What Landscape Recovery is and whether it could suit your land. Covers the three-phase process …
- Join the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway — How to join the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, a government programme that funds annual …
- Comply with Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) regulations — How to comply with NVZ regulations if your land is in a designated Nitrate Vulnerable …
- Meet pig welfare requirements on your farm — Legal requirements for pig welfare in England. Covers the five welfare needs, space requirements, environmental …
- Navigate farm assurance schemes — Comparison of major UK farm assurance schemes including Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, Soil Association Organic, …
- Meet cattle welfare requirements — Legal welfare requirements for keeping cattle in England, covering the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and …
- Compare ELM schemes to choose the right environmental funding — Comprehensive comparison of England's Environmental Land Management schemes - Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship …
- Convert farm buildings to holiday accommodation — How to get planning permission, meet building regulations, and understand the post-April 2025 tax treatment …
- Apply for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier — How to apply for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agreements in England. Covers invitation priorities, …
- Farm machinery safety — Legal requirements and practical guidance for safe use of farm machinery. Covers PUWER and LOLER …
- Meet poultry welfare requirements — Legal requirements for keeping poultry in the UK, including the five welfare needs, stocking densities, …
- Meet sheep welfare requirements on your farm — How to meet your legal obligations for sheep welfare in the UK. Covers the Five …
- Understand your farm's regulatory obligations — A regulatory map for UK farms, showing which of 10+ regulatory bodies apply by farm …
- Slurry and silage storage compliance (SSAFO) — How to comply with SSAFO regulations for storing silage, slurry, and agricultural fuel oil on …
- Keep children safe on farms — Legal requirements and practical guidance for protecting children on farms. Covers age restrictions for farm …
- Get an environmental permit for intensive livestock — Step-by-step guide for intensive poultry and pig farmers who need an Environment Agency environmental permit …
- Farm health and safety essentials — Essential health and safety requirements for farmers and farm workers. Covers legal duties, risk assessment, …
- Meet bovine TB testing requirements for cattle — Comprehensive guide to bovine TB testing requirements for UK cattle farmers. Covers testing frequency by …
- Access farming grants and capital funding — How to find and apply for government capital grants covering farm equipment, technology, infrastructure, and …
- Remove or manage hedgerows lawfully — How to remove a hedgerow lawfully under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997. Covers when a hedgerow …
- Manage invasive non-native species on your land — Legal obligations for managing invasive non-native species on business premises and development sites. Covers Japanese …
- Manage access land and SSSIs on your property — Understand your obligations as a landowner of open access land or Sites of Special Scientific …
- Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief for farms — How Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) work for farms and agricultural …
- Apply for a water abstraction licence — How to apply for a licence to abstract water from rivers, streams, boreholes, or other …
- Get a water discharge permit — How to get an environmental permit for discharging liquid effluent or waste water to surface …
- Trade effluent consent for discharging to sewers — How to get consent from your water company to discharge trade effluent into public sewers. …
- Use mobile work equipment safely — How to comply with PUWER Regulations 25-30 for mobile work equipment such as forklift trucks, …
- Deer management obligations in Scotland — Guide to deer management obligations in Scotland under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, covering close …
- Identify and tag sheep and goats — How to identify and tag sheep and goats correctly. Covers double EID tagging for breeding …
Compliance & Legal
- Comply with work equipment safety regulations (PUWER) — How to meet your legal duties under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations …
- Get authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (CAR) — How to comply with Scotland's Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR 2011) for any activity affecting surface …