Chris Sheldon

Agri-Business Consultant & Partner. Ex-club rugby player, average shot, boring batsman, trainee skier and black Lab owner. 73rd WCF ACABM.

[Stuart @StuartMaggs]

We are facing a potential crisis and the Treasury and DEFRA need to start working coherently on food security — now.

British farming is already under huge pressure from the inheritance tax changes, subsidy chaos and rising costs. Now four more problems are hitting together:

• the Iran crisis threatening global fertiliser supply;
• new El Niño warnings which could damage harvests across the southern hemisphere leading to global shortages;
• environmental charges increasing costs of fertiliser; and
• supermarkets being encouraged to keep food prices down, which would feed back down the supply chain to squeeze producers

There is a limit to how many extra costs farmers can absorb.

The danger is not empty shelves tomorrow. It is a growing squeeze over the next 12–18 months:
• less fertiliser used
• lower crop yields
• less confidence to invest
• greater reliance on increasingly expensive imports

Right now government does not appear to have a coherent approach to these huge risks. Ministers across the Treasury and DEFRA need to get a grip on our food security. Saying “we can import more” is not good enough. The window to act is closing fast.

@VictoriaAtkins @EmmaforWycombe

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

@MikeNeaverson I’m in the same position, going for a 2yr fix and reassess at the end of that. Too much change to make 5/10yr decisions.

[Andrew Ward 🇬🇧🚜 @wheat_daddy]

While I’m laid up recovering from a recent hip operation our new farming partners have been putting the final application of liquid nitrogen on the wheats and spring barleys. The bowser i sold in our recent @Brownandcorural machinery sale has also returned!! 😊

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

Glorious day in the @LincsWoldsNL for a @Brownandcorural machinery sale at @CadwellPark circuit.
We even had Dan Jobe vs Richard Godson on telephone bids.

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

Great to welcome Tom Perkins and his Charles & Dean team to the @Brownandcorural seminar.

The main message - finance products for agriculture are changing.

It’s important that we can provide innovative solutions for clients on top of our solid relationships with main banks.

[Dan Walker @mrdanwalker]

If you want to know what sport is…

What a weekend of action! I love the Winter Olympics but there have been quite a few articles questioning whether @lindseyvonn should have been competing in Italy at the age of 41 with an injured ACL.

I think her attitude is the very essence of sport.

It wasn’t just about chasing glory… it was about defiance.

This is what sport looks like when you strip away the polish. It’s not comfortable… it’s painful.
Risk instead of safety.

Vonn knew she might not win.
She knew it might hurt.
She understood the risk.
She embraced it because not going down that mountain would mean surrendering to the things that stop you getting out of bed in the morning.

Great sporting moments don’t always finish on a podium.
They are acts of courage.
They are athletes standing on the start line, knowing it could be the last time, knowing it might go wrong… and launching themselves anyway.

That is the essence of sport.
Not the medal.
The moment before the gate opens and there is a chance that dream might become reality.

I hope her body heals quickly and she knows she will always be a winner 🏆

@milanocortina26

[Brown&Co Rural @Brownandcorural]

The Government’s Farming Profitability Review is out. Brown&Co’s “Great Agricultural Gamble” Paper was submitted & cited as evidence. Key themes are reflected.

For full details, read more here: https://t.co/GqPbySpGyd

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

A fantastic meeting with high calibre speakers and a packed room of valued people.

[Brown&Co Rural @Brownandcorural]

A packed room today as we welcomed @_RobbieMoore , James Miller @LBGplc & George Dunn @TenantFarmers to our Winter Seminar chaired by Charlie Bryant. Farming policy, economic outlook & tenanted system were key themes. For tailored advice, contact your local Brown&Co office.

[Robbie Moore MP @_RobbieMoore]

Our farming sector is full of great entrepreneurial leaders who are dedicated, driven and focused on ensuring their businesses and the wider agricultural industry thrives.

I had the huge pleasure of speaking to many of them today as they took part in this year’s Worshipful Company of Farmers Business Management Course held in Gloucestershire.

[Rhonda Thompson 🇬🇧 @RhondaT40]

@MarketRasenRace today for their #agriculturalnetworkingday great to see so many familiar faces @nfumidlands @wheat_daddy @Brownandcorural @Lincsruralhelp

[Brown&Co Rural @Brownandcorural]

Chris Sheldon & Charlie Bryant joined a panel today with Roythornes & Wright Vigar discussing succession planning. Main take home messages; have a family conversation, understand the plan & engage with legal/accountancy professionals.

Further info: Chris Sheldon on 07500 331514

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

@Wyefarm The only think to watch is if you have a CS mid tier is option compatibility because sometimes the “computer says no” even if you’ve complied practically with both schemes on the same parcel.

[Stuart @StuartMaggs]

APR and BPR proposals are not going to be amended.

Good to have clarity from @angelaeagle on Farming Today this morning. DEFRA tried to get the Treasury to move and they refused. The rules will be introduced as proposed.

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

The Great Agricultural Gamble…….
Farming businesses have been disadvantaged whilst trying to produce food, and we wanted to write about it.

Myself & Bradley Hurn have put pen to paper on how we see changes in policy have affected farming businesses at the coal face.

Plz share

[Brown&Co Rural @Brownandcorural]

Disconnect between government policy & farm profitability places pressure on farming businesses, new industry analysis reveals.

Our Consultants review how government policy impacts on farm business strategy in ‘The Great Agricultural Gamble’.

Read more: https://t.co/OdOw7CH108

[Test Match Special @bbctms]

The sledging doesn't stop when you leave the changing room. Welcome to the commentary box!

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

My colleagues are taking on the three peaks challenge in support of RABI. It will be tough and RABI do great work for the agricultural community. https://t.co/veRupZTi6M

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

Two amazing (and hot!) days at the Lincolnshire Show with @Brownandcorural
Honoured to open the new @LincsShowground Rural Voices stage on Farm Business Management—didn’t expect to be HRH Princess Anne’s warm-up act! Unforgettable. See you next year! #LincolnshireShow

[Chris Sheldon @CRSheldon]

This Thursday, at the Lincolnshire Show, for those who had the pleasure of studying in the North East! @BilsborrowPaul @harryhuddart

[James Rebanks @herdyshepherd1]

Farmers are totally perplexed

1950-1990 cheap food
1990-2010 oh shit that crashes nature
2016 green BREXIT
2020-23 public goods for public £
2024 not quite enough £
2025 we’ve lost interest - can you do cheap food and nature with no funding?

This wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card