Rural Diversification

Diversification is not a new phenomenon, but it is increasingly in the spotlight. Over the last two years since the publication of the first edition of this book there has been a significant shift in political and ecomonic emphasis. Agricultural incomes continue to decline and the countryside comes under ever more pressure. Farmers and landowners are responding by diversifying their traditional businesses. In 1999 an NFU survey showed that already two thirds of Britain's farmers had an alternative source of income and were involved with over 150 different types of non-agricultural operations. Since then we have seen the introduction of the Rural Development Programme and with it a change in political emphasis away from agricultural support in favour of new commercial and environmental priorities. This second edition provides a clear and comprehensive guide on how to embark upon a diversification scheme, looking at the different reason for doing so, the way in which they should be assessed and how a suitable project may be identified and implemented. It covers the issues of finance, planning and marketing as well as the legal and tax aspects and concludes with an analysis of future trends and how they might influence current decisions. The text has been expanded to include case studies which provide insights into the challenges and successes of diversification in todays agricultural world. The author has a distinguished career in land agency, having been a partner in Knight Frank & Rutley before being appointed Chielf Agricultural Manager to the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. He is now Senior Visiting Fellow in the Department of Land Management and Development at the University of Reading and a consultant to major firms of chartered suveyors, providing advice on all aspects of land agency and valuation throughout the country. His professional experince covers a wide variety of diversification schemes, ranging from windmills to vineyards. He is also the author of The Valuation of Rural Property, published in 1998 and of Understanding the British Countryside, published in 2001.Prag, Peter is the author of 'Rural Diversification ', published 2002 under ISBN 9780728203716 and ISBN 0728203715.