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<p>The Energy Bills Discount Scheme provides all eligible businesses and other non-domestic
energy users with a baseline discount on high energy bills for 12 months from April
2023 until 31 March 2024. A higher level of support is provided to some Energy and
Trade Intensive Industries that are particularly exposed to energy cost increases
due to their energy and trade intensity and are therefore less able to pass these
costs through to their customers due to international competition.</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>Tackling inflation is one of this Government’s priorities. While inflation
has more than halved, it remains a challenge, which is why we continue to monitor
all key agricultural commodities and work with the food industry to address the challenges
they face. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets
including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government is supporting farmers through a range of measures. In recognition of the
challenges faced with inflation and rising input costs, we are updating prices in
our environmental land management schemes with an average 10% uplift. We are making
the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) simpler, with more choice about what farmers
can do and more actions made available, to better reflect the full spectrum of farming
interests. What is more, 50 new actions are being added to our environmental land
management schemes, many of which support food production, making it easier for the
Government’s support to fit into farmers’ business plans. Specific actions in the
SFI, such as different cropping systems, better plant management methods and other
Nutrient Management and Integrated Pest Management actions, will support farmers in
improving soil health, reducing their reliance on costly inputs.</p><p> </p><p>We
are also keen to support farmers through technology to help them lower their costs.
More grants will be launched this year to help farmers grow more, sell more and make
their businesses more sustainable and resilient for the future. We will also look
at ways to make grants and schemes even easier to access, including the potential
to streamline the application process for schemes. Farmers can now apply for SFI and
the Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier through one single application, meaning they
will have the same actions and get the same support with less paperwork.</p><p> </p><p>Full
expensing, which was made permanent at Autumn Statement 2023, allows companies to
claim 100% capital allowances on qualifying plant and machinery investments (for example,
high tech agricultural equipment) in the year the expenditure is incurred. The Government
announced at Spring Budget 2024 that we will seek to extend full expensing to assets
for leasing when fiscal conditions allow and will publish draft legislation shortly.</p><p>
</p><p>We are continuing to keep this all under review to make sure it works for and
rewards all farms in all parts of the country.</p>
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