Robust Soil for a Robust Business

In a climate of uncertainty for British agriculture, Elliot’s message was clear, regenerative agriculture isn’t about ideology, it’s about building financially resilient, profitable businesses by making better use of one of the most overlooked assets on the farm – soil.

Speaking from his experience advising farms across the north of England, Elliot didn’t shy away from the scale of the challenges farmers currently face.

“We’re navigating a perfect storm,” he said. “Agflation, future carbon taxes, shifting government policy, the withdrawal of direct subsidies, and increasingly erratic weather. These pressures will hit margins, disrupt rotations, and threaten long-term business security.”

In this environment, he argued, farmers must make better use of what they already have, and that begins beneath their boots.

“As a farm business consultant, one of my key responsibilities is helping clients get the most out of their assets. Arguably, the most important asset of all is soil,” he continued. “We often talk about fixed and variable costs, input prices and commodity markets, but rarely do we talk about soil as a business asset. And yet, soil is your balance sheet of resilience.”

Soil as an Economic Engine

Elliot urged farmers to stop viewing regenerative agriculture (regen ag) through a purely environmental lens and instead recognise it as a pathway to greater financial stability.

“Regenerative agriculture isn’t about farming less; it’s about farming smarter. Farming with the long term in mind. Soil buffers yield, retains water, releases nutrients, it can even generate income, through reduced input use, greater output efficiency, and environmental payments if they suit your system.”

Backed by hard data from real farms, he presented some of the “easy wins” he’s seen with clients who have embraced modest regenerative changes:

Reduced cultivations: “Switching from the plough to strip-till or direct drilling is saving some farms £60 to £100 per hectare just in fuel, labour, and wear and tear.”
Improved nutrient efficiency: “Better soil structure and biology are helping reduce artificial nitrogen usage by 20 to 30%.”
Better water resilience: “Soils with organic matter above 5% can hold an extra 20 to 30mm of rain per rainfall event. That’s your insurance policy during drought.”

“It’s not just about saving money. It’s about yield stability, especially in marginal seasons. That’s where improved soil health really shows its value.”

The Pitfalls of Transition and How to Manage Them

While positive about the potential of regenerative systems, Elliot was careful not to oversell the approach as a silver bullet.

“Regenerative agriculture is not without its challenges. Cashflow timing is a big one. Many regenerative practices require upfront investment, new kit, cover crop establishment, or trialling new systems. You have to budget for that. There’s also the risk of yield wobbles in the first year or two as the system adjusts. If you’re tightly geared, you need to build in a buffer.”

He also highlighted the risk of “trial fatigue,” urging farmers not to overhaul their systems overnight:

“Start small. One field, one practice. Measure it. Scale up what works. Don’t try and do everything at once.”

SFI – A Tool Not a Strategy

With many farmers looking to schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to support their soil health ambitions, Elliot offered a measured perspective.

“Yes, SFI can help. But don’t let the scheme tail wag the dog. There’s uncertainty about where SFI is heading. We anticipate a tilt toward uplands and marginal land, with increased selectivity in high-output arable systems.”

“Your regenerative strategy should be driven by agronomic and financial logic. Use SFI to support choices you’d make anyway, not to justify things you wouldn’t otherwise do.”

Five Practical Steps to Build Resilience

Elliot closed his talk by sharing five actionable steps farmers can take to start strengthening their businesses through soil:

Audit your soils – not just for pH and P&K, but for structure, compaction, and organic matter.
Re-evaluate fixed costs – explore how changes in cultivation or cropping could reduce machinery or labour requirements.
Model over multiple years – regen systems are cyclical; budgets need to reflect both early dips and later gains.
Benchmark – both against your past performance and your peers. If you don’t measure, you can’t manage.
Budget holistically – take a whole-farm view and make sure both you and your bank understand the strategy and risks.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution,” he emphasised. “Every farm is different. Some will find the transition more difficult, especially those on heavy clays, those with root crop rotations, or short-term tenancies. But difficult doesn’t mean impossible.”

Progress, Not Perfection

Elliot acknowledged that regenerative transitions on heavier soils or within tight rotations may require hybrid solutions, such as min-till with occasional deep loosening. In short-term or contract farming scenarios, the lack of land security can make long-term investment in soil health a challenge. But even here, progress is possible.

“You may not be able to hit every regen target. That’s OK. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress. If you can take even a few steps to improve soil resilience, you’re building a more robust business.”

“We need to start thinking of soil health as yield insurance,” Elliot concluded. “It’s not just good for the planet, it’s good for the bottom line as well. In an uncertain, unsubsidised future, those who adapt their systems and protect their soils will be the ones who thrive.”

Contact Elliot Taylor here Elliot Taylor – GFW

Robust Soil for a Robust Business.

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