Written by: Emily Bright, Senior Farm Assurance Administrator at CXCS
With the first LEAF audits against the new v17.0 standard now well underway, farmers and growers are getting a clearer picture of how the updated requirements are working in practice.
One important point our Farm Assurance team is seeing is the need to approach assessments and management plans in the right order. Rather than starting with the management plan, the assessment should come first – looking at what is already happening on farm, identifying any risks, gaps or opportunities for improvement, and using those findings to decide what needs to happen next.
This approach applies across a number of areas within the standard, including soil, water, energy, waste, biodiversity and livestock feed, and can help make sure your management plans are relevant to your individual farm rather than simply becoming another paperwork exercise.
Emily Bright, Senior Farm Assurance Administrator at CXCS, explains why the assessment should be the starting point and how the findings can be used to create practical, meaningful management plans.
A quick recap: what’s new in LEAF v17.0?
LEAF Marque Standard v17.0 came into effect for all audits from 5th May 2026, introducing a number of changes across the standard.
Some of the key changes included:
- Core and Advanced control points replacing the previous Essential and Recommended categories.
- Closer alignment with the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review (LSFR) to support audit preparation and continuous improvement.
- New and updated requirements across areas including soil health, water management, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions and regenerative farming.
- A clearer structure and updated guidance.
Assessment first, management plan second
The assessment should look at where the farm is now – what you’re already doing, any risks or gaps, and where there might be opportunities to improve.
Any findings should then feed into your management plans and help set your priorities going forward.
Assessment → What have we identified?
Management Plan → What are we going to do about it?
This doesn’t need to be complicated, or a long-winded list of actions. If the assessment shows that something is already being managed well, it’s useful to record this too. If it highlights areas that could be improved, these can be included in your management plan.
Make it relevant to your farm
Your assessments and plans should reflect what is actually happening on your farm.
Think about the systems you already have in place, the particular risks associated with your business and any practical opportunities for improvement. An assessment might show that something is already working well and simply needs to be maintained. Alternatively, it could highlight an area where a change, further monitoring or a specific action would be beneficial.
The aim is to have a management plan that reflects the priorities identified through your assessment and is relevant and realistic for your farm.
Keep them relevant
Once completed, it’s worth reviewing your assessments and management plans regularly and updating them where appropriate. If an action has been completed, circumstances on the farm have changed or you’ve identified a new priority, make sure your records continue to reflect what is actually happening.
This also helps your assessments and management plans remain useful working documents and supports the wider LEAF focus on continuous improvement.
Emily’s tip: Don’t start with the management plan. Complete the assessment first, then use what you’ve identified to decide what you need to focus on.
We have documents available to help you complete and record the assessments and management plans required under v17.0, and our team can also help with audit preparation.
Further help & advice
If you would like help with LEAF requirements, including assessments, management plans and record keeping, or advice and support with other Farm Assurance schemes, please contact our Farm Assurance team on 01981 590514 or email info@cxcs.co.uk.
Our team can help with the paperwork and records required for your Farm Assurance audit, as well as providing ongoing support to help you stay on track.
You can also find out more about our Farm Assurance service on our website.
We handle the detail. You go farming.