 UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson | CLA and TFA Write to the Prime Minister Setting Out the Minimum Requirements to Support Agriculture in a “No Deal” Brexit The CLA and TFA have joined forces to write to the Prime Minister to set out how best to mitigate the risks to agriculture of a "No Deal" Brexit. Whilst both organisations agree with the Government's position that leaving the European Union with a deal is by far the best outcome, we need to be prepared for the eventuality that we leave without a deal. TFA National Chairman James Gray said “Leaving the European Union will bring both opportunities and challenges for the farming industry. However, it would be reckless to leave the European Union without a deal and without a package of underpinning measures for the agricultural industry. Severe restrictions to export markets through both tariff and nontariff barriers, cutting access to important migrant labour supplies and leaving us open to imports of food ingredients and products produced to standards banned at home would be calamitous for our country’s food and environmental security.” The letter sets out key actions the Government must take to support domestic agriculture if we are unable to secure an agreement with the European Union and can be read by clicking here. | A New Round of Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund Opens A fourth national round of the popular £2.5 million Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund has now opened. The aim of this grant is to encourage groups of farmers and landowners to deliver large-scale environment improvement in their area over the next three years. To apply, groups must submit plans showing how they will work together and share knowledge to protect and enhance their local environment, in line with their local Countryside Stewardship priorities. Applications close 4 October 2019. For further information and to access an application form click here. Members can also view a TFA Briefing Note about the fund here. If you have any queries or would like further advice TFA members can call Adriana Vaux at head office on 0118 930 6130. | Unwarranted Media Response to Climate Change Report The media went into overdrive this week in attacking livestock production and meat eating on the back of the Land Use and Climate Change Report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, the media seemed to ignore the fact that the report was looking at world-wide land-use and its contribution to climate change failing to recognise the sustainability of UK production systems. The IPCC recognised the important role of meat in a balanced diet and the contribution that well managed livestock production brings to reducing and sequestrating carbon emissions. It does not follow that there should be a reduction in meat consumption within the UK. Reducing the capacity of UK livestock production will only cause us to suck in imports of meat from other parts of the globe with systems involving much higher carbon footprints. The solution is to continue to support the consumption of domestically produced livestock. To read the summary report from IPCC click here and to read a blog post written by our Chief Executive, George Dunn back in May, click here. | Time to Prepare for Autumn Rent Reviews Many farm rent reviews take place in the autumn. Tenants who are under notice of a rent review from their landlords should expect to receive proposals from their landlords very soon. Equally, those tenants who have served notices on their landlords, hoping for reductions, should be putting together the evidence required to support their cases. Consideration should also be given to whether a review notice should be served now to allow for a review to take place in autumn 2020. The members area of the TFA website has a large range of resources to assist TFA Members with rent reviews, including draft notices, TFA Guidance Notes and the TFA Rent Databank. TFA advisers are also on hand to provide specific help on individual cases. Click here to read an article by our Chief Executive, George Dunn, published by Farmers Weekly, providing some key rent review points to consider. | Updated Capital Works Guidance The Welsh Government has updated the guidance for Capital Works Claims. Any members in Wales who have Capital Works for the following schemes: Farm Business Grant, Glastir Advanced, Glastir Small Grants, Glastir Woodland Creation, Glastir Woodland Management, Glastir Woodland Restoration and Sustainable Production Grant should look at this latest guidance to see if their relevant capital works guidance has been updated. For more details click here. | RPA Updates Following a recent RPA stakeholder meeting, the TFA was pleased to learn that digitising of the RLE1s forms is complete, apart from the paper form queries. Remote sensing has started, and the non-greening is nearly digitised. Unfortunately, the RPA has reported challenges when mapping greening areas as increased cloud cover this year has affected satellite imagery. Finally, the RPA is working with HS2 and has a data sharing agreement, so it receives updates from the Ordinance Survey. This should assist the RPA to progress updated applications for claimants affected by the HS2 project. Any members with concerns should contact Adriana Vaux, at head office on 0118 930 6130. | Changes to Safe Haven Standards to Support Long Term Health of GB Potato Industry Red Tractor will soon be looking for industry feedback on potential changes to the Safe Haven Standards, the seed potato assurance scheme. New standards likely to be added to the scheme cover areas such as water use, storage best practice and traceability. The strengthened standards will now mean that the scheme will also cover brown rot and epitrix on top of the existing coverage of ring rot and dickeya. Industry feedback, from both the seed and ware sectors, is now needed to ensure the new standards are fit for purpose. The Safe Haven Standards will be open to industry consultation for six weeks, beginning on 19 August. The consultation will be emailed directly to Safe Haven scheme members, certification bodies and industry stakeholders. It will also be available on the Red Tractor website. More information will be posted on future TFA e-Bulletins, so please keep your eyes peeled…sorry, couldn’t resist the pun! | Could You Be an ELMs Test and Trials Project Facilitator? The Foundation for Common Land and the Federation of Cumbria Commoners will be looking to recruit a Facilitator on a contract to work 2 days / week or 8 days a month for an initial 9 month period. A start date is still to be confirmed, but it is likely to be in October 2019. At the moment, the TFA is helping to spread the word about the opportunity to make sure as many people as possible know that it is coming up. More details should be available later in August / early September. The role will require extensive travel across England liaising with other Tests and Trials projects. Among others, it might suit someone who has recently completed a Masters or PhD with an interest in the development of future environmental schemes. An empathy with, and interest in, farming is important. To learn more about the role or to register interest please contact Viv Lewis by email at viv@cumbriacommoners.org.uk or Julia Aglionby at Julia@foundationforcommonland.org.uk | TFA Guidance Tips - Farm Rent Reviews Caroline Foot, TFA Adviser, highlights topical TFA Guidance Notes available FREE to TFA members. Farm Rent Reviews Should Consider the Holding as a Whole The current agricultural climate is offering little justification for rent increases. Landlords' agents are often pushing for increases by attributing significant sums to the residences on the holding. This is not strictly the correct way to approach the rent review and should not be accepted without appropriate evidence to justify the figures put forward. We hear from members often where the landlord or their agent has submitted a fairly reasonable per acre rent on the land but added a large lump sum on top for each of the residential properties on the holding. It is important that the farm is looked at as a whole for the purposes of the review. There is a TFA Guidance Note on valuing farmhouses in AHA rent reviews. This is available by clicking here or in the members’ area of the TFA website. There is also a selection of TFA Guidance Notes on various other aspects of rent reviews and a range of other issues. | TFA Regional Event Wessex Area Farm Walk Further details of a farm walk in the Devizes area have been announced this week. Wessex Regional Committee members, Jonny and Rachael Rider, have kindly agreed to host a farm walk on 18 September. This event is open to both members and non-members of the TFA. To register your interest, please call Julia Meadows at TFA head office on 0118 930 6130. | Member Offers bira Bank - TFA Member Rates Latest bira Bank interest rates for loans can be found by clicking here. | Save 35% When Subscribing to Farmers Weekly. Pay just £120* for a year's subscription, instead of the normal £183.60 (saving £63.60). Includes print magazine, digital edition and full access to FWi.co.uk To take advantage of this offer, please call TFA head office on 0118 930 6130 for the offer code. This offer expires 31 March 2020. | TFA Members Can Save 20% Off the Latest Equine Business Guide Agro Business Consultants are excited to bring you a fully updated Equine Business Guide. The book provides an invaluable resource to anybody connected with the equestrian industry. It is unique in focusing on business management and costings for equine enterprises. The guide has been produced in collaboration with Richard Bacon of Moreton Morrell College, the author of previous editions of the Equine Business Guide. It is all the equine business information you need in one publication. The book is priced at £35.00 and TFA members can save 20%, making the cost just £28 – simply call 01664 567 676 and quote the discount code EBG16TFA to receive the offer. | TFA Updates Weekly Uploaded Documents The following articles and documents have been uploaded to the TFA’s website since the publication of the last TFA e-newsletter or e-Bites. TFA Media Releases MR19/30 – Time to Plan for Autumn Farm Rent Reviews Consultation Responses and Lobbying, News Joint Letter From CLA and TFA to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Supporting the Farming Industry in the Event of a “No Deal” Brexit MEMBERS ONLY AREA. Please note: Members will need to log into their TFA account before they can access details from the links below. TFA Briefing Notes TFA Briefing Note A10/19 – Countryside Facilitation Fund – Fourth Round Tenancy Opportunities 436 Acre Livestock Farm, Near Hexham to let on a 15 Year FBT From November 2019 114 Acres of Arable Land Near Boston, Available on a 5 Year FBT from October 2019 2 pockets of Grassland Available in Cornwall on an Immediate FBT Ending 28 Sept 2020 250 Acres near Grantham to be let on a 10 Year FBT 71 Acre Upland Stock Rearing Unit Available Nr Dolau from October 2019 on a 6 year FBT 41 Acres of Arable Land Near Shiptonthorpe Available From October 2019 on a 5 Year FBT 44 Acres of Arable Land Near to Cottingham, to be let on a 5 Year FBT From 11 October 2019 21 Acres of Grazing Land with Arable Potential, on Spalding Moor is Available from 11 October 2019 on an 8 year FBT 14 Acres of Arable land near Everthorpe, Yorkshire, available on a 5 year FBT from 11 October 2019 136 Acre Mixed Farm Available Near Knutsford, Cheshire on a 15 Year FBT from Feb 2020 100 Acre Mixed Farm Near Hartlepool, Available from October 2019 on a 10 Year FBT 146 Acres of Arable Land Near Hartlepool, Available October 2019 on a 5 Year FBT 293 Acre Mainly Arable Farm Near to Newark, Available on a 5 Year FBT From 30 September 2019 85 Acre Dairy Starter Farm Available Near Stafford on a 10 Year FBT From Autumn 2019 225 Acre Livestock Holding in Cornwall Seeks Progressive Farmer with New Business Ideas | And Finally... A Message From Network Rail Network Rail is electrifying the Midland Main Line. The works will take place between Bedford and Kettering/Corby, making way for quieter and cleaner trains with more seats too. However, it also means there’ll be a deadly 25,000 volts running along the overhead line equipment at all times. That’s why Network Rail are making sure that the farming community has the information it needs to be as safe as possible. Electrified railway lines using high-voltage wires represent a major potential hazard to farmers. Please be careful when carrying out activities such as crop spraying, irrigating or muck spreading. The wires are always carrying this high voltage, so please be aware of vehicle heights when crossing the railway and ensure structures and equipment are secured and cannot be blown onto the line.
For more information about the electrification of the Midland Main Line, please visit www.networkrail.co.uk/alwayson | |
