While the spring sunshine has been welcome, we could all do with a drop of rain, especially for those spring-sown crops. The weather is something we often moan about, but, sadly, there is not much we can do about it.
Rural crime
One thing we can do our bit to protect ourselves against is rural crime. While criminals often target isolated farms, there are many things we can do to try to reduce the likelihood of becoming victims of crime.
Those members who attended our crime prevention meeting on 20 April all went away with something useful to put into place when they got back home.
West Mercia Police officers were in attendance and many of our members registered for Smart Water, a security system where machinery and equipment can be given a unique mark so that, if it gets stolen and recovered, it can be repatriated with its owner.
Various other security items were on display and members learned more about how they can secure their trailers, data tag their tractors and alarm their buildings. Signage was available to deter thefts and remind walkers to keep their dogs on leads.
We are grateful to the police and crime commissioner for supplying the breakfast, to the Philips family for hosting and all those who attended.
Succession planning
It was great to partner with NFU legal panel firm Shakespeare Martineau, Crowthers Chartered Accountants and Carver Knowles land agents for a business resilience and succession planning meeting, kindly hosted by the YFC at Hawford.
Now that the inheritance tax changes have come into place, it was very timely to hear from the experts and what steps we need to put in place to reduce our tax liability. While many in the room felt their assets would be below the tax threshold – there are still things that have to be done to protect your business from the tax man.
The key piece of advice I took away from the meeting was that doing nothing is not an option! So pick up the phone to our partners, make that appointment and put plans in place for the next generation. Here are their contact details:
- Andrew Troughton, Carver Knowles, 07776 228338, [email protected]
- Sophie Howard, Crowthers, 01684 353460, [email protected]
- Jennie Wheilden, Shakespeare Martineau, 01789 416 527, [email protected]
Badger vaccination trials
Twenty-seven percent of our county was within a wildlife control cull area, which was a mechanism to reduce the amount of bTB within the wildlife.
The licenses for these areas have now come to an end and there is much anxiety that all the progress made over the last five plus years could be eroded. So, the news that at a badger vaccination trial will be piloted in North Worcestershire will be welcomed by many, albeit met with a degree of scepticism.
However, for those not in a cull area, who are facing repeated bTB breakdowns, the hope that badger vaccination might reduce the levels of disease in the wildlife population will be welcomed. More details are available online.
What grants and funding are available?
While times are tough in farming for many, there are some sources of funding available to members. We are fortunate to have NFU Senior Support Adviser Richard Wordsworth in the county where he will be the main speaker at our county meeting at 6.30pm on 20 May.
Richard has worked for the NFU for the last 24 years. During that time he has been involved mainly with farm support schemes in England, such as the Single Payment Scheme and latterly the Basic Payment Scheme and the now many aspects of the government’s post EU support scheme offer. Richard will give an update on:
- What his role covers and how it impacts on members' farming business
- The context that Defra’s support schemes have been operating in and where we are now
- The current schemes operating – such as SFI, and Farming Equipment and Technology Grants
- Future funding opportunities and prospects – budgets, SFI, Countryside Stewardship and advice
We will also have updates from Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils on their Rural Funds, Farming in Protected Landscapes funding, Severn Trent and Catchment Sensitive Farming. So, please come along and have conversations with our speakers to find out if any of the opportunities are relevant to you.
Worcestershire YFC Rally
It will be good to support the YFC Rally on Saturday 16 May. This will be held at The Noak Farm, Martley, Worcester, WR6 6PD by kind permission of the Bray family. Please come and say hello – the NFU will have a gazebo near the main ring.
We are also in the process of planning some farm walks for the summer and our stand at the Royal Three Counties Show. We have again negotiated half price tickets for farmers (£15 instead on £30), so get in touch with your local branch to buy your tickets before our allocation runs out.
County comms
Please join the NFU Worcestershire Facebook page or WhatsApp group where I post updates on what’s happening in policy and in the county. Just email me if you would like the joining link. [email protected]
I look forward to seeing you across the county soon.