Agriculture Flashcards
In your example it appears to suggest that your firm arranged a 5 year tenancy without solicitors being instructed. Please explain the limited circumstances where surveyors can prepare leases exceeding 3 years.
Ordinarily, and as out in the Law of Property Act 1925, leases for a term exceeding 3 years must be in the form of a deed, and prepared by a solicitor.
The exemption to this is that Fellows of the CAAV and Fellows/Members of the RICS can prepare an FBT exceeding this term length, provided it is not lodged at the Land Registry or dealing with SDLT return. This does not count for tenancies under the AHA 1986.
What Act would prohibit a “reserved legal activity” to be carried out by a person not authorised nor exempt?
The Legal Services Act 2007. Acting against this would be a criminal offence.
What is the aim of regenerative farming?
Regen farming has soil health at it’s heart. The aim is to restore soils that have been degraded.
Explain the 4 principles of regenerative farming.
1) Minimising soil disturbance - low or no till, and no chemicals
2) Keeping soil covered - to prevent erosion, moisture evaporation and weeds germinating
3) Maximising crop diversity - poor nutrient cycling in crops from poor diversity.
4) Integrating livestock - producer of organic matter and new plant growth
Give me an example of a typical crop rotation in your area
I have a client near Sittingbourne in Kent who is currently on a 5 year rotation.
1) Winter beans
2) Winter wheat
3) Wheat again, or barley
4) Oilseed rape
5) Winter wheat
What are catch crops?
Catch crops are grown in between the main crops to prevent nutrient leaching from the soils.
Examples would include sunflowers, linseed, or buckwheat.
What is the purpose of farm Stocktaking Valuations?
Farm stocktaking valuations are required to assess
the closing stock value, and thereby the proper profits
or losses and balance sheet of a farming business, for
inclusion in financial statements.
They must be Red Book compliant and should be done annually.
What happens on the farm in January?
-General farm maintenance (hedging, ditch maintenance, fencing)
-Sheep are given additional feed
-Manure and slurry spreading
-Calves weaned at end of month and fed on concentrates
What happens on the farm in February?
-More maintenance
-Sheep pregnancy scans
-Manure an slurry spreading continues
-Early seed drilling (peas and beans)
What happens on the farm in March?
-Sheep sorted into lambing groups. Lambing begins. Ewes feet trimmed against foot rot.
-Calving underway
-Spreading continues
-Fertilise and spray crops
-Sow sugar beet
What happens on the farm in April?
-Potatoes, peas and beans planted.
-Fertilising grass production fields.
-Calving in full swing.
-Cereal crops sprayed with pesticides and top dressed with fertiliser.
What happens on the farm in May?
-Lambs tailed, castrated and tagged. Shear long tails to prevent flystrike.
-More crops fertilised
What happens on the farm in June?
-Sheep shearing, drenching, etc.
-Haymaking and silaging
What happens on the farm in July?
-Harvest begins. Oilseed rape, winter barley and wheat
-Sheep shearing continues.
-Haymaking and silaging continues.
-Baling and carting straw
What happens on the farm in August?
-Harvest in full swing. Looking for correct moisture levels. Too wet and needs to be expensively machine dried, too dry and yield goes down.
-Some silage being taken.
-Some fields being ploughed and sown with winter crops, or even catch crops.
What happens on the farm in September?
-Harvest continues.
-Whether lambs sold as they finish or as store lambs for fattening.
-Potatoes harvested, and beets.
-Ploughing and harrowing.
-Drill oilseed rape, winter wheat and barley.
What happens on the farm in October?
-Calves weaned and cattle are fed.
-Sheep dipping and clipping.
-Maize harvested for silage.
-Potatoes harvested, as are beets.
-Winter cereal drilling continues.
What happens on the farm in November?
-Tup sales.
-House cows - feeding livestock.
-Ploughing and late drilling or winter cereals.
What happens on the farm in December?
-Ploughing.
-Feeding of livestock.
-Farm maintenance.
-Spray cereals.
What is the difference between a lease and a licence?
Leases grant exclusive possession of the property for a fixed term and with a passing rent. Whereas the landlord can enter the property at any time under a licence and it does not have to be for a fixed period.
Licences are often used for specific operations such as grazing.
What are average land values in England?
-Prime arable circa £10k per acre
-Grade 3 grassland circa £7.8k per acre
-Woodland £5-£6k per acre.
Value is of course dependent on a number of factors and will vary regionally.
What are current wheat costs and yields?
£185 per tonne - average wheat yields are around 8 tonnes, but can of course vary depending on weather, etc.
What does primary agricultural production mean?
Essentially the cultivation of crops, the rearing of livestock, and the harvesting of animal products such as milk, wool, and eggs.
What are ecosystem services?
The direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, and have an impact on our survival and quality of life.
4 types: provisioning (food/water), regulating (pollenating bees, water purification), cultural (aesthetic value) and supporting services (photosynthesis).
How can ecosystem services be monetised?
By assigning economic value to the benefits provided by ecosystems, which allows stakeholders to integrate these services into decision-making, policy, and market systems.
Biodiversity offsetting or carbon credits.
What is the impact on agriculture of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000?
The Right to Roam on designated land raised concerns about crop damage, livestock disturbance, biosecurity risks, theft, and littering.
More public access = greater public liability concerns.
Additional SSSI protection, increasing penalties for damaging these areas, impacting how farmers manage and use such protected land.
What section of what Act sets out the Rules of Good Husbandry?
Section 11 of the Agriculture Act 1947.
What does Good Husbandry mean?
the responsible management of agricultural land, crops, and livestock in a way that is sustainable, productive, and environmentally responsible.
What legislation affects agriculture?
Agriculture Act 2020
CRoW 2000
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Health and Safety at Work 1974
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Agricultural Holdings Act 1986
Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995
What are the bodies that are responsible for delivery and enforcement of this legislation?
DEFRA
RPA
Environment Agency
Natural England
Food Standards Agency
Give an example of a positive, and a negative covenant
Positive - the obligation to contribute towards repair and maintenance of an access track
Negative - not to use the land other than for agricultural purposes
Cost of lamb per head in the UK?
Currently at approximately £6 per kilo deadweight. Sources of this are the ADHB and Farmers Weekly
Deadweight cattle prices
Prime cattle prices are currently around £5 per kilo.
