Agriculture General Flashcards
What is the price of Milling Wheat?
£240 per tonne
What is the price of Feed Wheat?
£180 per tonne
What is the price of Feed Barley?
£180 per tonne
What is the price of Oil Seed Rape?
£380 per tonne
What is the price of Wheat Straw?
£50-70 per tonne
What is the price of Barley Straw?
£65-75 per tonne
What is the average deadweight price for steers?
510 p/kg/dw
What is the average deadweight price for heifers?
505 p/kg/dw
What does p/kg/dw mean?
Pence Per Kilogram Deadweight
What is the average deadweight price for Red Deer?
150 p/kg/dw
What is the average deadweight price for lambs?
640 p/kg/dw
What is the average deadweight price for pigs?
205 p/kg/dw
What is the current West Texas Oil Price?
$71.6 USD per barrel
How much oil is in a barrel?
42 gallons or 159 litres
Can you give me an example of a crop rotation?
In my area, the main crop is wheat. This will usually be planted in the spring and followed by a break crop, the most common being Oil Seed Rape but it could also be something leguminous such as a clover mix or beans, or a flowering crop such as sunflowers or phacelia. There might also be oats or barley in the rotation.
What are the benefits to using OSR as a break crop?
It is a broadleaved crop, so helps to combat grass weeds and pests that affect wheat and barley.
What is the main pest affecting OSR?
Flea Beatle, due to the ban of toxic seed dressings which were previously used to combat the pest.
What is a Gross Margin?
Total Outputs - Variable Inputs/Costs
Can you give me an example of a Gross Margin?
Gross Margin for Wheat at 8t per acre yield, say £190 per tonne:
Outputs = Cereal (£1,500 per acre) and Straw in Swath (£190 per acre) = £1,690 per acre
Inputs = Seed (£80 per acre), Fertiliser (£300 per acre), and Spray (£275 per acre) = £655 per acre
£1,690 - £655 = £1,035 per acre
What is a Net Margin?
Total Outputs - Total Inputs (i.e. variable costs and fixed costs)
What are some examples of fixed costs?
- Labour
- Plant and Machinery
- Vehicles
- Rent
Outline the farming system of the Pheasant Rearing enterprise.
- Chicks imported (c.5,000 per week)
- Chicks raised indoors for first 20 days with heat lamps, bedding, etc, with runs being made larger every 5 days
- Chicks acclimatised by opening outdoor side pen
- Chicks fitted with bits to stop fighting
- Chicks released into grazing pens for 20 days
- Poults sold-on to customers and sent away
Is Pheasant Rearing considered to be agriculture?
Grey area - yes, if it includes the breeding and keeping of the birds for the production of food. In this context, it could be considered not to qualify. The existence of a laying flock for the breeding of livestock likely supported the case that the holding is agricultural in planning terms.
What is the planning definition of agriculture?
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
“agriculture includes horticulture, fruit growing, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur,or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the use of land as grazing land, meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes”.
What planning policy was relevant in the case of the pheasant rearing farm?
Para 80 of NPPF: “essential need for a rural worker to live permanently at or near their place of work in the countryside”
HDC Local Plan Policy 20: “new housing for rural workers will be supported providing that there is a functional need and viability”
NPPG: “additional dwelling on site is essential for viability of farming business through the farm succession process”
What is meant by the term “functional need”?
Relates to the ability for the business to operate and function properly.
How did you justify a functional need at the pheasant rearing enterprise?
- Need for 24-hour presence of rural worker
- Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 as amended state it is difficult to comply with animal welfare without permanent presence at all times of an experience stockman to carry out all husbandry tasks.
- Animal Protection Act 1911
- Agriculture Act 1968
- DEFRA Rural Crime Statistical Digest (rise in rural crime after COVID19)
- NFU Rural Crime Report
What method did you use to determine the labour requirement at the pheasant rearing enterprise?
Calculations using ABC and DEFRA Farm Survey data by enterprise to calculate the labour required to undertake the enterprise, based on a Standard Man Year, which shows how many employees are required overall and by enterprise.
How many hours are in a Standard Man Year?
Traditionally = 2,200 hours per annum.
DEFRA = 1,900 hours per annum and includes overhead activities.
Can you give me a detailed run through of your calculation for the labour requirement?
ABC Figures
- Laying Flock
0.17 hours per head X 500 birds = 85 Hours divided by SMY = 0.039 persons - Rearing (Based on Broilers)
a. 5000 chicks per week X 14 weeks in season = 70,000 heads
b. 0.09 hours per head X 70,000 heads = 6,300 hours divided by SMY = 2.86 persons - 0.039 + 2.86 + 15% for maintenance etc = 3.338 Persons per annum
What is meant by business viability (aka financial viability)?
An analysis of the farm’s accounts, gross margins and net margins, to determine whether the business is financially sound and profitable.
i.e. can it afford to build the house and pay that member of staff?
How did you prove business viability for the pheasant rearing enterprise?
Disclosure of business accounts with permission of client over the last 7 years, showing total turnover, gross profit, and operating profit.
I demonstrated that the company could afford to pay for the employee and the build cost.
I argued mitigating factors for an anomaly year in the accounts where enterprise was affected by Avian Influenza so made a small loss and was also hit by the effects of Brexit.
I showed that the client had been able to pay off the majority of a COVID-19 business loan and was on-track to pay it off, showing responsible borrowing by the business.
I demonstrated re-investment in the business to keep it up to date technologically and to keep it above compliance for changing regulations and health & safety standards including biosecurity.
What other factors did you have to consider when conducting the agricultural appraisal of the pheasant rearing enterprise?
- Alternative suitable accommodation locally (to rent or buy)
What considerations need to be made when farming arable land with contractors?
- Terms of contract (in writing and understood by all parties)
- Scope of work and responsibilities
- Length of agreement
- Death of either party
- Breach of agreement
- Remuneration
- Termination
Why might a farmer turn to farming with contractors?
- costs of plant and machinery
- change in generation
- previously let farm now in-hand
- contractor has greater buying-in power for inputs
Outline McKenna v. HMRC
- Whether farmhouse qualified for APR
- McKenna used contractors and kept good records
- Found contractor was responsible for all acts of husbandry and day-to-day management, not McKenna
- Occupation of farmhouse not for daily running of farm
- Disqualified from APR
Outline the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice.
- RICS were consulting party.
- Based on principles of clarity, communication, and collaboration.
- Followed the Rock Review (2022) into tenant farming in England.
- Covers topics such as paying rent, grant of tenancy, renewal, etc.
- Covers role of professional agents: should make clients aware, make complaints procedure available, work constructively, not disclose information without consent.
What is RIDDOR?
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
What is MHOR?
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
What is LOLER?
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
What is PUWER?
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
How often should equipment be inspected under LOLER?
- Once every 6-12 months depending on equipment and site locations.
- Before equipment’s first use or after assembly or setting up on new site.
What does HSE stand for?
Health and Safety Executive?
What is SSSAFO?
Storing Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oils Regulations
What are the penalties under SSSAFO?
Prosecution and fined up to £5,000 in a Magistrates Court or unlimited fine in Crown Court.
What are some of the rules under SSSAFO?
New store or substantially changed must:
1. Comply with substance specific regulations
2. Have a lifespan of at least 20 years with maintenance
3. Underground tanks must have a 20 year lifespan without maintenance
4. Be 10 metres clear of inland or coastal waters minimum
What stores are exempt from SSSAFO?
Installations build before March 1991 unless you make substantial changes including increasing capacity or re-location.
What is COSHH?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
What does COSHH require?
Adequate control of exposure to materials in the workplace that cause ill health.
What substances are not covered by COSHH?
Asbestos
Radioactives Substances
Lead
What legislation covers Asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
What are the three types of Asbestos?
- White - Chrysotile
- Brown - Amosite
- Blue - Crocidolite
What is the most dangerous type of asbestos?
Blue - Crocidolite
Thin needle-like fibres are easily inhaled and was often used as a spray-on coating on pipes insulation and cement products.
How often should an asbestos survey be undertaken?
Once every 12 months.
What are examples of substances covered by COSHH?
- Dust
- Fumes
- Vapours
- Chemicals
- Biological agents
- Gases
Outline the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
- It is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal
- Placed duty of care on owners
- Must provide water, housing, prevent disease, etc.
What is WATOK?
Welfare of Animals at Time Of Killing Regulations 2015
What does WATOK require?
Individuals and businesses involved in the slaughter of animals must take measures to minimise the suffering of animals during the killing process.
What are the penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006?
Maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
What are the penalties under WATOK?
Unlimited fine and/or maximum of 3 months’ imprisonment.
What are some statutory defences under WATOK?
- Lawful fishing
- Protection of people or property in self-defence
- Connection to lawful employment
- Lawful scientific experiment
Outline the Agriculture Act 2020.
“Public money for public goods”
- Loosened AHA succession rules - removal of commercial unit test
- Secretary of State to report on food security once every three years
- Removal of minimum retirement age for AHA tenants
- Broadened AHA rent dispute resolutions to include a notice of determination by RICS, CAAV, or ALA
What is an average sward height target for cattle post-grazing?
5 cm
What is an average sward height target for sheep post-grazing?
4 cm
What is an average sward height target for cattle pre-grazing in a rotational system?
10 cm
What is an average sward height target for sheep pre-grazing in a rotational system?
8 cm
What does DMI stand for?
Dry Matter Intake
What is the average DMI requirements (% bodyweight) for cattle?
2.5%
What is the average DMI requirements (% bodyweight) for sheep?
2% (4% for growing lambs)
How do you calculate the individual intake of grass/forage per animal?
animal weight (kg) X DMI (%) = total intake (kg/DM)
How do you calculate a group demand for grass/forage?
total intake (kg/DM) X No. of animals = total demand (kg/DM)
How do you calculate a group demand for grass/forage on a daily basis?
total demand (kg/DM) divided by grazing area (Ha) = total DM demand per Ha per day (kg DM/Ha/day)
What do you need to know to make a grazing plan?
Total supply and demand
What does a grazing plan do?
Determines the time span grazing can occur within stated perameters
Can you give an example of a grazing plan?
Growing Cattle = 350 kg bodyweight
No. Cattle in Group = 35
Grazing Period = May
Grass Cover = 2,500 kg/DM/Ha
Residual Cover = 1,250 kg/DM/Ha
Pasture Size = 2 Ha.
Intake = 350 X 2.5% = 8.75 kg/DM/day
Group Demand = 306.25 kg/DM/day
Available Feed = 2,000 kg/DM/Ha
Growth = 45 kg/DM/Ha/day
Cover available = 2,000 / 306.25 = 6.5
Grass growth = 45 x 6.5 = 292.5 kg/DM
Grazing Period = 2,000 + 292.5 / 306.25 = 7 days
