The Rural Business School Issue 50 - AUtumn 2015
Beef South West CORGRASS 2015 RBS Africa Year of Soils 2015 Worm egg revolution
Advice Days:
Bicton - 14th November Duchy - 28th November Duchy - 30th January
Westcountry beef to be celebrated
Editorial
As we were going to press, the Office for National Statistics announced that consumer price inflation had edged back into negative territory in September; it had dropped to an annual rate of - 0.1%, the equal lowest reading since March 1960. Of course one of the major factors is falling food prices of food; they fell by 2.5% in the year to September ‘in the wake of continued supermarket price wars’. They have now fallen for the 15th month in a row and so there is ‘no pressure to lift interest rates’. Although the cause may not be to our liking, the benefits of low bank rates to farming in terms of low finance costs are significant. Negative inflation also means that many consumers’ effective disposable income increases as the cost of basics fall. Additionally, falling or static mortgage rates are likely to favour the same consumers who are ready to pay more for British food. It will be interesting to see if the Morrisons ‘Milk for Farmers’ initiative works - will the 50%+ of shoppers actually do as they stated when surveyed and pay more? The claim of the RABDF that 60% of milk producers are unaware of their production costs is worrying, as knowledge of the current state of
Director: Richard Soffe FRAgS page 2 | The Rural Business School |Autumn 2015
a business needs to be clear to get full benefit of events such as those being carried out by AHDB Dairy on ‘Surviving Low Milk Prices’ (page 26). The survey was carried out with dairy consultants rather than farmers themselves, however. It is pertinent to note that one of our beef commentators is reporting on benchmarking his business (page 3). It is easy to be complacent in that the beef trade has been steadier over recent months as compared to most other sectors, but underlying problems are still there. Data from the RBS’s Farm Business Survey work shows that beef and sheep farms were the only lowland sector to make a loss on their agricultural activities last year; the difficulties are further compounded by small farm size, compared to other farm types. There continues to be a large variation in performance and beef production businesses seeking to position themselves for the future will need to closely examine the
costs of production and benchmark their performance to identify areas for continued business success. The ‘Future of the Beef Industry’ report (Eblex, 2009) identified areas where the industry could improve its performance: greater take up of best farm management and husbandry practices, more attention to achieving cost efficiencies, better marketing and through training and skills development. All still seem to apply, including the underutilisation of grass (News, page 29). I suspect that producers attending Beef South West (page 17), will be there much more to follow up information on how to achieve improved business performance rather than looking to buy new kit. The RBS staff hopes to meet you there at our stand. Our courses are increasingly certificated (page 8) and remember that the ‘Grandfather Rights’ exemption ends in November (page 14). Paul Ward
Contents Industry Comment 3 Letters to the Editor 4 RBS News 5 Guest Articles 17 SWARM Hub 22 Market Monitor 26 News 21-29 Diary Dates 30-31
0845 458 7485
www.ruralbusinessschool.org.uk
BEEF: The beef trade is holding steady at the moment, but we don’t want to see the highs and lows again which we have seen in the last 18 months. Cattle numbers are adequate at the moment, but calf and stores are still hitting high prices but is there still any profit in it? We have to do our figures now more so than in the past. We have recently had our beef enterprise benchmarked with AHDB; this makes interesting reading. We purchase Aberdeen Angus weaned off calves and finish them at 1820 months. They all go deadweight and we get the AA Bonus. According to the benchmark, the top third are making £24 profit per head, the average are losing £163 per head and the bottom third are losing £425 per head. How long can this go on for? Graham Whiting, Beef farmer, Looe. DAIRY: Having just come to the end of a very welcome dry spell, it was good to be able to
keep the cows out as one cubicle passage has been acting as a temporary straw store whilst waiting for our collapsed Dutch barn to be replaced. It has been completed today as the rain pours down and the highs have the pleasure of staying in overnight - thank you to the estate for financing and organising the build. We plan to harvest the first few acres of maize that have been grown in a sheltered valley this week, but will have to wait another couple of weeks for the majority to ripen due to the cool season and lack of sunshine hours. The start of our breeding season has shown good strong heats, hopefully this will continue as we start serving for replacement heifers. Thanks to the Aldi price promise and strengthening of the Trewithen brand, we have been given a 0.3p/l price increase for October although this is still not enough for a sustainable future it is a positive and long may they last. Alison Ward, ST &AL Ward, Wadebridge.
BEEF & LAMB: There has been a fine balance between supply and demand and this has reflected on prices. On the whole trade over the past few months has been relatively good. Sourcing for Christmas is now foremost in processors minds so hopefully we should see a positive trading situation. Cull cows have been moving steadily realising satisfactory returns. NSL are currently marginally stronger than at the same time last year and the trade is steady. An organic premium is available, especially for lambs of the right spec. Cull ewe prices are not good and fat ewes are causing problems for processors.
Industry Comments
The state of farming in the south west - your views. Here we list some of your comments on the current state of agriculture in the westcountry.
Sue Rowe CQLP
For more information If you would like to share your views in a future issue, please contact Gemma Eales on 0845 458 7485 or email gc@duchy.ac.uk.
“The average (beef producer) is losing £163 per head.”
Congratulations to Becky Butland, former Assistant Editor of this publication, on her recent graduation following the successful completion of her Research Masters (ResM) on Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). We wish Becky all the best for the future! Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 3
Letters to the Editor
“Organic and long-life milk ‘risk to children’s IQ’ is pure scaremongering.”
Dear Editor, The article on page 25 of Issue 49 (Summer 2015) “Organic and long-life milk ‘risk to children’s IQ” is pure scaremongering. The research from Reading University repeats findings from a study published in 2013 and to draw these conclusions is incredibly irresponsible. The study does not include measures of iodine levels in individuals who consumed organic milk or IQ for babies whose mothers did. Therefore there is no evidence to show mothers consuming organic milk have lower iodine levels. There are scientifically proven health and environmental benefits of organic milk which are valuable as part of a balanced and healthy diet. Studies show that organic whole and semi-skimmed milk has more beneficial omega-3 fatty acid, Vitamin E and beta-carotene than nonorganic milk, and studies by Glasgow and Liverpool Universities found that UK organic milk has 68% higher levels of the essential fatty acid than non-organic milk. Research in The Netherlands found that the incidence of eczema in infants fed on organic dairy products and whose mothers also consumed organic dairy products have a 36% lower
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incidence of eczema than children who consume conventional dairy products, and that higher levels of beneficial conjugated linoleic acids are found in the breast milk of women consuming organic milk. The NHS does not cite milk in its list as a good source of iodine and public health nutritionists are advising that this focus on organic milk is actually misleading when adequate milk consumption currently protects all but teenagers. The solutions need to target the real problem, and look at boosting milk consumption by teenagers and possible use of supplements by pregnant mums, not throwing the organic milk baby - with all its benefits - out with the bath water. The Soil Association is aware of potentially lower levels of iodine in organic milk and we are working with farmers and scientists to find ways of addressing this issue whilst keeping all the other benefits consumers rightly expect. Helen Browning, Chief Executive of the Soil Association Dear Editor, Here at the Cornish NFU we are in full swing laying plans for our annual open meeting to be held Monday
23rd November, at Wadebridge Showground and we extend a very warm welcome to all the students of Duchy College to join us. For me personally this is a timely reminder of holding the office of County Chairman for my first year and who could have imagined how challenging the pressures on the agricultural community would have been? A large part of the NFU’s work is to challenge the government of the day, so I am sure you will appreciate we have many subjects to raise with ministers on issues like Tb control, milk supply chain, overall commodity prices, neonics, food labelling, young entrants and the list goes on. What we would really encourage is for the students of all colleges to engage in this process where ever possible. A message delivered to any parliamentary representative is greatly enhanced if it includes strong points raised by the farmers of the future. So please do make contact with our local NFU representatives or through the very strong YFC structure in Cornwall & Devon, your thoughts of how things could be improved in the future are very valuable. Chris Cardell, County Chairman, NFU
PAYE and payroll training Following the success of the PAYE and Payroll course held at Rosewarne in June and due to high demand, the RBS is delighted to announce that the course will be run again at Bicton College in October. As with the earlier course, it is run in partnership with a leading firm of accountants, Francis Clark. The course will provide training in PAYE and payroll to help rural businesses understand the intricacies involved in running an efficient payroll, and the obligations to their staff and how to adapt to changing workplace regulations. The previous course received excellent feedback, with delegates able to utilise a wealth of new knowledge in their businesses. The workshop will be led by Matthew Harris who is a fully-accredited SAGE Advisor with Francis Clark and has a
wealth of knowledge and experience in this area. This training benefits from an industry recognised certification, and the content of the day will include: • Tax Codes
RBS News
include pensions and new legislation.
“An industry recognised certification...”
• NI Categories • New Starters • Statutory Leave and Payments • Sickpay, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Leave • Holiday Pay • Attachment of Earnings Orders • Salary Sacrifice Schemes • National Minimum Wage The course will also
This training day is on Wednesday 21st October at Bicton College EaRTH Centre, EX9 7BY and will commence at 9am. The price is £140.
For more information Please contact the Rural Business School on 0845 458 7485 or rbs@duchy.ac.uk
Duchy 1st year Agriculture degree students recently visited Harpers Feeds mill at Holsworthy and learnt from Mr Bill Harper himself how the business operates Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 5
Course leads to employment
We need more bees for the future!
By Jamie Reed
by Lorna Harris, Business Development Officer
An RBS course has opened the door to full-time work for two of its participants. Richard Tresidder and Craig Lawrence both completed the BASIS Crop Protection Management course in June and within weeks walked into jobs with two south west employers, working as agronomists. Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, fibre and land reclamation. It encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology and soil science. Richard Tresidder said, “The course has certainly opened doors to me; I finished in June and started my new job as an agronomist with Agrovista in early July. The course was very well run, the trainers were superb all the way through and the price was very competitive.” The course looks at the hazards of crop protection chemicals,
Craig Lawrence (left) and Richard Tresidder (right) encourages safety consciousness and makes students aware of their legal obligations. Learners will also be able to recognise disease symptoms, advise on the choice of appropriate control measures and foresee and forestall pest problems by choosing safe and appropriate control measures.
Craig Lawrence is delighted to be in his new job, “The crop protection course at Duchy College proved to be a real door opener for me. When I applied to join the course, the agronomist for Matford Arable was very supportive, and along with the Duchy staff they helped me through the course, getting me out and looking at crops and problems that you could not learn from a textbook.
In the spring of this year I was fortunate enough for Matford Arable Systems to offer me a role as a junior agronomist covering the area around my home in Cornwall. With my previous arable farming experience and the support I’ve received - oh, and a good set of waterproofs, I hope to have a great start to my career in agronomy.”
For more information about the range of agronomy courses at the RBS, please call 0845 458 7485 or rbs@duchy.ac.uk
A Masterclass in Leadership
Expand your mind to the current issues facing the rural industry Develop your leadership skills Advance your strategic thinking A masterclass in leadership
The Challenge of Rural Leadership Course January 2016
For information on the course please contact course director: Richard Soffe Email: leadership@duchy.ac.uk Web: www.ruralbusinessschool.org.uk/20th-challenge-of-rural-leadership Tel: 0845 458 7485
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Farmers Weekly 190mm wide x 64mm h
Have you thought about keeping bees on your land? Bees are pollinators vital to our food chain. One third of the food we eat would not be available without bees. In the UK about 70 crops are dependent on, or benefit from, visits from bees. In addition, bees pollinate the flowers of many plants which become part of the feed of farm animals. The economic value of honey bees and bumble bees as pollinators of commercially grown insect pollinated crops in the UK has been estimated at over £200 million per year. Bees are in danger of disappearing from our environment. The honey bee is under attack from the varroa mite and it is only the treatment and care provided by beekeepers that is keeping colonies alive. Most wild honey bee colonies have died out as a result of this disease. There is a need for more beekeepers to safeguard bee population health. Now is a good time to think about keeping bees, helping the environment and producing honey, with all its health benefits. Most farms and gardens have a patch of land which would be suitable to house a hive. Our various bee training courses are led by two
genuine beekeepers who keep some of their hives at the Stoke Climsland campus. They are passionate about bees and encouraging new apiarists. So the courses are full of inspiration as well as good advice and knowledge.
“There is a need for more beekeepers to safeguard bee population health.” If you are considering keeping bees then our ‘Introduction to Beekeeping’ course will give you enough information to decide if beekeeping is for you.
If you are more certain that you want to keep bees or have already taken the first steps, you will learn a lot on our three-day ‘Beekeeping for Beginners’ course. These courses both include practical sessions if the weather permits. Starting in January there is a ten week classroom based evening course Beekeeping Theory for Beginners which covers a wealth of information and advice. For those of you who already keep bees and may want to develop your skills we have a ‘Next steps in Beekeeping’ two-day course, which includes starting simple queen rearing.
The courses dates are: • Beekeeping Theory for Beginners Sunday 22nd May 2016 • Introduction to Beekeeping Saturdays 7th, 14th & 21st May 2016 • Beekeeping for Beginners – Monday evenings from 11th January 2016 • Next Steps in Beekeeping - Sunday 19th June & Saturday 2nd July 2016
For more information Please contact the Rural Business School on 0845 458 7485 or rbs@duchy.ac.uk
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Becoming competent and qualified with the Rural Business School By Christopher Godolphin, Business Development Officer
As many of you will be aware, the RBS prides itself on responding to industry needs, providing world class, and often tailored, bespoke training to farmers, foresters, veterinary nurses and the wider land-based sector across the south west. Increasingly the industry is not only calling for training, but the qualification to demonstrate competency. Recently, we have responded yet again to these needs and rolled out a range of certificated training courses, mainly out of our Stoke Climsland campus, but where location of delegates dictates, Rosewarne and Bicton also. This need has arisen partly due to the need of insurers to ensure that businesses are maintaining high standards of staff training and ultimately their safety too. When rural insurers carry out visits and audits, they are now starting to insist that staff are fully qualified and not as previously, just suitably trained to use the tools and machinery of their trade. November sees a significant change in the law surrounding the use pesticides and sprayers, as outlined previously in this publication. You are able to undertake your PA1, PA2 and PA6 Sprayer training, as well as other applicator
training through the RBS. From our Stoke Climsland and Bicton campuses we are running many Grandfather Rights courses for the Knapsack and Boom-Sprayers. These courses are for people born before 1964 who regularly use pesticides on their own land. Current courses have filled to capacity, and there is a waiting list, but please don’t let that discourage you from booking as we will be running additional courses over the coming months. We have also begun to offer a wide range of courses, both LANTRA and City & Guilds accredited in response to industry need. This benefits our students as well who are able to participate in this training, as a bolt-on to their mainstream programme of study or apprenticeship, enhancing their skills and knowledge base as well as preparing them more fully for the workplace, and their eventual employment prospects.
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pesticides if you cannot prove you possess appropriate credentials after November of this year. Already, many students and apprentices have undertaken training. This has benefitted not only themselves but also their employers, whose obligation to have fully qualified staff is being aided as we strive to provide our students with the best experiences and the best preparation for their careers. Julian Allin who recently completed his FdSc in Conservation at Rosewarne before
Tapping into the expertise of our staff, as well as bringing in expert delivery, we have developed a broad range of qualifications from Abrasive Wheels training (or Angle Grinders to the uninitiated!), Rough Terrain Telescopic Forklifts (or Telehandlers for the plain speakers amongst you!) Quadbike, both Ride-on and Sitin, Brushcutters and Trimmers, Chainsaws, Tractor Driving, 360˚ Tracked Excavators, Welding, Digger Training, Hedgetrimmers, Lawnmowers both Ride-on and Pedestrian Controlled, and Woodchipper to mention a few.
continuing his studies at Cornwall College Camborne, made excellent use of this provision during his time at Rosewarne and underwent First Aid, Deer Butchery and Pest Control and Management training. Julian greatly enjoyed this training, saying, “These courses are closely linked with my own studies and the deliverers have been very well selected. For students that are ‘outdoorsy’ the courses are very relevant and go some way to enhancing a C.V. and building up skills and increasing a wider knowledge.”
For more information about these courses, please visit our website where information can be found under the Certificated Training page, which is easily navigated to from the homepage. You will also be able to see the certificated training available at the back of this magazine. However, if you are in need of particular training that isn’t already scheduled, please get in touch and we can add you to our waiting list, particularly if it is more unusual training that you require.
For more information This certificated training provision is available to students, industry and the public at large. If you have a training need please don’t hesitate to contact us by telephoning 0845 458 7485 or emailing rbs@duchy.ac.uk and we will endeavour to cater for your training needs.
PA2 Tractor-mounted sprayer courses are available through the RBS On the animal health side, there are numerous courses available, including Safe Use of Veterinary Medicine, Animals in Transit, Pest Control & Management, Sheep Dip Training, Sheep Shearing, Pet and Equine First Aid. All of these courses carry an industry recognised qualification and in the case of pesticides for example, are now becoming mandatory. If you are going to be using or handling pesticides as part of your job or employment you will not be allowed to purchase
THERE’S MORE TO DUCHY AND BICTON COLLEGES THAN YOU THINK. We have an incredible range of specialist courses on your doorstep, across Devon and Cornwall. From entry-level to postgraduate study, we offer the following: Agriculture Animal Management & Vet Nursing Business Countryside, Conservation & Gamekeeping Early Years & Forest School Equine Floristry Food Manufacturing & Technology
T: 0845 60 50 455 E: enquiries@duchy.ac.uk W: www.duchy.ac.uk
Foundation Learning Horticulture Land-based Engineering & Construction Plant Military Academy Outdoor Pursuits & Adventure Sports Public Services Sport Tree Surgery
Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 9
Farming in Nairobi
by Claire Reigate, Technical Specialist During the summer holidays, I was fortunate enough to spend six weeks in Nairobi working on a Comic-Relief funded project that the RBS is involved in. The project is called Farm Shop (www. farmshop.co.ke) and it provides access to quality agricultural inputs and training to small-scale farmers and growers in and around Kiambu County, Nairobi, via a micro-franchise network of agri-merchants. My role was to review the farmer training in relation to animal health and make recommendations which I have duly done, but I want to share with you what farming is like in Kiambu. Kenya, described by the popular travel guide the Lonely Planet as the ‘land of contrasts’, sits right on top of the equator. Its rugged landscapes are diverse, as is its climate. From the dry savannahs in the Maasai Mara, to the cool, wet highlands in the Rift Valley, to the hot and humid coastal regions, to the fertile plateaus skirting Lake Victoria, Kenya hosts some of the sparsest terrains and densest tropical forests, and as a consequence is home to thousands of species of birds, mammals, invertebrates and plants. It possesses magnificent volcanic landforms, active hot springs, gigantic salt water lakes, and a breathtaking coast line. With all of this rich geography it is not surprising that Kenya is one of the most agriculturally productive countries in Africa. As Kenya is the land of contrasts you would expect farming to also reflect this. It doesn’t disappoint. There are the huge commercial
plantations growing cash crops such as coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton and flowers for export, then the nomadic pastoralists roaming the grasslands seeking the fresh pasture and water, and the more settled urban small-scale, often subsistence farmers. I spent most of my time with the latter. Nairobi is situated at an altitude at 1,600m above sea level, and is surprisingly cool in July and August. The land is so fertile that it seems that
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anything could be grown there. The economy is booming; large corporate developments are being constructed all over the city, and farmers are moving out to surrounding districts such as Kiambu. Kiambu County has a population of about 1.6 million, and agriculture plays a vital role in the county’s economy. A typical mixed farm in Kiambu consists of 1-5 dairy cows (usually Holstein-Friesian
Farm Shop outlet in Ikinu, Kiambu, Nairobi crossbreeds), possibly a couple of sheep and goats, about 10 layer hens and an acre of land for growing crops. The soil is rich red in colour, dry and silty. Every farm I visited grew maize. The cob is ground down to make maize flour which is the main ingredient of ugali, a staple in a Kenyan diet, and the remainder of the plant is chopped up for fodder. Other popular crops grown were kale,
cabbages, tomatoes and potatoes. The cows are often in stalls and generally fed a diet of Napier grass, banana leaves and managu (African Nightshade), and the sheep and goats are tethered to graze grass on the side of the road.
main animal health issues were mastitis, nutrition and reproduction, which are obviously closely linked. Almost all farmers use artificial insemination; whilst the cows conceive, the challenge is maintaining the pregnancy.
All farm work is done by hand: milking, slurry scraping, ploughing, planting, irrigation and harvesting. The milk is sold either via a local dairy cooperative to which the farmer must be a registered member or raw via ‘hawkers’ on the side of the road. The farmers must take the milk to the dairy co-op every day, usually in an urn strapped to the back of a cheap Chinese motorcycle where it is measured and tested. Then the farmer receives a volume-based cash payment of 40-50 KSH (25-30p) per litre at the end of each week.
In terms of crop production, pests and disease, water, land, access to markets and education are the biggest challenges. The rich biodiversity and warmer humid climate means that insects thrive and that includes pests such as white fly, leaf miners, moths, thrips and aphids. Crop diseases such as blight, canker and mildew are prevalent on most farms I visited. Water is scarce on some farms and plentiful on others. For those farmers who do manage to grow crops, their challenge is often being able to sell them. Nairobi is full of markets selling fresh fruit and vegetables, but farmers often don’t have the means to get their crops
The cows produce anything from 3 litres to 25 litres per day. The
Typical dairy unit in Kiambu. Photograph taken by Liam Moore.
to these markets, and they must pay an annual licence to have a stall. As a result most set up a temporary roadside stall close to their farm. With regards to training, Farm Shop offers free training to farmers in and around Kiambu. The training is delivered by a very knowledgeable technical team which is made up of vets, animal health advisors and agronomists. The training takes place on-farm, and all farmers in the locality are invited. The events are promoted though announcements in church, word-of-mouth and SMS. The training topics covered are vast and include subjects such as mastitis, calf rearing, livestock nutrition, record keeping, reproduction and fertility, soil health, pest identification and control, manure management and general crop management. The training frequently has a large turn-out, the extension officers are very
Tethered sheep on the side of the road in Kiambu, Nairobi professional, the farmers are engaged and very willing to talk through problems and share ideas and experiences. The Farm Shop team recognise that just making agricultural inputs accessible to farmers is not sustainable in the long-term. However, providing farmers with high quality, accessible, relevant training will result in improved agricultural knowledge and skill. Sound advice will lead to improved animal health and welfare, leading to higher productivity and ultimately increased farm profitability.
For more information on the RBS’ work in Kenya, contact Dr Steve Roderick on s.roderick@cornwall. ac.uk or phone 0845 458 7485
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Training you and your gundog
By Christopher Godolphin, Business Development Officer Now we are past the ‘Glorious 12th’, and the shooting season is upon us – you may like to consider giving your gundog a refresher in how to behave and respond to you when out in the field. You may even have a lovely Labrador that is a bit bored, and soon tires of merely chasing the ball. We may be able to help! do anything for you is with love and affection, and that is what I bring to my training methods.”
Since March of this year we have run workshops every month with between 4-6 dogs and their owners coming to learn about the techniques and methods needed to work a gundog, for both the shooting and trialling field, and just for fun. These courses are led by Morwenna McNally, of Aveegotun Gundogs & Kennels near Truro. Morwenna trained at Duchy College in Veterinary Nursing, and decided to pursue her love and passion for gundogs in 2006. She honed her skills with the legendary Hedley Millington of Nancarrow Gundogs, and has had her own kennels since 2010. Usually, owners train their dogs privately, on their own land – or will take their dog for oneto-one tuition with a professional trainer, so doing a group workshop at a college is slightly out of the ordinary because of the high levels of concentration required from the owner and the dog.
However, since being approached by the RBS to run small group workshops, these courses have become exceedingly popular, and delegates now attend each month or every other month depending on the level of their dog’s abilities; thus places are snapped up quickly, so if you would like to attend, please try to book as early as possible. The word has spread too! We have had people willing to travel quite significant distances to attend our workshops, such is the demand for this course, and its availability in the region.
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Morwenna McNally of Aveegotun Gundogs
Morwenna employs a very modern approach to her training. She openly says, “The only way to effectively train a dog is with a solid structure and routine, with positive training methods and repetition, Repetition, REPETITION!’ Morwenna uses the absolute powers of positive reinforcement with the dogs – there is never any form of chastisement or aggression in the training, “That is not the way anyone should be training any dog these days”, she says with conviction. “The best way to get a dog to
This is proven too when Morwenna brings out one of her own dogs to do some demonstrating. Her dog, never removed her gaze from her mistress for a second. Even when another dog came near for the introductory ‘sniff’, Morwenna’s dog remained seated, perfectly still and staring straight at her waiting for a command or a sign that she was needed to do something. You can see that Morwenna’s dogs are totally devoted to her, as she is to her dogs. We have had many different dogs attend our workshops too, from Standard Poodles (which apparently were originally bred for duck hunting… who knew?) right up to enormous Hungarian Vizslas, as well as the numerous breeds of Spaniels and Labradors that are more common on the working field, and all of these dogs have gained some benefit from this training, and mainly because it is for which
these dogs have been bred. “Ultimately, what an owner is doing by considering taking a dog for some gundog training, is tapping in to some genetic coding, that may not have been unlocked yet,” added Morwenna. Even if you do not actively shoot, but own a gundog, it may well be worth considering bringing your dog for the mental and physical stimulation and
the actual enjoyment of the course and that’s not just the dogs! Even better, is that all of this takes place in the beautiful grounds of the campus at Rosewarne, where there is plenty of space for individual work during the sessions as well as the group work, and Morwenna works hard to maximise the time she spends with each dog attending.
Training You and Your Gundog workshops Workshops are held once a month, and throughout winter will be held on Sundays from 10am-1pm which should be the warmest part of the day! The cost of each workshop is £25 per person and if you would like to bring more than one dog, please get in touch with us to confirm. To book your place please get in touch with us, either by emailing rbs@ duchy.ac.uk or by telephoning 0845 458 7485. The next courses are on November 1st and December 6th, we look forward to seeing you and your dog there!
Make more of mutton
By Faye Shepherd, Technical Specialist The ‘Make More of Mutton’ campaign from the National Sheep Association (NSA), aims to increase the popularity of quality mutton amongst UK consumers, increase its availability and enhance the income of participating sheep farmers. At present, 86% of all sheep meat consumed is lamb, yet mutton (typically define as sheep over two years of age) is just as tasty- if not tastier, and healthier due to the higher proportion of Omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and zinc. on year growth identifies the increasing demands on the industry for high quality, home grown mutton.
In a recent event held at the Well Hung Meat Company in Devon, farmers, butchers and industry leaders gathered and discussed the current market, styles of cooking mutton, and best feeding practices for optimum mutton production.
Tom Bourne, Managing Director of the Well Hung Meat Company, explained how they have seen the market for mutton increase exponentially, with a 230% growth in mutton sales since the inception of the business in 1998. This 20% year
The event concluded with an excellent lunch by local chef Tom Welch, who demonstrated the huge versatility of quality mutton - from burgers, curries, roasts, and offal with a fantastic mutton liver parfait. Generally, the rule for cooking mutton has always been ‘be slow to be sure’. A few cuts can be cooked quickly and well by experienced cooks, however most reliability comes from long, slow cooking.
The importance of ensuring quality along the supply chain to guarantee a fantastic eating experience is crucial, and with the NSA’s Make More of Mutton initiative, improved awareness, quality and availability of mutton will help to bring this fantastic meat back on the menu.
For more information Visit: www. nsamutton.org.uk and read the review of “Much ado about mutton” on page 24 of the Winter 2014 RBS Newsletter
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You’re invited!
Grandfather Rights for plant protection products to end! By Ali Bunkum, Business Development Officer
HSE ap pr certific oved at comple e on tion of the wo rk s h o p
FREE
Farm Health & Safety Workshops
A current exemption in UK law, commonly known as ‘grandfather rights’ currently allows anyone born before 31st December 1964 to use plant protection products (PPP’s) authorised for professional use on their own or their employer’s land without having to hold a certificate of competence, although they should still be suitably trained and competent for the job.
Holsworthy Livestock Market 2 November
This exemption will end on the 26th November 2015 meaning that anyone not qualified will not only be unable to use sprays, they will also be unable to purchase them without displaying the relevant certificate.
Sedgemoor Livestock Market 17 November
Griggs Country Store 4 November
Participants have commented on the ‘relaxed and informative’ nature of the first day, and that it’s good to meet with farmers and growers from different areas.
Hundreds of farmers have either already completed a ‘Grandfather rights’ course through the RBS since the beginning of the year, or are booked to attend over the next few months.
For more information The course consists of one day’s training at the College with a practical demonstration, then an on-farm assessment for
either tractor mounted sprayers or hand held applicators, on a date arranged between the farmer and the assessor.
or to book your place on an upcoming course please call the Rural Business School on 0845 458 7485.
CPTC Ltd Cornwall and Devon’s Proficiency Test Centre
Assessors Required CPTC Ltd is a proficiency test centre that provides and organises assessments/assessors in Cornwall and now Devon for NPTC qualifications. Based at Stoke Climsland, we have assessors throughout the South West but would now like to recruit additional, part-time, assessors to work in East Cornwall and Devon to assess NPTC Certificate of Competence (CoC) qualifications such as Pesticides, Chainsaws, Machinery and similar areas in the land-based industries. You need to hold the qualification yourself, be technically competent and willing to undertake any appropriate training, with the centre able to help with costs. You need to have good communication skills and be able to work as part of a team and have great attention to detail. Pay will vary depending on the subject area you are assessing. This role is often undertaken by assessors who are also farming or working in the Land-based sector. For further information contact the CPTC Office c/o Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, CALLINGTON PL17 8PB or phone 01579 372285 or email Norman Rundle/Fiona Oliver at lilly.smith@duchy.ac.uk page 14 | The Rural Business School |Autumn 2015
All events:10.30am – 3.30pm Limited places available, book your place: Email: jwoolcock@cornishmutual.co.uk Tel: Jody - 01872 246267
Insurance that keeps its word
Supported by the Health & Safety Executive
The workshop sessions will be run by professional trainers from Duchy College and Lantra and will take place at the following: Holsworthy Livestock Market, New Market Road, Holsworthy, EX22 7FA 2 November 10.30am – 3.30pm. RSVP by 26 October Griggs Country Store, Lower Sticker, St Austell, PL26 7JH 4 November 10.30am – 3.30pm. RSVP by 26 October Sedgemoor Livestock Market, Market Way, Bridgwater, TA6 6DF 17 November 10.30am – 3.30pm. RSVP by 9 November The sessions covered will include • Telehandler best practice • Working at heights/manual handling/electrocution* • Safe use of ATVs There will also be sessions run by legal and insurance professionals focusing on important farming issues. Limited places available, secure your place today by: Tel: Jody 01872 246267 email: jwoolcock@cornishmutual.co.uk Refreshments on arrival and lunch will be provided. Please bring warm clothes as some of the sessions may take place outside. *Please note this session is not available at Holsworhty Livestock Market.
CMA House, Newham Road, Newham, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2SU Tel: 0345 900 1288 Email: askus@cornishmutual.co.uk www.cornishmutual.co.uk Cornish Mutual is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 15
Use of pesticides to control weed below electric fences By Norman Rundle, CPTC Ltd
The RBS has been holding a number of training courses to prepare farmers to take the Grandfather Rights assessment in the ‘Safe use of Pesticides – Hand Held’. One question raised on a number of occassions is whether it is permitted to use a pesticide to control the growth of weeds at the base of hedges where an electric fence is used for stock control and we thought it useful to relay the guidance here. We have looked into this and the following information can be found in the Cross-Compliance booklet (this was the guidance that was issued back in 2005, when the requirement was first implemented.) The rules on GAEC 7a, and what the exemptions currently are, are below. You must not: Cultivate or apply fertilisers or pesticides to land within 2 metres of the centre of a hedgerow. Fertilisers include: inorganic and organic fertiliser, organic manures, lime, slurry,
sewage sludge, slag, trace elements, calcified seaweed and human waste (not an exhaustive list). Pesticides mean anything used for destroying pests and include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other biocides. You won’t break these rules if you’ve used pesticides for spot application, or you’ve cultivated land for one of these reasons: • to establish a green cover where one doesn’t exist and the land is part of a field which is being newly created (whether by
• to land on the side of any hedgerow which is facing away from a dwelling where the hedgerow marks a boundary of the curtilage of the dwelling
merger or division) • to establish a green cover where one doesn’t exist and the land was previously outside the scope of cross compliance.
• to the casting up of a traditional hedgebank between 1 September and the last day of February (inclusive).
These rules do not apply: • to land either side of a hedgerow which is less than 5 years old (you’ll need to keep documentary evidence to prove this)
For more information
• to land forming part of a parcel of 2 hectares or less, as measured within permanent boundary features
Or to book on a course please call the Rural Business School on 0845 458 7485.
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Something to sell? Looking to buy? Advertise in the The Rural Business School and reach over 10,000 readers! Land, stock, machinery, goods, services etc. Charges: 50p per word plus £5.00 for a photo. Call 0845 458 7485 to place your advertisement or e-mail gc@duchy.ac.uk Cheques payable to ‘Duchy College’. We reserve the right to refuse submissions. Advertisers are liable in law not to mis-represent any offerings for sale, under the Business Advertisement Disclosure Order. We accept no responsibility for the contents of these advertisements.
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page 16 | The Rural Business School |Autumn 2015
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Bosahan Simmentals
Celebration of Westcountry beef This year’s Beef South West Show, which is to be held at Westpoint Arena, Exeter on Wednesday 11th November, is going to be a celebration of all that is good about West Country beef. Not only will there be the premiere primestock show for the best Westcountry commercial fatstock and pedigree cattle, there will also be competitions for the finest beef steaks and beef burgers produced in the West Country. The event is set to be a gathering of the region’s top cattle farmers, leading butchers and farm shops, bringing the whole supply chain together under one roof. The steak and burger competitions are supported by Taste of the West and Ladies in Beef and are open to all butchers and farm shops in the Westcountry region. The show this year will feature the recently gained PGI for Westcountry beef, a prestigious European designation due to the region’s topography which results in Westcountry cattle gaining a minimum 70% for their lifetime feed requirements from grass and forage. “Visitors to the show will be supporting the PGI as much of the £10 entry fee (£8 in advance) will be donated to Meat South West to help with the future promotion of the PGI, so that in itself is a good reason for the region’s beef farmers to attend and champion their industry”, said the show organising committee’s, chairman, Rob Venner. John May, pictured holding his prize winning bull Boskenna
Donal, along with Nick Burrington, are two of the mainstays of this year’s show. John is head steward of the breed society stands and is confident all major pedigree breeds will be at the show to highlight their special attributes. John is well known for his Priorton herds of Pedigree Devons and Simmentals. The Devon being the Westcountry’s traditional butchers breed and the Simmental being a larger continental animal which thrives in the South West. Nick is head steward of the primestock section and he is delighted to be able to welcome exhibitors to stalling inside the main Westpoint arena. Last year’s show was within minutes of
being stopped for health and safety reasons, as during judging gale force winds almost blew the marquees away which were housing the cattle. “Last year was a total nightmare, we just managed to fight the gales and save the tents but this year we will be able to welcome exhibitors into much more luxurious accommodation in the arena itself”, said Nick.
Guest Articles
“The show will feature the recently gained PGI for Westcountry beef ”
Tickets maybe obtained in advance from Vicky Smith on 01392 882153 or email: natbeefsw@ gmail.com
Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 17
Soil Association Soil Symposium 2015: the top 6 inches - Practical ways to build great soil Want healthier soil? Come to Britain’s biggest and brightest soil clinic! This event will be held on Thursday 5 November at At-Bristol, Anchor Road, Harbourside, BRISTOL, BS1 5DB. As well as the chance to quiz the experts about your soil results, there will be a packed day of practical talks and hands-on workshops. Learn how to make the most of mixed leys, bring stock onto your arable land, and speak to the innovative farmers trialling new approaches through ‘Field Labs’. Catch up with industry experts, friends and colleagues at activities throughout the day, from carrot tasting (can you tell what it was grown in?) – to planning a treeplanting scheme for your farm. The evening event will be a celebration of soil with an organic feast and dancing into the night. Programme highlights include: Debating the key areas for consideration when
introducing livestock onto an arable farm. With many farms bringing livestock back to improve fertility, yields and soil health, this session looks at experiences from the perspective of an arable farmer and a shepherd including practical management issues. Deepen your understanding of nitrogen, its complex nature and how to use it to improve soil health and your business’ bottom line. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for crop growth and a major nutrient you can control. The behaviour of nitrogen is complex, yet understanding how it works is essential to making your farm more efficient. Diverse leys for soil health and farm profit. Organic beef and sheep farmer (and British
Win a complimentary ticket with evening meal and entertainment! Book your ticket on or before 9pm on Friday 30 October at www.soilassociation.org/soilsymposium and be in with the chance to win 1 full free ticket including lunch, evening meal and entertainment. To enter, simply enter the promotional code DUCHY before purchasing your ticket. All participants will be emailed on Monday 2 November to confirm the winner. Winning ticket holder will be refunded prior to the event. page 18 | The Rural Business School |Autumn 2015
Grassland Farmer of the Year), Dafydd Jones, will discuss how he is improving his forage production using a multi-species leys. Learn about the impact it’s had on his animals and on the nutritional quality of silages. Biopesticides and soil health. Although current regulatory barriers prevent wider uptake, the use of biopesticides is at the forefront of advancing technology. Leading experts will discuss the possibility of using them on farm and debate the possible environmental implications. Innovative Farmers. Hear from Iain Tolhurst (Tolhurst Organics) and David Findlay (Cream O’ Galloway) about their field lab trials on Woodchip Compost and Small scale anaerobic digestion. Learn about our exciting
The top 6 inches: Practical ways to build great soil
Soil Symposium 2015
new network, ‘Innovative farmers’ and how working as a group can really make a difference. Liz Bowles, head of farming at the Soil Association said, “We are delighted to welcome many leading UK and international soil experts and if the last few years are anything to go by, delegates will go away informed and inspired to up their game in this crucial area.” In the evening, join us for ‘Down and dirty: a celebration of soil’ - to celebrate International Year of Soils and Bristol European Green Capital 2015, bringing together everyone who shares a passion for food, farming and our soil. Tickets Day Tickets from only £30 plus vat. For more information, visit www. soilassociation.org/ soilsymposium
Thursday 5 November
At-Bristol, Anchor Rd, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5DB
www.soilassociation.org/soilsymposium
Autumn 2015 | TheFarming Rural Business School | page 19 Supported by the Duchy Future Programme
Worm egg counts made easier.
By Professor Gerald Coles, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol Worm egg counting in faecal samples helps you decide whether your flock, herd, horse or even hens need treating. It can save you money by reducing the numbers of times you need to treat and unnecessary treatments help select for anthelmintic resistance. Used after treatment, the egg counting indicates whether the anthelmintic you are using is still fully effective. There is no point in using a partly effective or ineffective anthelmintic; it is just a waste of time and money. You really should know the resistance status on your farm. into a suitable container and add very hot water. When it has cooled down if there is some solid salt still present it is saturated.
Now worm egg counting has become a lot easier and better thanks to two simple devices developed by Professor Cringoli of Naples Vet School. Fill-FLOTAC. If you fill the cone and squash down and level off the sample it weighs 5 grams - no need for a balance. Then add 45 ml of saturated sodium chloride, take the cover off the top of the cone rod and faecal samples can be broken up easily and rapidly. This is particularly helpful with hard sheep pellets. As the lid has an inbuilt coarse filter all you have to do is slip on a small plastic tip to fill the Mini-FLOTAC slide. When you have used the Fill-FLOTAC you can rinse it out under the tap and use it again. The Mini-FLOTAC slide is very simple. You fill the two wells (see picture) let the slide stand for 10 minutes to allow all the eggs to float to the surface, and then ‘translate’ the slide, This involves a simple turn
Easy faecal egg counting available through Healthy Livestock The RBS’ Healthy Livestock team will shortly be stocking both the Fill–FLOTAC & Mini-FLOTAC slides to ensure that this much easier and cheaper faecal egg counting technology is made available to farmers in the south west.
Both the Fill-FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC will soon be available to purchase via the RBS, please see page 21 for more information.
through 90 degrees which removes the layer containing the eggs from the cell full of dark matter and debris. It makes the eggs much easier to see than with a McMaster or FECPAK slide. If you count both sides of the gridded area the sensitivity is 5 eggs per gram (compared with the usual 50 eggs per gram with McMaster) i.e. one egg seen on the MiniFLOTAC slide is equivalent to 5 eggs per gram. Of course if there are plenty of eggs you can count one side, sensitivity now 10 eggs per gram or half one side when one egg equals 20 eggs per gram. In a simple test eggs from
page 20 | The Rural Business School | Autumn 2015
The Fill-FLOTAC (left) and Mini-FLOTAC (right) sheep were added to worm free sheep faeces. The recovery was 100%, better than other systems. I am so pleased with the Mini-FLOTAC I now use nothing else for counting worm eggs. Of course you can also count coccidial oocysts. You can reuse the slide many times. I have several so I can run a number of counts simultaneously and do not have to wait for 10 minutes for each slide. The way I make saturated sodium chloride is to put salt bought on the web
You will also need one adapter for moving the slide on the stage of your microscope. The MiniFLOTAC slide is larger than a McMaster slide so it will not fit on to the stage of a small cheap microscope. Probably the best value for money is the SP27 that you can obtain from Brunel Microscopes Ltd and costs £166 + VAT. There is no easy answer to the anthelmintic resistance and the control of worms so farmers and horse owners, you should always discuss your worm egg counts with your vet so that you are given the best advice on control of worms.
News Bitter truth | New Scientist, 1 August 2015 Fruit and veg are getting tastier, but this is at the expense of our health. For example, sweeter pink or red grapefruits are replacing white varieties in the shops. Many other types of fruit and vegetables are becoming less bitter, but often because of a lack of bitter chemicals called phytonutrients, which are beneficial to our health. They act as natural pesticides protecting plants against bacteria and insects, but in small quantities, there is increasing evidence of many health benefits as they can destroy cells e.g. a phytonutrient, naringin, found in white grapefruit, has anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory and inhibits the growth of some cancer cells. Other types of phytonutrients are found in brassicas, potatoes and tomatoes. Phytonutrients are also thought to have antioxidant properties, triggering our internal antioxidant systems. Those found in cocoa, coffee and berries can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The aversion to bitterness is found in thirty percent of people. As consumers become more interested in in the phytonutrients’ health benefits, however, the industry is responding and starting to offer products enriched with these compounds.
Breakthrough in gene technology | New Scientist, 26 September 2015
As described by Prof Coles, this technology is valid, sensitive and a lowcost alternative technique to those currently in use. There will be more details in the next issue, but please contact the RBS on 0845 458 7485 if you are interested, so that we are able to gauge the level of demand for this.
The innovative FLOTAC system will soon be available through the RBS
The new gene-editing technology, CRISR, is opening the door to a brave new world. Gene editing used to be a time-consuming and imprecise process, but now any living genome can be edited using a computer. Guides made of bespoke RNA lead the CRISPR molecular machinery to the target, where an enzyme makes the cut. This either destroys the DNA function there or allows the insertion of a genetic sequence of your choice.
Energy policy in a spin | New Scientist, 4 July 2015 Onshore wind energy is set to lose all subsidies in 2016, which, combined with plans to give local communities more power to reject wind farms could stop the country’s cheapest form of clean energy in its tracks. At the same time, an IMF report found that fossil fuels enjoy a $5 trillion global subsidy, calculated on the basis of environmental harm. The debate is just beginning! Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 21
SWARM hub
News continued from page 21
RegenAg Update By Natasha Gittings
Fish oil from seeds | New Scientist, 11 July 2015
Earlier this year, RegenAg UK (RAUK) ran a very popular workshop on Soil Health with Joel Williams (at Bicton – some of you may have attended it), and in response to the feedback from that sell-out day, this material will be delivered via similar workshops in Worcestershire and London. Using these ‘foundation’ days as a basis, RAUK is also looking to expand and deepen the material covered by adding two further study days specialising in e.g. compost teas, disease management, etc., which will commence 2016 - and to establish UK-based demonstration sites.
There is no need to plunder the oceans for fish oil. It can now be grown in flax-like camelina plants. The genetically modified plants contain seven extra genes from marine plants and microbes, enabling them to make the two most beneficial fish oil in their seeds.
Gone off | New scientist, 25 July 2015 too – such as another ‘Regenerative Agriculture Start-Up Day’ with Nigel Griffiths in Kent; for more information about these and other events see the calendar at: http://www. regenag.co.uk/index. php/course-calendar. For
Joel Williams teaching about Soil Biology at Bicton EaRTH
more information on the trainers, see: http://www. regenag.co.uk/index.php/ trainers.
For more information To sign up for RegenAg UK’s e-mailing list please visit: www.regenag.co.uk - then you can be sure to keep up to date – or if you prefer to speak to someone in person please call 07866 674 205.
In the meantime, there is another of their now established Holistic Management® courses too (Introduction to Holistic Management®; Planning and DecisionMaking for Whole-Farm Success). This will run from 3rd-5th November near Bridgwater, with Owen Hablutzel acting as main trainer and Rob Havard (farmer and ecologist) also coming along to talk about his experience of using Holistic Management and Holistic Planned Grazing in the UK - on the family page 22 | The Rural Business School | Autumn 2015
farm and some National Trust land he has recently taken on. More and more farmers and land managers in the UK are now noticing the benefits of Holistic Management and Holistic Planned Grazing, with several Nuffield Scholars, such as David Walstone and Rob Richmond using it as a starting point for their studies, and conservationists also realising the benefit in e.g. Higher Nature Value farming.
Holistic Management® and Holistic Planned Grazing Masterclass at Haye Farm, Worcestershire (pic: Owen Hablutzel)
This is a Savory Institute (SI) accredited program with a Savory Institute Accredited Professional – and you will also, as with their other RAUK events, be able to collect BASIS points for attendance. Before the next newsletter comes out there will not doubt be more events scheduled
Farm Crap App update
By Becky Willson The crap app team have been showcasing the app on a national scale at the first Agri-Innovation Den event held at the end of September. Based on the popular TV series, the team pitched the app to a steely panel of industry ‘dragons’ to try and secure investment to allow for future developments. After some challenging questions, an offer was made which included mentoring, support and potential collaboration opportunities. One of the next stages is to do some
follow up with farmers who have used the app, so if you have used it on your farm, and found it of use, please get in touch at info@swarmhub.co.uk or call 0845 458 7485 today!
Although 90% of customers entering British supermarkets purchase milk, around 15% of people in Europe now avoid dairy products for medical or lifestyle reasons. For many, their concerns are around lactose intolerance or the belief that plant-based alternatives are healthier. Milk and dairy products are among the best sources of the essential element, calcium, important for bone development; although some recent work in Sweden challenges the traditional thinking, many nutrition and health scientists continue to have particular worries about adolescent girls dropping their intake and its long term effects on bone development. A few studies have associated high milk consumption with the development of some cancers and diabetes, but the weight of evidence is to the contrary i.e. milk consumption appears to have a protective influence. The problem with milk is that it is such a complex food and even more so when other foods consumed are taken into account; for instance the calcium in milk binds to and neutralises carcinogenic substances in meat. The other benefits of milk over most plant-based substitutes are its >3% protein content along with iodine and vitamin D. An analysis by Reading University of 15 different studies show that high consumers of milk have a 16% lower risk of heart disease and stroke than lower consumers of milk.
Ground rules | The Biologist, October 2015 The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that a third of all soils are degraded due to erosion, being overworked or industrialisation in this International Year of Soils. In the UK, there has been an inexorable decline in the amount of organic matter in soil over the past 50 years and growers are looking to reverse trends, but the difficulty is that incorporating 10 tonnes per hectare only increases organic matter by 0.1%. Incorporation does not happen overnight, because manures and slurries need to be broken down Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 23
‘Meating and milking the cream of Cornish grassland’ –CORGRASS 2015 By Paul Ward, Project Manager
Duchy College was very privileged to be included as one of the venues along with eight farms in this year’s four-day Summer Meeting of the British Grassland Society (BGS), hosted by Cornwall Grassland Society. Some 200 members from as far afield as Aberdeen visited the Duchy College campus and farm at Stoke Climsland. The BGS is a forum for those with an active interest in the science and practice of grass and forage production and utilisation. The group brings together research workers, farmers, advisers, teachers and technical professionals. The visit was an opportunity to explain how Duchy College, established in 1984, has developed to become the first land-based college in England to receive the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, for “leadership of skills development across the region’s rural economy”. With a few small farm buildings and some land leased from the Duchy of Cornwall, it has grown to become one of the UK’s largest specialist land-based education providers. Duchy College is best known regionally for its knowledge transfer, skills and training delivery involving some 14,000 farming and rural businesses across the six counties of the south west through the RBS. Duchy College is also part of The Cornwall
College Group (TCCG) which has over 40,000 learners working towards a range of qualifications, including research masters and degrees; 2,000 of those students specialise in the rural economy, to include food, agriculture and horticulture. In May 2015 TCCG and Bicton College in Devon launched their ground-breaking merger deal to form the largest land-based college in the south west. The range of training and knowledge transfer work was demonstrated; of particular relevance
page 24 | The Rural Business School | Autumn 2015
was the development of the ground-breaking ‘Farm Crap App’, an easy way of ensuring that slurry and FYM is used to maximum economic value in these straitened times. The other key area of interest was an update on the ‘Future Farm Development’, designed to attract a significant applied research programme in dairying to the south west. Colin Dymond, day chairman from the South East Cornwall Grassland Society, said, “The event has been very well attended. Here in South
The visit to the College and the other two farms on the day was coordinated by members of South East Cornwall Grassland Society, including James Coumbe, Duchy College Farms Director and Paul Ward of the RBS East Cornwall we have some of the best dairy units in the region. It’s great to have the national Grassland Society here to show off what we have here in the South West. Our visitors have been really involved and engaged in what they’ve seen here today and are keen to find out more.”
The other leading dairy farms visited ranged from the Risdon family’s crossbred herd, based round grazed grass at Hendrawalls to the Barrett family’s intensive system at Tresallick and including the Vanstone family at Rhude and the Kellows at Treveglos, combining the benefits of grazed grass and top quality forages, demonstrating how the top operators make systems work, despite price volatility. Dairying accounts for nearly 50% of the agricultural output by value in Cornwall. Red meat production, the next most valuable agricultural output from the county was illustrated by visits to the Harpers’ beef and sheep unit at Trepoyle, the Coles’ organic Stabiliser herd at Trebartha, along with the and the Parnells’ unit at Treswarrow Park.
Elaine Jewkes, director of the British Grassland Society, added: “We were really delighted to be down here in Cornwall, the local committee did a fantastic job in finding us a diverse range of farms around the peninsula.” Duchy College at the RBS are extremely grateful to the Cornwall Grassland Society, particularly their Secretary Bill Harper and Local Committee Chairman David Stone and Elaine Jewkes and Charlotte Evans of the British Grassland Society for all their hard work in organising such a successful event, generating huge interest both nationally and locally. The financial support of the many local and national sponsors is also gratefully acknowledged.
Advice Days Bicton - 14th November 2015 10am-12pm Duchy College Stoke Climsland and Rosewarne 28th November 2015, 10am-12pm Duchy College Stoke Climsland and Rosewarne 30th January 2016, 10am-12pm
News continued from page 23 by soil biota first. Normal values vary between 1% and 5% - the higher the value, the healthier the soil is likely to be.
Key enzyme makes farm kids healthier | New Scientist, 12 September 2015 Dirt is good for you. Children on farms are less likely to develop allergies and asthma than those in towns. But the protective effects of friendly microbes also seem to depend on a person’s genetic make-up. One explanation is that children today encounter less endotoxin, found on the surface of many common species of bacteria, including E. coli, that may be important in damping down overactive immune systems. Children with gene mutations which disrupt the actions of an enzyme, A20, are more likely to have asthma and allergies. Work at Ghent University in Belgium has demonstrated that endotoxin does not work without the presence of the A20 enzyme. About 5% have a faulty version of the enzyme.
Poultry Apocalypse now | New Scientist, 2 May 2015 Some 13 million chickens and turkeys are being culled in the USA to stop the spread of H5N2, an offspring of Asia’s H5N1 bird flu. It poses no threat to human health but the country’s $45 billion poultry sector is suffering. In Iowa, 3.8 million chickens were killed on one farm alone. It is hoped that warmer summer weather will destroy the viruses in the environment. The US Department of Agriculture is developing a vaccine, although this could make things worse as vaccinated poultry can still transmit the virus, but without falling ill.
Please call 0845 6050 455 for more information
Promise to end deforestation | New Scientist, 4 July 2015 You can now claim Dairy Pro CPD points through The Rural Business School. Please contact BASIS to claim your Dairy Pro CPD points. The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the Rural Business School, Duchy College or The Cornwall College Group.
The presidents of Brazil and the USA met and decided that there should be no more deforestation. Brazil promised to end deforestation by 2030 and the USA stated that it would lift the ban on beef imports from Brazil and provide technical and financial assistance to improve output from current Brazilian beef farms. The latter would reduce the need to deforest land, as at present the majority of forest is cleared for beef and soya production. Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 25
Market Monitor
Facing the challenge of low milk prices “Knowing what help is available to you as a dairy farmer, in challenging times can help build robust businesses for the future, as well as get you through some rough patches”, says Rachael Chamberlayne, AHDB Dairy senior product manager.
DairyCo provides a brief overview of the latest economic developments in the dairy industry and also highlights recent research and projects undertaken by DairyCo that may interest dairy farmers and students in the south west.
AHDB Dairy is working to promote, support and improve business management in all its guises, alongside technical management. It’s more important than ever to make the best possible use of the resources and information available to you via your levy. This practical assistance is designed to help you and your business work through this difficult time and become as robust as possible for the longer term. The place to start might be the ‘Back to Basics Surviving the Low Milk Price Checklist’. It is an immediate checklist to ensure the obvious doesn’t get missed in the everyday, with sections on who to talk to and calculators to help understand where you are, as well as a section on more medium-term actions. For more in-depth planning and judgement making, a decisions tree has been developed to support thought processes and signpost to useful information,
page 26 | The Rural Business School | Autumn 2015
templates and calculators. A series of AHDB Dairy events, hosted by extension officers, have been taking place across the country, focusing on the practical aspect of facing low milk prices. The events were intended to help you ask yourself the right (tough) questions to enable you to make the best decisions to secure the future success of your business. Together with expert speakers, we looked at the decisions you need to make and the options available, given your circumstances, enabling you to find a way forward and what steps you can take now without compromising the future. Extended workshops and programmes such as Entrepreneurs in Dairying, The Prince’s Dairy Initiative and Women in Dairy, which are run with partners, are designed to support self-development over a period of time, improving management skills and understanding, giving you the knowledge to stabilise and move your business forward.
Resource efficiency is key, so use the resources your levy creates. Your local extension officer can help you access AHDB Dairy and external workshops, resources and support; their contact details can be found on the website (dairy.ahdb.org.uk), where you can also find a range of templates, with everything from a risk register to cash flow, and feed planners to calculators such as for production forecasting. There is also plenty of relevant business and technical information via publications, factsheets and newsletters. Is your labour working for you? Labour is both a significant cost and a limiting resource on many farms, according to analysis carried out by AHDB’s Mark Topliff. “Using the AHDB Dairy Evidence Report 2015, intended to identify trends and drivers for the industry, we can see that in 2013/14, labour accounted for between 12% and 15% of total costs of production,” he
contractors
explains. “However, the bottom 25% farms had almost a third more labour hours per cow per year for no extra gain in output. When comparing figures on a ‘per hectare’ basis, while labour cost is similar for the top and bottom 25% of herds, revenue is over £2,000 per ha more for the better performing herds.” Table (below): Labour efficiency in top 25% of GB herds (based on net margin performance) – Paid and Unpaid value Cows/ man/ year 63
• Attention to detail in rearing youngstock • Organised structure and clear communication “It’s also interesting to look at how our use of labour compares with our international competitors,” says Mark. “While the mostly grassbased countries such as New Zealand and Australia had the highest numbers of cows per labour unit, countries like Ireland, also grass-based, had surprisingly few cows per unit.
Litres/ man/year
Labour p/litre
Labour £/ha
Cows
511,534
3.6
628
240
Mark says the most labour-efficient herds are typified as operating over 100 cows/man/year. Other common factors are: • Simple systems with clear, easily understood processes • Shorter milking intervals – influenced by a simple system or by good cow flow • Good cow fertility and health – influenced by both management and genetics • Where grazing is used, a longer grazing season • Timely use of
“Equally, the Netherlands, which operates broadly similar systems to those in the UK, managed more cows per labour unit. Despite this, typical UK farms compare well against countries like Germany, France, Ireland and the USA.” Chart (overleaf ): How does UK labour use compare with international dairy producers? – IFCN typical farms. Note: Horizontal axis labels indicate the typical farm countries and herd size; where significant regional variations occur
News continued from page 25 Rice’s gas problem gets muted | New Scientist, 25th July 2015 A strand of rice has been genetically engineered in Sweden to produce less methane. Rice production is blamed for between 7 and 17% of human-induced methane emissions. Sugars leak into the soil via the roots, where they are used up by methane-producing soil micro-organisms. A three-year trial has showed that more sugars are stored in the new strand and methane emissions are reduced.
Stinging victory | New Scientist, 19 September 2015 Bees were deemed the winners in September when a US court overturned federal approval for a neonicotinoid pesticide, sulfoxaflor, made by Dow AgroSciences. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had relied on ’flawed and limited’ data and its approval of the pesticide was unjustified given ‘the precariousness of bee populations’, according to the judge. The court believed that the EPA had registered sulfoxaflor in response to public pressure and supported its decision retrospectively with studies that it had previously found inadequate.
Wasp uses virus to make GM butterfly | New Scientist, 26 September 2015 A French scientific team at Francois Rabelais University in Tours, has found that the monarch butterfly has wasp genes in its genome; indeed wasp genes have been found in several other butterfly and moth species, inserted by viruses that the wasps use as biological weapons. These viruses are no longer free-living and the genes to make them have been incorporated into the wasp genome. The butterflies are therefore transgenic. Much of the opposition to transgenic crops and livestock stems from the idea that this interspecies gene swapping is unnatural and dangerous, but it has turned out to be widespread in nature. Another example is the sweet potato, which has acquired DNA from a bacterium. So, just about every organism could be described as genetically modified.
Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 27
in the dairy industry within a country, there could be more than one entry for that country with the respective herd size denoted. Source: IFCN Rabobank predicts dairy recovery in 2016 Dairy prices will start to recover by the middle of 2016, according to a new report by Rabobank. The bank predicts that a supply side adjustment in the EU and US, and accelerated dairy consumption will help to deplete current stocks, tightening the global market for dairy in 2016. This view is supported by the US Dairy Export
Dairy cattle lameness News continued from page 27 services Why do beef producers underutilise grass? |
Cows per full time labour unit New Zealand-388 Australia-300 USA-500 USA-70 Ireland-116 Ireland-67 France-84 Netherlands-178 Netherlands-82 Germany-240 Germany-118 UK-246 UK-150
By Faye Shepherd, Technical Specialist
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Technical expertise and services utilised and implemented by Healthy Livestock are continuing to be offered through the RBS. From mobility scoring in cattle to anthelmintic resistance testing in sheep, a wide range of specialist services are available.
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In order to improve lameness, continual detection and monitoring of mobility levels are critical. For a mobility score to be beneficial to a farmer, vet or processor, it should be undertaken by an independent body that has no vested interest in the farm, and will provide unbiased and accurate results time after time. Our cattle lameness specialists have mobility scored tens of thousands of cows for the Healthy Livestock Scheme and on contract to veterinary groups.
Note: Vertical axis labels indicate the typical farm countries and herd size Source: IFCN
Council who is forecasting the market not to tighten significantly before the second half of 2016. The report also highlights
that the New Zealand dairy sector has been the hardest hit by the global downturn in dairy prices. This is attributed
to a relatively strong NZ currency position and the country’s exposure to developments in China.
Current Bicton College and Duchy College
APPRENTICESHIP VACANCIES As an apprentice you will: n Earn real wages n Gain new qualifications & industry standard training n Gain new knowledge & skills n Get a start into a new and rewarding career
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t Please contac us for more information or for details on how to apply
EXETER LAUNCESTON
DUCHY COLLEGE STOKE CLIMSLAND
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NEWQUAY DUCHY COLLEGE ROSEWARNE ST AUSTELL PLYMOUTH SALTASH TRURO
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Agricultural Engineering
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page 28 | The Rural Business School | Autumn 2015
Horticulture
Animal Care
Food & Drink
Business Administration
Routine Mobility Scoring is an accurate and repeatable way of identifying cattle which are currently lame, as well as those who are likely to become lame imminently. Using a range of parameters, the entire milking herd will be scored using the nationally accepted DairyCo mobility score scale. Monthly mobility scoring intervals are recommended in order to accurately record and track progress and to
identify cows that have the potential to become lame or extremely lame. Pre-empting cattle lameness by identifying signs early saves both treatment costs, increases productivity and promotes a positive and proactive approach to improving animal welfare. A Lameness Risk Report identifying the main areas causing lameness and possible solutions to these with verbal feedback and a full written report for each farm is provided. The risk report is hugely beneficial to identifying the cause and solution to improving lameness on farm. It is advised that this report is revised and updated yearly. The lameness risk report along with monthly mobility scoring will contribute to comprehensive farm assurance schemes. Mobility scoring and monitoring services: £70/ farm/month.* Lameness Risk Report: £120/farm *Depending on herd size
Farming Futures, August 2015 The potential for cattle to achieve high growth off grass and grazed forages is well known, but rarely achieved on British farms. Unlike other sectors very few beef producers measure and monitor grass growth. Beef farmers need to use soil sampling to monitor and correct nutrient levels, use electric fences to reduce field size, ensure good water supply and locating troughs centrally in all grazing fields and use rotational grazing, grass measurements and forage budgets. This allows the grazing season to be extended and housing reduced to four months, amounting to saving of £2,400/year in a 100-cow suckler herd. Stocking rates could be increased by 20%, an increase of over £10,000 over a 100Ha farm. A further saving is made through an increase in grass growth rates from growing higher quality grazed grass and silage, amounting to an increased value of £62.78/ per animal.
Wind turbines with owl wings | New Scientist, 12 June 2015 Researchers at Cambridge University have turned to owls with their sound-dampening wings to design silent wind turbines so that noise levels are kept down for nearby people and animal. Evenly spaced bristles along the wings break up sound waves as the animal flies, preventing them from building up and producing noise. Noise was reduced by a factor of ten when the artificial wings were tested. Many turbines are braked to prevent noise – the new technology would allow them to run faster rather than getting louder.
Red meat in the diet: what you need to know | Farming Futures, October 2015 AHDB has a dedicated meat and health programme to ensure that evidence-based information about red meat’s nutritional benefits are widely available. ‘Meat Matters’ focusses on consumers and a dedicated meat and health resource is aimed at health professionals and journalists. Key points about red meat are that UK consumption remains within recommended intake guidelines and it is rich in protein, which helps build and maintain muscles and is a significant source of vitamins and minerals, including B12, not found in foods of plant origin. Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 29
Diary Dates Course title
Date/Time
Venue
County
Abrasive wheels (Lantra Award)
29/10/15 9am4.30pm
DCS
Contact
Course title
Date/Time
Venue
County
Cost
Contact
Cornwall £135
RBS
Coppicing and charcoal making
03-04/12/15 9.30am-4pm
TBC
TBC
£125
RBS
Nutrient management 29/10/15 9amplanning 5pm
Cornwall £245 St Neot Village Hall, PL14 6NG
RBS
Sugar paste Christmas 05/12/15 10amcake decorations 4pm
DCS
Cornwall £50
RBS
Green woodworking craft
29-30/10/15 9.30am-4pm
DCS
Cornwall £145
RBS
Pruning orchards and 05/12/15 10amfruit trees for winter 3pm
DCR
Cornwall £45
RBS
Introduction to floristry
29/10/15 6.30pm-8.30pm
DCR
Cornwall £85
RBS
Training you and your 06/12/15 10amgundog 1.30pm
DCR
Cornwall £25
RBS
Tractor driving for beginners
31/10/15 9.30am-4pm
DCS
Cornwall £145
RBS
20th Challenge of Rural Leadership course
10-23/01/16 8.30am-10pm
Dartington Devon Hall, Totnes, TQ9 6EL
Training you and your 01/11/15 10amgundog 1pm
DCR
Cornwall £25
RBS
Calf rearing
23/01/16 10am4pm
DCS
Cornwall £75
RBS
Bread and patisserie workshop
DCS
Cornwall £75
RBS
Bread making
26/01/16 9am4pm
DCS
Cornwall £75
RBS
NPTC Level 2 Award – 07-09/11/15 Telehandler 9am-5pm
DCS
Cornwall £305
RBS
Herdsperson course
06/02/16 9am5pm
DCS
Cornwall £275
RBS
Hedge laying
09-10/11/15 9.30am-4pm
TBC
TBC
RBS
Herdsperson course
13/02/16 9am5pm
DCS
Cornwall £275
RBS
Pasties and pies
12/11/15 9am4pm
DCS
Cornwall £75
RBS
Pruning your garden
17/02/16 10am3pm
DCR
Cornwall £35
RBS
Felt making for beginners
14/11/15 9.30am-1.30pm
DCR
Cornwall £47
RBS
Herdsperson course
27/02/16 9am5pm
DCS
Cornwall £275
RBS
Sausage making
17/11/15 9am1pm
DCS
Cornwall £55
RBS
Safe use of pesticides – Grandfather rights – PA6
20/11/15 9am4pm
DCS
Cornwall £200
RBS
03/11/15 9am4pm
NPTC Level 2 Award – 21-23/11/15 Telehandler 9am-5pm
DCR
Deer butchery course 24/11/15 9am5pm
DCS
Cheese making
24-26/11/15 9am-5pm
page 30 | The Rural Business School |Autumn 2015
DCS
Cost
£125
Cornwall £305
Cornwall £99
Cornwall £450
RBS
Key to icons
Price on application
RBS
For more information
Agriculture general
Dairy
Beef
Sheep
Poultry
Arable/Crop Production
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Pets
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Please call 0845 458 7485 or email rbs@duchy.ac.uk for more information. Our full list of events is available at: www.ruralbusinessschool.org.uk
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Key to abbreviations DCR - Duchy College Rosewarne DCS - Duchy College Stoke Climsland ESF - European Social Funded (eligibility rules apply) FF - full fee Autumn 2015 | The Rural Business School | page 31
Wednesday 11 November
Entry forms for the Beef South West Steak & Beef Burger awards are now available to download on the website, closing date st 31 October. For more information contact Vicky
email:natbeefsw@gmail.com www.beefsouthwest.co.uk facebook.com/beefsouthwest
page 32 | The Rural Business School |Autumn 2015