Plumpton College at Flimwell2014 News (2) www.foodfarmingforestry.co.uk www.plumpton.ac.uk Plumpton College

• The end of Grandfather Rights - what you need to do • Considering Succession and how to save £• Double Funding Warning from Defra under new BPS • Grants for Wood-fuel and other courses.

Free 2015 Conference• Poultry Slaughter Rules

• Health and Safety in Farming and Forestry• WARR the way forward 2015-2020 • Help with new on-line registration for BPS• Tree Planting falls short of target -

2000ha of new woodlands in 2015• Grant from Woodland Trust for new Woodland

Under current UK law any person born before 31st December 1964 is able to purchase and use pesticides for use on their own or their employer’s land without a certificate of competence, although they should be suitably trained. The Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012

allow this exemption to continue until 26th November 2015. After this date, any person who uses pesticides authorised for professional use must hold a certificate of competence. In addition to this, any person purchasing pesticides for professional use after.... Continued/page 4

Plumpton College runs pesticide courses on demand, please contact Chloe Kester on 01273 892035 or chloe.kester@plumpton.ac.uk for more information

Pesticide Spraying Rules Change in November 2015

The Welfare of Animals at the

Time of Killing Regulations in England (WATOK) was due to come into force on 20th May 2014. However, after further consideration, the Government decided that the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995, as amended, (WASK) will continue to apply in England alongside the directly applicable EU Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.Consequently, all WASK requirements, including the need for WASK licences for restraining and stunning animals, will

continue to apply in England while the Government gives further consideration to the implementation of WATOK.• Poultry Welfare at the Time of KillingPlumpton College and Humane Slaughter Association training day 19th November 2014The course will cover the principles of humane catching, restraint, stunning and killing for the slaughter of poultry for human consumption and for the killing of sick/injured birds. Using a dummy, there will be a demonstration of restraint, hand-held electrical stunner and captive-bolt stunner and bleeding.If you require a WASK licence, please

contact us for instructions on how to obtain a provisional licence and booking an assessment to gain your licence.

We strongly recommend you attend the above course.

WATOK U Turn

In 2015 the Single Payment Scheme will be replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). The BPS will include new ‘greening’ rules farmers must follow to get a greening payment that will be worth about 30% of the total payment.If you’re going to claim BPS in 2015, you should start thinking about the new rules and how they might affect your business and cropping rotation.

In 2015 the RPA is going ‘digital by default’ and will not accept any paper

application forms. If you want to claim you must register with the online system. Batcheller Monkhouse are offering free surgeries at their offices in Pulborough and Tunbridge Wells to help you with the new on-line registration system. Please telephone Charlotte Pearson-Wood on 01892 509280 or Sarah Archer on 01798 877555 for an appointment.

Free help with SFP to BPS transition

Peas - good for crop rotation

Newsletter sponsored by Batcheller MonkhouseChartered Surveyors•Estate Agents

From the Principal “The land at Plumpton College was leased in 1919 originally to train personnel leaving the armed forces. The first building was built in 1926 for around 20 students and the College has grown constantly since. In 2014 there were approximately 1200 full time students and several thousand part time. Initially courses centred around agriculture, horticulture and poultry, now though we provide training for a wide range of land and environment based courses for varying age groups and academic levels. In addition to agriculture and all the facets of horticulture, courses encompass animal management, veterinary nursing, agricultural machinery, blacksmithing, game keeping, fish management, equine

management, small animal care, forestry and arboriculture, countryside management, outdoor adventurous sports, and a world renowned wine and viticulture studies provision. The College has centres in Brighton at Stanmer Park, in Wales on the slopes of Snowdon, at Netherfield near Battle and at Flimwell, the base for the Centre for Sustainable Food, Farming and Forestry which has produced this newsletter.We have a number of “open” days, “taster” sessions and information evenings throughout the year, for a list of dates please visit our website www.plumpton.ac.uk. Hopefully we provide something of interest to you and I look forward to welcoming you to one of our courses.”Des Lambert Principal BSc (Hons) FRAgS

Health and Safety Must Be Taken SeriouslyEmployers you have a duty to pay for Health and Safety at Work Training for your employees.Getting the right training could reduce

your insurance premium.For example Plumpton College has the following accredited training courses specifically for woodland workers available:- •Level 2 Brush Cutter Operation

February and March 2015 •NPTC 206/306 Level 2 Award in

Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue3rd November to 7th November

•NPTC 308 Level 3 Award in AerialCutting of Trees using Free Fall Techniques 17th November to 19th November

What should all staff be wearing on site?•Helmet BS EN 12492•Eye Protection BS EN 1731 or

BS EN 166•Hearing Protection BS EN 352•Gloves appropriate to the task

as defined in the Operators Risk Assessment

•Protective Boots BS EN 150 20345•Non snag outer clothing For all outdoor workers an up to date first aid certificate is essential:- Health and Safety Procedures and

Awareness 10th October ECP Emergency First Aid Outdoors 22nd October

“Over the past ten years 24 Tree Surgeons/Arborists have been killed, 1,400 suffered serious injury and one person a week employed in Agriculture is killed” Source hse.gov

Emma Wood Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer says: “there is increasing interest in the installation of dedicated bunded in yard pesticide handling / sprayer filling and wash-down areas with associated biobeds and biofilters.” The Voluntary Initiative Promoting Responsible Pesticide Use says “For the environmental peace of

mind that a bio-bed can bring, its cost is relatively small, and there are signs that farms are increasingly accepting that view. Farmers have been encouraged

to install bio-beds and improve pesticide handling areas by Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) grants. These grants are targeted in CSF catchments where drinking water sources can be affected by pesticides. The CSF Capital Grant Scheme, a competitive annual scheme,

open for applications annually in the spring and pays 50% costs, up to £10,000, for capital works for a range of items that reduce water pollution.” It is estimate there are at least 300 bio-beds now installed in the UK. Compared with the cost of a new sprayer and the chemicals which go through it a bio-bed isn’t expensive. For more information visit http://www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk/media/549468/biobedsa402-06-14.pdf or www.naturalengland.org.uk/csf.

Following a highly successful programme which ended last December, the WARR Partnership, with Plumpton College as the accountable body, have applied for a £2m grant which, if the bid is successful, will cover the following priorities for 2015-2020: •increasing farm productivity •micro and small rural tourism •enterprises and farm diversification •rural services •cultural and heritage activity •increasing forestry productivity

It is anticipated the programme will lever over £3.2m of additional investment, support 67 projects, create 84 jobs, establish 12 new businesses and create 50 new visitor accommodation bed spaces. It will also enable businesses to be more efficient, embed the food and drink sector into the visitor economy, and improve awareness of local produce and make better use of the extensive woodlands in the Weald and Rother area.The WARR strategy is focused on creating better businesses and jobs, as this focus

will improve the long-term well-being of residents and the sustainability of communities. The outcome of the bid should be known by mid-November and to register your project for consideration, please contact Plumpton College on 01273 892031.

Local Development Strategy for the Weald and Rother

catchment sensitive farming

Developing a sound farming business is essential, but unless one things very carefully about the tax implication on sale or death, ones successors can find themselves having to sell the very farm that you have worked so hard to establish.In Tudor England it was a very bad idea to discuss succession planning – in royal circles at least. Heads might roll, quite literally.Nowadays succession planning is not just allowed, but is a remarkably good idea for farmers and landowners in particular, who wish to see their property stay in the family. It can be the most difficult issue for families to face, but if a family can’t agree how to pass on their assets to the next generation fairly, the consequences can be dreadful. You can get huge family fall-outs, or the estate can suffer crippling taxation and a subsequent forced disposal of assets – or both. Not sitting down and discussing the issue is in no one’s interest.It is never too soon to be talking about a generational shift of responsibilities and ownership, even if that may be a generation away. The discussions may well proceed over a couple of years; it’s a serious question, and people need to think over their futures and further discuss them. There is no substitute for having a third party, in effect chairing the discussions; bringing their long experience into play, and advising on all the technical and legal ramifications of all proposals and decisions. That is our role.The first step is to talk to all parties individually and find out what they want to achieve, and what their hopes and fears are. It’s a question of building up a mental jigsaw, before they can be slotted into the right places. An awful lot of information comes out of those initial, informal chats. Most often the older generation isn’t making demands, but – quite the reverse – don’t want to impose on their children. People can say things which they might not want to say in front of other family members – or simply bounce ideas around the room. Some fundamental markers can then be put down, with answers to questions such as; who is/are the primary successor(s), does the older generation want to retire – fully or partly, where do they want to live and what do they want to be doing, what income do they need. Amongst the siblings, would ideally do what, what might be equitable between them? Even in very close-knit families people make assumptions about their loved ones which can be completely wrong.The external expert’s role is often as a mediator; an ‘honest

broker’, and - if necessary - the whipping boy. Someone has to break the ice and ask the awkward questions. Every case is unique, and thus the answers are never the same. Leo Hickish handled a case recently where a farmer wanted to retire and split the assets and responsibilities between his three children. A solution which met everyone’s ambitions was for one to take on the arable unit, the second the managed the property arm, and the third took on the leisure enterprises.The father has now retired, delighted that his legacy is both preserved and prospering.What of the son or daughter who remains at home, farming with his parents, whilst their siblings build careers elsewhere? If the farm is to given equally to all siblings on the parents death is it fair that the person who stayed behind should not have their efforts rewarded fully? From this dilemma has grown the principle of “Sweat Equity”. The sibling who remains and works on the farm in effect builds up equity in the farm in proportion to the difference between their actual salary or drawings and the commercial salary that might otherwise have to be paid to a third party. Trying to agree that figure retrospectively, following the death of a father or mother, is almost always very difficult indeed. Sweat EquityThe table shows how this might work for a £2m holding. In this instance the son who stays on to work the farm accrues equity of £150,000. (See table)The answer is to start discussions on successions as soon as possible to allow as much time as possible to find and implement a suitable plan.

For more information please contact Batcheller Monkhouse on 01892 509280

Succession Planning Leo Hickish FRICS MBIAC, Head of Professional Services

Batcheller Monkhouse

Years Market Rate Actual Drawings Sweat EquityFarm Worker- 5 Years £18,000 £18,000 £0Manager - 10 Years £40,000 £28,000 £150,000

Market Value of Farm £2,000,000Sibling Share - Two Siblings £1,000,000

Sweat Equity £150,000Cost of buying out non-farming sibling £850,000

Buy Out

Many courses have an assisted fee structure, see enclosure for full list and details of funding.

Landowners are being encouraged to plant trees to improve the value and productivity of their land. The Woodland Trust is looking for people who would either like to create new

woodland as part of its MOREwoods scheme. You can apply to the Trust to plant trees on your land in time for this year’s autumn/winter planting season. No previous tree planting experience is

necessary as specialists from the Trust will work with you to make sure only the most suitable trees are planted in the right areas. John Tucker, the Woodland Trust’s Woodland Creation Director, said: “Trees planted as part of our MOREwoods scheme don’t have to take up a large block of land. They can be placed in a range of places, such as field corners, shelterbelts or in strips across

land. Whether you’re a farmer and want to plant trees for practical benefits, such as shelter for livestock – or a smallholder, and would like new trees to attract more wildlife – we would like to hear from you.”MOREwoods is a UK-wide Woodland Trust scheme which provides financial and practical woodland creation support. It is designed to support small woods or scattered plantings covering at least half a hectare (1.25 acres). More information can be found by visiting www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees

Improve the value and productivity of your land by planting trees

Wood Fuel and Grants Day 26th February Sponsored by SEWF Book your free place now - gammonc@plumpton.ac.uk Speakers include:• Plumpton College

Apprenticeships • Catchment Sensitive Farming 2015 and beyond

Grants and advice • Forestry Commission, Government pledge on tree planting,

Grants and advice • East Sussex County Council

Grants and loans to small business • WARR partnership new Local Development Scheme

£2m pledge to help the rural community

Taster Days FREE to Years 9, 10 & 11 at school.Autumn Term • 27th October to 30th October Spring Term • 16th February to 19th February Summer Term • 22nd June to 25th JuneSupported by the Skills Show and the National Careers Service. Plumpton College provides a wide range of exciting courses for those wishing to work in either the rural industries or the great outdoors. The taster days are designed to give pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 an insight into the wide variety of courses available, both at the College and also at the Centres. Plumpton College Open Day 9th May

Diary Dates

Autumn Training Dates Contact details: Plumpton College T. 01273 890454 www.plumpton.ac.uk E. pd@plumpton.ac.uk Plumpton College at Flimwell T. 01580 879547 www.foodfarmingforestry.co.uk E. gammonc@plumpton.ac.uk

This will only affect ELS organic and ELS agreements that started on or after the 1st January 2012.EU rules will not allow you to receive double funding. For example, using an ELS buffer strip (for which you are already being paid) for your Ecological Focus Area (EFA) requirement. You should have received a letter if you are

one of the farmers that this affects. You have until the 15th November to tell Natural England what you want to do. You can amend your agreement, accept a reduced payment, or exit the scheme altogether without penalty. If you take no action, this will result in a reduced payment.

What you need to know about Greening and Double Funding

26th November 2015 will be causing an offence if the intended end user does not hold a certificate of competence.New Level 2 Certificate in the Safe Use of Pesticides Replacing Grandfather RightsIf you were born before 31st December 1964, and will only use pesticides on your own or your employer’s land, you’ll need to obtain this new qualification. This comprises:

•The principles of the Safe Handling and Application ofPesticides on own Land (Unit 051)

•Hand Held Pesticide Application on own Land (Unit 052) PA6a equivalent

•Operating Machines to Apply Pesticides to own Land (Unit 053)

•Application of Pesticides using other Specific Equipment orMethods on own Land (Unit 054)

Grandfather Rights continued