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PA - 2 x Agricultural Dwellings & 1 x Agricultural Building
Appendix B
Caroline Perry Report
This report has been prepared by Caroline Perry of Island Land - Based Services. I have an Honours Degree in Agriculture Science from Nottingham University and am a Member of the BASIS Professional Registry. After leaving University I worked for Laurence Gould Consultants and Carter Jonas Chartered Surveyors in the UK. Much of this work involved provision of a full farm management service on behalf of private and institutional clients. Since 1993 I have provided technical and financial advice to the agriculture industry on the Isle of Man. Firstly as an agricultural adviser for DAFF and then in 2005 I set up my own company Island Land - Based Services. Much of this work involves advising farmers on capital investments and the likely implications it will have on the farming business. I currently work for farmers, agricultural and public sector organisations and Government Departments in the Isle of Man.
This report has been prepared to consider the necessity of a further agricultural worker's dwelling at Glenlough Farm.
Currently there is only one dwelling on the farm which is occupied by Mr and Mrs John Quayle and family. In August 2008 approval in principle was granted for a further agricultural dwelling which when built will be occupied by Mr and Mrs David Quayle. Mr David Quayle is now working full time on the farm. An agricultural building was also granted approval in principle in August 2008; this building is going to be used by Mr and Mrs William Qualtrough for their farming business.
This planning application is for an agricultural dwelling for Mr and Mrs William Qualtrough and family.
William and Janette Qualtrough have shown that they have a real passion and commitment to the Isle of Man agricultural industry by working extremely hard to build up their farming business. They both also have jobs outside their farming business to supplement their income, Mr Qualtrough works for a local agriculture merchant and Mrs Qualtrough as a part time nurse. They also have a young family.
Mr Qualtrough's work at the agricultural merchants is giving him valuable agricultural experience which will help him manage his own expanding agricultural business. He is also in a fortunate position in that his current employer is very supportive and allows him to work flexible hours which enables him to run his own agricultural business. The long term plan is that the business will at some stage in the future provide an income which will enable Mr Qualtrough to give up his existing employed work.
The farming business is split between land at Cregneash, Glen Helen, Ballamodha, recently acquired land at Santon and land adjacent to Glenlough. Buildings at Glenlough when available are used for the storage of machinery and housing of stock. The farming business is administered from their home in Crosby. The agricultural land which can be used by the business has gradually increased and last summer was 92 acres but since then a further 73 acres has been acquired. The total amount is now 165 acres.
The farming business currently has a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of 1.17 (Appendix 1) but after the erection of the new agricultural building will increase the SLR to 1.60 (Appendix 2). The hours that Mr and Mrs Qualtrough currently spend on the business is shown in Appendix 3. These are higher than the current SLR calculations indicate because of the additional travelling times required at critical times of year. (See point 1 below)
With the new building at Glenlough the business will be fully based at Glenlough with stock kept there at times when greatest supervision is required. The land further a field will only be used at less critical times.
The following are the reasons behind planning approval being sought for the agricultural worker's dwelling.
The business currently is very fragmented and as a result either Mr or Mrs Qualtrough has to spend between one and two hours/day driving to check and manage stock. This is time which could be better spent on the farm and the use of a vehicle for getting to the different parts of the farm is expensive and not very environmentally friendly. If Mr and Mrs Qualtrough were able to live at Glenlough Farm they would have a base for their farming business. The stock would be brought to Glenlough for lambing in the proposed shed and at other times where greater supervision is required. This would reduce travelling time, fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions.
Having fields in different parts of the Island makes it extremely difficult for other members of the family, especially Mrs Qualtrough to help out. If Mr and Mrs Qualtrough were able to live at Glenlough Farm they could bring stock to Glenlough for lambing and at other times as necessary. Mr Qualtrough would be able to spend more time with the stock and, during the day when he is fulfilling his other employment conditions, Mrs Qualtrough and other family members can look after the stock. This would ensure greater welfare of the stock and therefore more readily meet the Farm Assurance Standards which state that livestock must be managed in accordance with the Welfare Codes. In this case they must follow the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Welfare Code for Sheep.
Another major benefit of basing the business at Glenlough would ensure greater Biosecurity. This is essential to avoid the transmission of animal diseases. Currently by travelling on a daily basis to look after stock located in different parts of the Island increases the risk of disease transmission enormously.
During periods of time when there are livestock movement restrictions in place this makes the current farming system almost unmanageable and could cause major welfare concerns.
Farm Assurance Standards require a good level of Biosecurity and when the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Cross Compliance Standards come into effect, farmers will have to meet certain Biosecurity as well as Welfare Standards.
There is currently a real concern when Mr or Mrs Qualtrough are travelling to manage stock especially during supervision of lambing at night in relatively remote fields where there is not always reception available for mobile phones.
Again by bringing stock to a base next to the family home would dramatically reduce the levels of concern for their Health and Safety.
For any farming business to survive, those involved have to continually be looking at new opportunities and be prepared to change.
Being based at Glenlough will give Mr and Mrs Qualtrough many more opportunities and also enable them to expand their farming business. It is envisaged that the proposed building when not being used for lambing would be used for rearing calves. These calves would be finished in the new building. The plan would be to rear three batches of calves a year with thirty calves in a batch. Rearing calves is a practice Mr Qualtrough has carried out over the last number of years albeit on a smaller scale.
Currently the farming business has a SLR of 1.17 which alone justifies an agricultural dwelling (Appendix 4). With the construction of the new agricultural building the SLR will increase to a SLR of 1.60.
By living on site would ensure that the operation of the farming businesses can become more efficient and safer thereby enhancing the viability and profitability of it.
Finally it is essential for all young farmers and their families be given encouragement and support to ensure the sustainability of the Isle of Man agricultural industry.
Caroline Perry Island Land-Based Services 4 Cronk-y-Berry Mooar Douglas Isle of Man IM2 6HJ
11th February 2009
| Enterprise | Standard Hours/year | Number | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy Cows | 39 | 0.0 | |
| Beef Cows | 12 | 0.0 | |
| Other Cattle | 9 | 0.0 | |
| Sheep - ewes & rams - lowland | 5.2 | 270 | 1404.0 |
| Sheep - ewes & rams - upland | 4.2 | 0.0 | |
| Sheep - other sheep - lowland | 3.3 | 165 | 544.5 |
| Sheep - other sheep - upland | 2.6 | 0.0 | |
| Pigs - sows | 16 | 0.0 | |
| finish & rearing | 1.3 | 0.0 | |
| piglets <20kg | 1 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - table fowl | 0.03 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - laying hens | 0.3 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - growing pullets | 0.12 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - other poultry | 0.045 | 0.0 | |
| Horses | 150 | 0.0 | |
| Goats | 20 | 0.0 | |
| Deer | 15 | 0.0 | |
| Free range increase factor | 0.15 | 0.0 | |
| Total Hours | 1948.5 |
| Enterprise | Standard Hours/Acre | Acres | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Potatoes - early | 48.6 | 0.0 | |
| Potatoes - main crop | 36.4 | 0.0 | |
| Vining peas | 10.1 | 0.0 | |
| Oilseeds | 6.1 | 0.0 | |
| Field Beans & Peas | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Linseed | 6.1 | 0.0 | |
| Grass seeds | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Grassland | 1.6 | 145 | 232.0 |
| Rough Grazing | 0.6 | 0.0 | |
| Fodder Crops | 2.4 | 20 | 48.0 |
| Fodder Crops & Brassicas | 40.5 | 0.0 | |
| Fodder Maize | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Other cereal silages | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Fallow | 1.6 | 0.0 | |
| Sugar Beet | 13.4 | 0.0 | |
| Set Aside | 0.4 | 0.0 | |
| Hops | 24.3 | 0.0 | |
| Outdoor veg & salads | 40.5 | 0.0 | |
| Vining peas | 10.1 | 0.0 | |
| Other peas & beans | 202.4 | 0.0 | |
| Top & soft fruit | 182.2 | 0.0 | |
| Mushrooms | 2923.1 | 0.0 | |
| Total Hours | 280.0 |
assuming 5% overhead allowance
| Total Livestock | 1948.5 |
| Total Crops | 280.0 |
| Overhead assumption | 111.4 |
| Total standard man hours/year | 2339.9 |
assuming 2000 standard labour units per labour unit
| Total labour units required | 1.17 |
| Enterprise | Standard Hours/year | Number | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy Cows | 39 | 0.0 | |
| Beef Cows | 12 | 0.0 | |
| Other Cattle | 9 | 90 | 810.0 |
| Sheep - ewes & rams - lowland | 5.2 | 270 | 1404.0 |
| Sheep - ewes & rams - upland | 4.2 | 0.0 | |
| Sheep - other sheep - lowland | 3.3 | 165 | 544.5 |
| Sheep - other sheep - upland | 2.6 | 0.0 | |
| 0.0 | |||
| Pigs - sows | 16 | 0.0 | |
| finish & rearing | 1.3 | 0.0 | |
| piglets <20kg | 1 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - table fowl | 0.03 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - laying hens | 0.3 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - growing pullets | 0.12 | 0.0 | |
| Poultry - other poultry | 0.045 | 0.0 | |
| Horses | 150 | 0.0 | |
| Goats | 20 | 0.0 | |
| Deer | 15 | 0.0 | |
| Free range increase factor | 0.15 | 0.0 | |
| Total Hours | 2758.5 |
| Enterprise | Standard Hours/Acre | Acres | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Potatoes - early | 48.6 | 0.0 | |
| Potatoes - main crop | 36.4 | 0.0 | |
| Vining peas | 10.1 | 0.0 | |
| Oilseeds | 6.1 | 0.0 | |
| Field Beans & Peas | 4.0 | 0.0 | |
| Linseed | 6.1 | 0.0 | |
| Grass seeds | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Grassland | 1.6 | 145 | 232.0 |
| Rough Grazing | 0.6 | 0.0 | |
| Fodder Crops | 2.4 | 20 | 48.0 |
| Fodder Crops & Brassicas | 40.5 | 0.0 | |
| Fodder Maize | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Other cereal silages | 8.1 | 0.0 | |
| Fallow | 1.6 | 0.0 | |
| Sugar Beet | 13.4 | 0.0 | |
| Set Aside | 0.4 | 0.0 | |
| Hops | 24.3 | 0.0 | |
| Outdoor veg & salads | 40.5 | 0.0 | |
| Vining peas | 10.1 | 0.0 | |
| Other peas & beans | 202.4 | 0.0 | |
| Top & soft fruit | 182.2 | 0.0 | |
| Mushrooms | 2923.1 | 0.0 | |
| Total Hours | 280.0 |
assuming 5% overhead allowance
| Total Livestock | 2758.5 |
| Total Crops | 280.0 |
| Overhead assumption | 151.9 |
| Total standard man hours/year | 3190.4 |
assuming 2000 standard labour units per labour unit
| Total labour units required | 1.60 |
| Days | Hours/Day | Total Hours | |
| William Qualtrough | |||
| Annual Leave and Bank Holidays | 35 | 8 | 280 |
| Weekends | 96 | 8 | 768 |
| Evenings | 235 | 3 | 705 |
| Janette Qualtrough | |||
| Part Time (Average 20 Hours/week) | 225 | 4 | 900 |
| Total Hours | 2653 | ||
| Standard Labour Units | 1.33 |
Calculation of time spent on the Farming Business/year
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