The Rural Bulletin: 9 November 2017 

Farm fires up by 26% in 2016

Farmers and landowners are being urged to check their fire prevention and evacuation procedures, following a dramatic rise in farm fires during 2016. NFU Mutual’s statistics revealed claims rose by 26% during the year – amounting to £44m - with electrical faults responsible for almost half of all farm fires. With often longer fire service response times in very rural locations, it is extremely important for landowners to maintain buildings and equipment to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out, said Tim Price, NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist. 

Knight Frank’s residential building consultancy team can inspect your buildings and provide recommendations to reduce the risk of a fire occurring – get in contact for further information.

New guidance released for WCG scheme

Guidance notes and application forms for The Woodland Creation Grant (WCG) scheme have been released early to give landowners a greater chance to plan for the year ahead. The WCG is set to open for applications on 2 January 2018, granting successful applicants up to £6,800/ha to help fund the purchase of trees and the installation of necessary fencing to protect them – however, farmers are being urged to prepare applications now.

More information can be found here. 

UK to support a neonic ban, says Gove

Arable farmers could be facing a total ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, after the latest announcement from Defra secretary Michael Gove.

In an article written for the Guardian this week, Mr Gove stated: “While there is still uncertainty in the science, it is increasingly pointing in one direction. Not to act would be to risk continuing down a course which could have extensive and permanent effects on bee populations. That is not a risk I am prepared to take, so the UK will be supporting further restrictions on neonicotinoids. Unless the evidence base changes again, the government will keep these restrictions in place after we have left the EU.”

This comes as the future of other crop protection chemical, glyphosate, hangs in the balance after the EU failed to reach a qualifying majority to renew the chemical’s license again today.  As the license expires on 15 December, the Commission will now submit the proposal to the Appeal Committee. 

Warning after escaped Lynx kills seven sheep

Farmers are being warned of the potential dangers posed by Lynx after an incident in Wales involving an escaped Lynx from a zoo in Aberystwyth left seven sheep dead this week. 

Natural England is considering an application to release the Eurasian Lynx back in to the UK countryside. However, the National Sheep Association say this decision could be detrimental for livestock farmers. “There cannot be a clearer warning of the damage lynx will do if they are released into the wild,” said Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive. “Lynx UK Trust continue to assure us that lynx, on average, will take just 0.4 sheep annually. A fact which is simply unbelievable given the damage just one has inflicted after several days of roaming free.”

Contact the Rural Asset Management Team