6 FARM NEWS
FEB/MAR 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
Futher evidence continues to indicate potential
‘cliff edge’ labour shortage facing dairy farms
Following extensive work on the potential labour shortage facing dairy farms post-Brexit, the
RABDF last week submitted an inquiry to the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee.
THE organisation’s latest work was carried
out in conjunction with Kite Consulting using a
different database of over 1000 UK dairy farms
supplied by Ian Potter Marketing Services.
Kite Consulting’s John Allen said the
supply of skilled, dedicated foreign work-
ers is critical to the success and long-term
prosperity of the sector.
He continued: “It is clear there is confu-
sion between seasonal workers in certain
food producing sectors compared to the
skilled and permanent needs of those in
dairy farming – without a rapid solution
to this problem there will be a negative
impact on the economic viability of the
sector.”
Reliance on non-UK labour varies across
the UK* with the highest being in the South
East. The South West, North West and
Scotland are relatively similar with Welsh
respondents relying slightly more.
‘ there is confusion
between seasonal
workers in certain
food producing sectors
compared to the skilled
and permanent needs of
those in dairy farming
’
Other consumer survey results indicate
a lack of willingness among UK nationals to
consider a career on dairy farms with rea-
sons being working environment, unsocial
hours, jobs involving machinery or animals
and the rural location. Wholly supported
by a range of reports issued over the past
decade RABDF acknowledge the need of
the sector to address its underlying lack
of attractiveness of the sector as a career
option to the domestic workforce.
The phone that’s as tough as a Land Rover
THE new Land Rover Explore mobile
phone is built to work in places other
phones can’t reach.
The mobile, inspired by Land Rover’s
rugged ‘go anywhere’ 4x4s for those with an
adventurous spirit, is capable of operating
and navigating in extreme conditions for two
full days with the screen on constantly.
Battery life can be doubled by using an
Adventure Pack that also boosts the relia-
bility and accuracy of the GPS signal and
improves the mapping capabilities.
The ultra-durable phone is powered by
a super powerful 4000m Ah battery with a
factory fitted screen protector and protec-
tive case than can survive underwater to 1.8
metres - including salt water.
It can cope with extreme temperatures
from freezing cold to blistering heat, ther-
mal shock, intense humidity and vibration
exposure.
The full HD five-inch screen can be con-
trolled even when wet and with gloved hands
and has instant access to weather information
and mapping data, plus its own compass and
SOS light making it the perfect phone for hik-
ing, biking, skiing or off-road adventures.
The phone is fully compatible with all
Land Rover in-car Apps and works as well
in the city as it does in the great outdoors. It
is available with hardware packs, including
an additional battery and bike mount.
Developed by Land Rover and the Bullitt
Group the Explore phone with Adventure
Pack costs £599.
Environment Agency urged to delay charge proposals
The NFU is urging the Environment Agency (EA) to delay the introduction of changes to its
charging regimes which could see significant increased costs for farming businesses.
A consultation document pub-
lished by the EA last November
proposes a number of several
fold increases in application,
variation, surrender and annual
compliance permit fees, which
the NFU says are disproportion-
ately high.
Permit systems for poultry
farming, landspreading of waste
and sheep dip, on-farm anaero-
bic digestion and flood manage-
ment would all be affected.
Mark Pope, NFU environment
forum chairman, said: “These
proposed huge increases within
the charging regimes could have
a detrimental effect on many
farm businesses.
“Very little information has
been provided on the basis
for these charge changes so
the onus is solely on the EA to
demonstrate greater transparen-
cy and show that these costs are
fair, proportionate and compet-
itive.
‘ very little
information has
been provided on
the basis for these
charge changes
so the onus is
solely on the EA to
demonstrate greater
transparency
’
“We’re extremely concerned
that instead of investing in im-
proving efficiency, productivity
and new technology, we could
see a lot of our costs tied up with
inflated administrative costs. We
want farming to continue to im-
prove its environmental perfor-
mance, but these cost increases
could be seen as a disincen-
tive to improve management
practices or limit the availability
of management options in the
future. The proposals could also
put up barriers to new permit
applicants.
“That’s why we want to see the
Environment Agency delay the
implementation until at least April
2019 to give us time to have further
discussions with the EA to find
ways of keeping our costs down.”