FROM THE EDITOR
More and more of Britain’s dairy farmers are opting
out of what they feel is an unworkable situation
– and many are displaying their frustration by
joining protests through Farmers for Action.
Dairy farming is difficult, says
the Tenant Farmers Association,
(TFA) many of whose members
are in this sector and face
many challenges – livestock
disease, exposure to the
uncertain elements, a product
that is perishable, with long
production cycles – and to
say the least, an unbalanced
relationship with its processor/
retailer customer base. Let
us hope that any action that
results from the efforts being
made will not be too little, too
late.
Now is the time to turn
your attention to the winter
and your stock. Ask yourself
how you intend to help them
come through it, says Charlie
Maclaren, board member of
The National Beef Association
(NBA). In this issue, he gives a
few simple tasks to ensure that
productivity is sustained and
costs are closely monitored.
Free range egg producers
who plant trees on their farms
can benefit from increased
productivity and profit, says
Cumbrian egg producer,
The Lakes Free Range Egg
Company. According to the
company, which works with the
Woodland Trust, tree planting
could earn poultry farmers an
additional £20,000 per year.
The Trust is now urging other
free range egg producers
across the UK to carry out tree
planting schemes of their own,
and benefit from integrating
them within their business.
Still talking trees, with
interest rates remaining low,
buying woods or a forest is,
according to Carol Cheesman
of Cheesmans Accountants,
becoming increasingly
popular. Recently the value
of commercial woodlands
has been increasing and they
offer many tax advantages
for investors, says Carol. For
example, where there is a
commercial occupation of
woodlands in the UK, the
income and profits made
from sales of the timber are
not subject to income tax or
corporation tax. Find out more
in this issue.
www.farmers-mart.co.uk
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