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rural views Newsletter for tenants of Cambridgeshire County Farms Estate • Issue 32 • Spring 2020
estate news views events
County Farms Holdings
are in demand
Only one holding was advertised nationally in January after being
Maintenance emergencies
advertised to existing tenants in the Christmas Newsletter.
Due to the fast pace and ever changing
process of making selections for the situation with the coronavirus there may
second interviews. be a period of time where we are
Following the passing of a tenant, and uncontactable if any maintenance
the decision by his executors to related emergencies should occur please
surrender the tenancy in October 2020, do not hesitate to take action, let us
we shall shortly be offering Bedfords know and we will reimburse the cost
Barn and Crowtree Farm to let from 11th where it is our responsibility.
October 2020. The holding comprises
about 160 ha (400 ac) with a 4 bedroom Rent Payment –
house, 5 sets of buildings and a reservoir if you think you will be late
benefitting from summer and winter
Do not forget that it is vital you give us
water abstraction licences. We are
as much notice as possible if you are
waiting for the last few years cropping
going to be late paying your rent. Telling
details and other minor matters before
us early means we have a greater
The farm available was Herods Farm, the letting details can be sent out and
chance of stopping the Direct Debit,
Foxton. A viewing day was held on advertisements arranged.
avoiding expensive costs all round.
Wednesday 12 February.
If you are interested please email Please do not cancel your Direct Debit as
We received a total of 5 applications for Kit at Christopher.Helps@ it causes a great deal of time consuming
the holding and we are currently in the cambridgeshire.gov.uk. and expensive problems for us.
cambridgeshire.gov.uk/estates
estate news
Welcome Jack! Postponed Tenants Meetings
Jack Kennedy is our new Interim Estate Manager. Jack With the onset of COVID19 and its curtailment of social as well as
joined the Rural Estate team in Mid‐February having business activities, it is not planned to have Tenants Meetings
come from managing a large private family trust with in the near future. However, we recognise that these meetings
farms, agri‐business and commercial assets across the give an ideal opportunity to discuss the industry, our
UK from the Scottish Highlands to SW England. performance and the future of farming. We will conduct
Coming from a multi‐facet rural investment group future meetings and will inform you as and when
with ‘dirty‐hands‐on’ experience of farm we are able to organise future events.
management, coupled with the development and on‐
going management of energy crop and biogas
production, together with other agri‐diversification
projects he looks forward to working with the rural
estate, its tenants and various stakeholders.
Goodbye
to Kate Find us on
Kate left us at the end of
March after nearly 3 years Facebook
with the Council, she is To keep up to date with the latest
leaving to work for Savills in news, events and farms to let
Cambridge. search ‘Cambridgeshire County
During her time on the estate Farms’ on Facebook and send a
Kate has completed several request to join the group.
new barn builds, many house
refurbishments and
The
extensions, many re‐lettings
as well as all the general
Stork Press
patch officer work on her part Congratulations to
of the estate. She has tackled
everything thrown her way in
our Tenants at
Plantation Farm
Releases
Alwyn and Rachel We are keen to hear about any
a professional and
Sweeney on the success or interesting stories you
conscientious manner.
birth of their may have for our Facebook page
She will be greatly missed for second child, and newsletters. If you have an
her diligence and good Imogen Ann on interesting story and are happy
humour. We wish her all the 17th October 2019. for it to be shared, please let Kit
best for the future! Helps know.
estate news
Tenancy Policies update
On the 21st February a report was presented to the Commercial & Investment Committee outlining
Workshop the aims and objectives of the Rural Estate.
The Estate will be managed to optimise the robust business plan to maximise returns to The cornerstones of the CCC Estate remain
15 Jan 2020 income in order to produce a target return tenants, the Estate and its stakeholders. in place to develop, assist and grow the
of 4%. This is a demanding target for the farm businesses of the new entrants into
We held a Tenancy Day in Ely in All new tenants will be offered a five year
sector and will need the best efforts of all of the industry and to give support those
Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) and where
conjunction with Suffolk County us to secure a prosperous business future. already farming with the inevitable
possible, if successful in their operation they
challenges facing the agricultural sector
Council Farms. Both disposals and acquisitions will be will be offered a further up to fifteen year
over the coming years as Government
considered to benefit the good FBT agreement thereafter.
The morning session was for Tenants in their first support changes to an environmental land
management of the Estate. The Estate will
5 years on the Estate looking towards a tenancy Those farming on an Agricultural Holdings management strategy.
continue to develop and assist with tenant
renewal. The morning was well attended by CCC Act 1986 (AHA) at retirement age will be
led farm diversification development
tenants and featured speakers from the AHDB, offered a further three years where this does
projects which will be accompanied by a
Barclays Bank, FWAG, the NFU, East of England not impact on the Estate’s boarder strategy.
Agricultural Society and a Care Farmer. Thank you
to all our speakers and attendees, we hope you
Maintenance
found it interesting and some food for thought.
The afternoon sessions was aimed at those Health and Safety Executive on the Estate
wishing to apply for a holding wether on As in previous years, we are continuing
Cambridgeshire or Suffolk’ Rural Estate. It was Inspectors – Focus on Farms with the 5 year rolling programme of
maintenance, despite increased
well attended by 17 Prospective tenants. We went
through the application process, the applications The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently told farmers to get their pressure on budgets. For properties due
forms and the budgets required. We hope it was a this year, inspections for any
health and safety standards up to scratch, as they continue to carry out maintenance required are underway.
useful exercise and helps applicants focus to make
the applications the best they can be. Again thank inspections of farms during 2020. Electrical installations will be checked by
you to everyone that attended. Data Facilities and roller shutter barn
HSE Inspectors have similar powers to Police other people who might be affected by your doors will be serviced by Security Gates
Officers, such as the right to interview work. Their website has lots of resources to & Doors.
workers, and the power to take evidence help you. See: www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/
Land Underdrainage 2 year contract –
from your farm. They can take enforcement topics/safety‐topics.htm
Please note DMJ Drainage Ltd have won
action, which could include making you stop
This year, the HSE says their Inspectors “will the current contract. The contract runs
work until safety issues are fixed. They can
be looking at how farms managing machinery to April 2021.
also prosecute farms and/or individual
and transport risks, as well as reminding
people who aren’t following safety law. Even if it is not your year to have the 5
farmers of their duty to protect themselves,
year check, general maintenance
The HSE doesn’t want to stop you running their workers and members of the public
requests can be considered at any time.
your farm, but they want your farm to be from the risks caused by cattle”. The HSE
safe. They have guidance to help you to keep website (linked above) has information on all If you have maintenance requests
yourself safe, as well as your workers, these topics, and lots more. please contact Sarah Goodier on
visitors, members of the public and any (01223) 699095.
views
New tenant, new beginnings…
Tim Boor Somerset Farm, Goosetree
I took on Somerset farm in October 2019. I was fortunate enough to meet with the
outgoing tenant several times who gave me great advice about the soil types across the
holding. The Council also kindly soil sampled the farm so nutrient deficient areas have
already been identified.
Oilseed rape was established at the end of August/ interesting to see how current UK varieties perform, as
early September. Unfortunately, the lack of well as see any potentially benefits from improved
(September) rain, coupled with lots of flea beetle weed and disease control.
damage means that at time of writing the crop is
Through my part time role at ADAS I was invited in
looking more backward than hoped. There are enough
December to present on fungicide efficacy to 250 farmers
plants, but we will be relying on the branches
in the Ukraine. This was an extremely interesting
producing pods for yield. Pigeons have caused some
experience, although they didn’t seem particularly
damage, however the bigger issue seems to be that I
impressed with my farm as apparently anything less than
now host a flock of 200 swans that have made their
4000 acres was classed as a hobby farm!
home on the oilseed rape crop, so moving these on is
part of the morning dog walk routine. In the New Year I had the opportunity to see what
agriculture is like in Northern California when I visited
This season I have tried various establishment methods
Russell Ranch Agricultural Research Centre. This was
to see what works best. Winter barley was sown across
really interesting and well worth a visit. Tomatoes,
strips of min tilled land and was also direct drilled into
almonds and fruit trees were the most common crops
stubble. So far the min tilled strips look slightly better,
grown in that part of California, with wheat grown
although there is actually very little in it. The oilseed
mainly as a break crop. Water availability is a huge
rape was strip tilled on 45cm row widths, an
issue, not helped by almonds being a popular crop
establishment method I normally prefer as it helps with
which require 12 litres of water to produce just one
rooting and doesn’t disturb the soil much, although this
almond so there was ongoing research looking at
year any establishment method before 15th August
increasing cropping sustainability. Something of
would have been better. Due to the persistent wet
interest is a variety of perennial wheat, Kernza®, they
weather, the winter and spring wheat has been
have been trialling and are starting to grow on a small
ploughed and drilled and this is the best method of
scale. Clearly there are significant environmental
establishment so far in a difficult year.
benefits and costs savings from growing perennial
We applied for FarmINN funding through Rothamsted wheat, but unfortunately it yields between 0.4‐1.0t/ha
Research to establish a trial looking at variety mixing so perhaps not economical over here just yet!
with modern cultivars, following reduced intensity
My partner and I moved in to Somerset Farm house and
fungicide programmes. In other countries mixing
are settling in really well. It is a fantastic holding and we
cultivars is known to produce higher yields than
look forward to farming the land going forward.
growing the cultivars individually so it will be
views
Countryside Stewardship
Elizabeth Ranelagh, FWAG East
As Countryside Stewardship enters its sixth year of applications,
it is a very different scheme from the one we first met in 2015.
The application form has slimmed down and arrives (coppicing, laying, gapping up) and work on stone
usually within a few minutes when ordered online, walls, and can be used in conjunction with HLS or the
much less evidence is required on application, and Wildlife Offers. Finally, the Facilitation Fund is also
there is a simplified option which gives you part of CS: enabling groups of farmers to appoint a
guaranteed entry, rather than being competitive. As facilitator to organise training and events to help
of this year, if an inspection shows that you have them address their chosen issues at landscape scale.
over‐claimed on an option, no penalties will be
This is now a flexible scheme which has something
applied (although re‐payment will be required).
appropriate for most farms. However, some farmers
Nonetheless, there are still aspects of the scheme are still holding off applying, even though they have
which are unclear. Countryside Stewardship (CS) is a
set of different schemes: Mid Tier is the place to go
for most farms: there are many annual options and
options on the ground left over from their ELS,
because of uncertainty of what is to come. The new
Environmental Land Management System (ELMS),
SDLT
A reminder to all who will be
capital items to choose from, and it is competitive which is due to replace both BPS and CS, will not open
signing new agreements. If you are
(although low application numbers have meant that it until 2024. In the meantime, from 2021 to 2027 BPS
not using an agent or solicitor you
has not been competitive so far). However, even Mid will be gradually reducing. CS therefore represents an
need to obtain the paper forms for
Tier consists of several different parts: there is the important way to boost farm income during this
submitting your SDLT notification
“core” Mid Tier, which if you are in a priority area for period. Since ELMS is likely to be a “payment by
from the gov.uk site, where there
water quality includes water capital items, or you can results” system, CS also give farmers the opportunity
is also a very useful calculator to
apply for just the water capital items in a two‐year to try out environmental management and learn how
work out any sum due. The return
stand‐alone grant. Also part of Mid Tier are the to get the best results from options like winter bird
must be submitted within 14 days
“Wildlife Offers”, which are non‐competitive packages food and nectar flower mix, which are likely to remain
to avoid a penalty, so get the form
(Arable, Mixed Farming and Lowland Grazing – and important parts of the scheme. Defra have
and advice before the final signing.
Upland in other areas of the country) with limited undertaken to ensure that existing agreement holders
annual options and no capital items. Higher Tier is are not disadvantaged when new schemes open, and
much more focussed than Higher Level Stewardship the 2020 Countryside Stewardship manual states that
was, with farms which have specific habitats and it will be possible to move into ELMS before any
features to maintain, create or restore being accepted current CS expires.
into the scheme. Woodland management is part of
Mid Tier and the Wildlife Offers are open until the
Higher Tier (either as part of a larger application, or as
end of July, and Higher Tier until the end of May, so if
a stand‐alone scheme). Other woodland grants –
you haven’t so far, take the plunge and make an
Woodland Management Plan, Woodland Creation
application this year.
Grant, Woodland Tree Health Grant – are separate
and open all year for application. The Hedgerow & For more information contact
Boundary Grant caters for hedgerow restoration elizabeth.ranelagh@fwageast.org.uk
views
Progressing on the Estate
Jonathan Roberts, Morleys Farm
Please outline your journey on the estate so far: looking in the shed and seeing a good heap of wheat or similar is
a great feeling‐ even better when the cheque then lands on the
I applied for 4 different farms over the course of 3 years, before
doorstep! It’s been a lovely place to live which is always a
I was awarded this one. I started the tenancy in October 2014.
bonus.
The first year was definitely eye opening, it felt like being
thrown in at the deep end! Thank fully I had plenty of people There’s always something unexpected‐ something breaks, a
around to help out and keep me on track. As the years go by I’ve costs you haven’t factored. This year’s weather this year has
become more organised and knowing what to expect. The house probably been the biggest obstacle so far. The weather is
was renovated within the first few months and that made a becoming less predictable and much more of a challenge. I just
huge difference having a nice home to come back to. try to keep one step ahead and so when the weather breaks I
The cropping has slowly grown, 230 ac to start, then 100ac after can push on and get things done.
year 3 and a final 40ac after year 4. I’m up to circa 390ac in total What advice would you give to those starting out on the
now. It’s all in one big block and makes my life much easier and estate?
really helps with security. I’m now on the first year of my 15
year tenancy‐ coming up to my 6th harvest. There’s now enough To be sure you want to do it. Knows your figures inside and out.
acres for a decent rotation and including the potatoes. I’ve got A lot of people just want to farm, don’t forget it’s a business!
enough land to make it worthwhile doing these investments into Admittedly it is a nice life at certain times during the year but
kit. The years fly by but it’s been really enjoyable on the whole. you have to earn money out of it. Be sure you’re not walking
yourself into something you might regret.
What made you want to become a Tenant on the Estate, and
Morleys Farm in particular? What are your longer term plans?
In respect of becoming a tenant, I’ve famed all my life, quite I’m aware that there is no further land to come with the
nearby. I worked away at Greens in Soham, then after 18 holding so it’s now all about the crops. I want to grow a
months of being back at home, shall we say we had a few better, more sustainable crops. I am trying to be more
differences of opinion and it was time to do my own thing. environmentally friendly with direct drilling, low disturbance,
Cambridgeshire Council Council (CCC) gave me a great treating soils better and improving the drainage. I aim to keep
opportunity to do just that. the costs down and to make the business as profitable as
possible. For us and CCC and if our business is doing well we
I knew the previous tenant so I was aware that Morleys was good
can pay the rents which means CCC is doing well and their
land in a single block, with a nice house and buildings. The land is
aims are met.
suitable for the root crops and onions that I wanted to grow. It’s
also not too far from everyone I know and a suitable distance to The future is going to be difficult, particularly this year with the
borrow machinery or draft in some help where required. wet winter, BREXIT unknowns and BPS payments tapering down.
Potentially entering into a CS agreement could help fil this gap
What has your time at Morleys Farm been like so far and has it
and I’m looking into this to make sure it’s financially viable for
been all that you expected?
the holding. There’s some interesting times ahead for British
Very enjoyable and worthwhile doing. I’ve got a real sense of agriculture and I’m looking forwards to seeing what it holds for
satisfaction from doing everything myself. At the end of the year me on this holding.
events
Site or buildings for Areas for early
Cambridgeshire Beekeepers feeding of Turtle
Doves
Cambridgeshire beekeepers They currently operate three small sites around the
outskirts of Cambridge, but, due to the huge demand,
(CBKA) are an active group feel the need to widen the scope of their activities and
around Cambridgeshire offering develop improved facilities.
advice and support to existing They are hoping to find a site of about ½ hectare ideally
beekeepers and advice and within 7 miles of Cambridge to rent on a long lease or
purchase outright. Land with a building suitable for
training to those wishing to redesign and/or refurbishment, even though not
look after these useful workers. currently habitable, will also be of interest to CBKA.
CBKA is seeking to establish a more permanent
centre providing the security to grow its activities
and services and with the facilities to support these
activities to include
• meeting rooms and large lecture theatre;
• a well‐equipped apiary with around 20 colonies of The Council have been approached to see if
bees in hives of various types of construction to anyone could help by offering areas for the
provide both practical training and development; early season feeding of turtle doves.
• a laboratory containing microscopy and other These are a migratory bird species that travels
instrumentation to allow for research and to Sub Saharan Africa for the winter. It feeds on
identification of diseases of bees; cereal and wildflower seeds. The RSPB and local
Wildlife Trust have asked us to publicise its
• storage for beekeeping equipment including loan
plight and ask if anyone can offer sites where
equipment to assist CBKA members in managing
volunteers can spread suitable seeds in March/
their own bee colonies;
April to help the birds make an early start to
• sufficient parking for attendees on training courses their breeding season and prevent further
and the many lectures and talks that CBKA provides decline of this threatened species. The species
open to all interested members of the public; is on the RSPB red list in the Birds of
Conservation Concern 4 Report (BoCC4)
If you think you may be able to help or know
someone who may have suitable land, ideally with See www.operationturtledove.org/wp‐
possible building(s) for refurbishment, please content/uploads /2020/01/OTD‐
contact Bob Dawkins – bob_dawkins@hotmail.com Guidance‐Helping‐your‐local‐turtle‐doves‐
or via phone 01223 414564, m 07922 421133 Jan20.pdf for details of how to help
events
mpetition year! Muckspreaders
It’s co
Cup
Please apply to join in the competitions below. If the restrictions
imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have been
relaxed by the beginning of June the judging will go ahead.
Otherwise they will have to be postponed for a further year.
The Christopher Burton Memorial Cup will be awarded
annually to the best new entrant within their first five years on the Estate. Open Farm Sunday
The Competition is open to all tenants (within their first five years) farming an area This year Open Farm Sunday has been postponed to 20th
of 2 ha or more and there is no entry fee. September 2020. The event is run by LEAF (Linking
Environment and Farming) who actively encourage all
The Coronation Bowl will be awarded annually to the best managed types of farms to open their gates to the public. No
Holding with the emphasis on general management and enterprise. matter how small the event, involving people and helping
The Competition is open to all tenants farming an area of 2 ha or more and there is them to understand farming can give the industry a
no entry fee. massive boost. According to LEAF, the key is to showcase
the huge variety of farms producing great food with care
The Millennium Cup will be awarded in respect of diversification for the countryside.
of a holding. There are many farms in the region that take part, so if To comply with the latest government
The Competition is open to all tenants farming an acreage of 2 ha or more and you feel this year you would like to join in there is a lot of advice we sadly have to cancel this years
there is no entry fee. help available from LEAF to help you organise your event. match.
For more details see the LEAF website at We at Strategic Assets are hoping to make
If you are interested please apply to Kit who will be happy to email you
www.farmsunday.org. If you plan to get involved up a team to bowl out the tenants next
the relevant application form. Completed Entry Forms are to be returned
this year please let us know! year!
by the 1 June 2019 by email to christopher.helps@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Contact us…
John MacMillan Group Asset Manager 01223 699092 john.macmillan@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Jack Kennedy Interim Estate Manager 01223 507261 jack.kennedy@cambridgeshire.gov.uk cambridgeshire.gov.uk/estates
Kit Helps Principal Surveyor (Rural) 01223 724329 christopher.helps@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Sarah Goodier Estates Management Officer (Rural) 01223 699095 sarah.goodier@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
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