Denise Lloyd Posted April 16, 2016 Author Report Posted April 16, 2016 This from Elissa Swinglehurst Con Councillor for Llanwarne direction Smallholdings I attended the Cabinet meeting on the 14th April where the subject of the sale of the smallholdings was on the agenda. This had been wrongly reported by BBC TV as the cabinet making the decision to sell the small holdings; that decision had been taken by Cabinet in December and the agenda item in April was to progress to the appointment of an agent. There will be a procurement process and any bid needs to come from an ESPO 2700 framework member or associate. I sincerely hope that the successful company comes from within the county and I will make my feelings known. A detailed disposal plan will be drawn up once the agent has been appointed and it will come before Cabinet in October. It will be available to the public.Just to clear up one point about the notices to quit that have been served on some of the farm business tenants – they did not come about as a result of the decision taken in December to sell the smallholdings but in the usual course of termination of a fixed term tenancy (notices being sent 12 months before the expiration of the tenancy term). " Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 17, 2016 Author Report Posted April 17, 2016 From the Landworkers Alliance on their protest in London today. George Dunn's speech on Sale of Council Farms will be posted in due course Public land for public good The Landworkers’ Alliance (LWA) hung a 7m banner over the entrance to the treasury today to highlight the continued sell off of publicly owned farmland and council housing under the Government’s austerity programme. The action took place as part of La Via Campesina’s ‘International day of Agrarian Struggle’ that will see co-ordinated actions across more than 70 countries highlighting threats to the livelihoods of 200 million ecological and family farmers worldwide. The LWA’s action focussed on the 9,500 acres of publicly owned farmland and 219 working farms that have been sold by local councils since 2010 under pressure from the Government to raise capital and meet fiscal deficits. The sell off of the public farmland estate is part of £37bn of privatization sales made by George Osborne since 2010 under which public food and farming assets have been regarded as any other commodity to be bought and sold. ‘Council owned farms have traditionally played a vital role in providing successive generations with a first step on the farming ladder’ says Humphrey Lloyd of the LWA, ‘the loss of eight percent of the public farm estate over the past five years has had a massive impact on new entrants into farming and has turned public resources for the many into private wealth for the few. ‘We would like to point out that the continued privatisation of this essential public resource is proceeding with no public consultation whatsoever and shockingly little media attention. Food and farming are not like “any other commodity†and should be protected as Public Land for Public Good.’ The action is supported by the Tenant Farmers Association and was addressed by TFA Chief Executive George Dunn. It was attended by LWA members from across the UK and will be accompanied by speeches from LWA members and tenant farmers who have been affected by Country farm sell offs. More information: The LWA has called this action to highlight the continued sell off of publicly owned farmland and council housing under the Government’s austerity programme. County Council Farms have traditionally provided an affordable entry to farming for first-generation farmers. The County Farms Estate was established following the Smallholdings & Allotment Act 1908 under which Councils had a statutory duty to meet the demand of applications by young persons to enter into farming. Funding for the purchase of the estate was initially provided by the Ministry of Agriculture. Following the financial crash in 2008 & subsequent recession the Conservative-led government has prioritised the sale of public assets in order to meet a £69bn/yr fiscal deficit. High profile public assets sold since 2010 have included; The Royal Mail, Northern Rock, The Royal Bank of Scotland, East Coast Trains, Eurostar Ltd, High Speed 1 & The Food & Environment Research Agency. The Treasury has actively encouraged County Councils to sell their individual farm estates to raise capital at County level. The revenue generated from sale of County Farms from 2010-2015 is estimated at £56m nationally. By comparison the Government’s proposed cost of renewal of Trident currently stands at £100 billion. Since 2010 the number of Country Council owned Farms has declined by 219 from; 2,723 – 2,504. The area of publicly-owned farmland owned has declined by 3,450ha from 95,917ha – 92,467ha over the same period. Over the same period average per hectare rents on remaining Council-owned farms have increased by 30 percent from £212/ha in 2010 to £275/ha today. The government’s direct income from council-owned farms has increased by 21 per cent from £21.9m in 2010 to £26.5m today. Government expenditure on council farm repair, upkeep & maintenance has decreased by four percent from £8.4m in 2010 to £8.1m today. Our Position: “Council farms are not simply another asset to be bought and sold – they represents a realistic entry into farming for a generation of first-time farmers and a public resource that should be valued above and beyond balancing the Chancellors books. Council farms represent an opportunity for public engagement with where our food comes from and how it is produced – they should be protected as public land for public good!†All Figures taken from The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy Farm Survey 2015. +2 LikeShow More Reactions CommentShare Top comments 2525 2 comments 6 shares Comments Write a comment... Bridget Sarah Graham We must have food security and public-owned farmland should be retained at all cost, especially so that there are more opportunities for people to enter farming. Like · Reply · 14 mins Robin Grey Great work team. Ace photos. Like · Reply · 3 mins Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Posted April 18, 2016 A neighbouring Council - compare and contrast Council continues its commitment to farming in the county The council has been speaking to the farmers and farming unions for several months and agreements are already in place pending cabinet approval 22 hrs ago / Jamie Wiseman, Reporter / @jamiewisemansnj Share: 1 comment Want more local news stories like these via email? Sign up GLOUCESTERHSIRE County Council is planning to offer tenant farmers the rare opportunity to buy their land at the same time as investing in revitalising remaining farms. The county council’s proposed 2016 Strategic Estate Plan, which will be discussed in this month’s cabinet, outlines the possibility of reducing its rural land to 5,600 acres from 6,400 acres. Currently the county council owns 50 farms, by reducing this to 40 the county council is providing the opportunity for some long standing farmers to buy the land and home that they’ve lived in for many years and others to end a tenancy agreement early, simply and hassle free. The council has been speaking to the farmers and farming unions for several months and agreements are already in place pending cabinet approval. Some of the money raised from the sales would be reinvested into the remaining farms. Currently the maintenance of the tenant farms is the responsibility of the tenants, now the council is proposing to take on that responsibility to rejuvenate the properties and land and introduce modern technology, helping the tenants develop and explore new methods of farming. This will open up possibilities to farmers with a variety of experience and farming assets and potentially create more revenue for the rural economy. Throughout January and March 2016 the council spoke with farmers in the county, as well as farming unions and association, and asked for their views and comments on the proposed plan. The majority of feedback supported the strategy and agreed that there was a need to sell some rural property so that the funds generated can be invested into improving farms and contribute towards council savings targets. Other proposals detailed in the plan include the need for a simple and hassle free way for tenants to leave their renting agreement, if they’re affected by the properties sold, and the council’s continued commitment to keeping the remaining land maintained and in good condition. An integral aspect of the strategy is to make sure that there are clear development opportunities for the remaining 5,600 acres. This means that the county council will continue to invest in the farms that aren’t sold and fix any backlogs of repairs; as well as develop new relationships with farm tenants and the wider rural community to help boost the rural economy. The money that would be generated from the sell of the 800 acres would be reinvested in to core council services that offer support to some of the most vulnerable adults and children in Gloucestershire. Cllr Ray Theodoulou, cabinet member for finance, said: “Unlike other authorities which have chosen to sell off all their farm land, Gloucestershire County Council is still, and will continue to be, committed to agriculture. “It is a very important part of the county’s heritage and economy as well as being a large contributor to the country’s food production. The hard work done by our farmers is inspiring and we truly believe that this plan will make the future of farming more sustainable. “All the money that is made from the sale of the land will go back into the council’s budget for its vital core service. "We’re also hopeful that the land sold will create much needed employment opportunities and be part of the solution to the shortfall of housing within Gloucestershire.†Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Posted April 18, 2016 As promised George Dunn's speech from yesterday:- Like Tweet in Speech by George Dunn, TFA Chief Executive for Landworkers Alliance Protest: Public Land for Public Good - 17 April 2016 â–ª Many thanks to the Landworkers Alliance for inviting me to address this protest today.â–ª In Luke 12 v 48 tells us “To whom much is given much is expectedâ€.â–ª Sadly many County Halls up and down the country are running on the maxim “to whom much is given much can be squanderedâ€.â–ª County Council Smallholding estates were first created to bring new entrants into the farming industry in the late 1800’s.â–ª After the First World War the priority was to settle returning veterans in homes and employment.â–ª Since the enactment of the Agriculture Act 1970 their focus has been to create opportunities for individuals to be smallholder farmers in their own account.â–ª But over the past 30 years the number of county council farm tenants has at least halved and over one-third of the acreage of council farmland has been lost to the sector.â–ª We now have just over 60,000 ha of land and 1500 tenants left and falling.â–ª Does this matter? YES. 1. We are losing routes into agriculture – there is greater demand than supply. 2. We are losing income earning estates for local authorities. 3. We are not getting best value for Council Tax payers 4. We are losing assets which belong to the communities of those who live alongside them. 5. We are losing opportunities for connections with schools and education outside the class room. 6. We are losing opportunities for public access 7. We are losing our connection as a society with the land. â–ª The long term decline in the number and area of county farms is a major blow to the agricultural industry and the nation’s long term interests.â–ª We are told that Local Authorities need to focus on providing front line services and I get that.â–ª However, we cannot get away from the fact that there is bad financial management in many County Halls.â–ª This is compounded by Central Government edicts to deliver ever more with less.â–ª Selling income earning assets is a short term fix to a long term problem.â–ª Speak to Councils like Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire who sold their farms in the 1980’s to build hospitals, roads and schools and ask them how they will fulfil the needs of the next generation for those assets. They can’t.â–ª Bad financial management should not be allowed to destroy what remains of our County Council Farms.â–ª The TFA believes that County Council smallholding estates should be viewed as national assets and as such there should be a greater degree of national coordination in their management and protection.â–ª The TFA is greatly concerned about the ad hoc nature of policy towards county farms up and down the country.â–ª DEFRA should use the powers it has to scrutinise local authority management plans for their county farms and the Treasury should be requiring local authorities to demonstrate best value for local people rather than fostering a “dash for cash†policy.â–ª Once these farms are sold they are gone forever.â–ª I will finish where I started - Luke 12 v 48: To whom much is given much is expected.â–ª For our County Council Smallholding farms, we expect more from those that govern us. Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 20, 2016 Author Report Posted April 20, 2016 Yet more bad press for HC Herefordshire council investigated for farm sell-offJez Fredenburgh Wednesday 20 April 2016 10:36 © FLPA/REX/Shutterstock Herefordshire County Council (HCC) is to be investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) for possible maladministration of its farming estate sell-off after a tenant farmer lodged a complaint. At the beginning of the year the council served about a dozen tenants with notices to quit after having assured them a month before that their homes and livelihoods would be protected and transferred to the estate’s new owner. The Conservative council’s leader, Tony Johnson, who gave the assurances, told Farmers Weekly at the time that he had only been referring to Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancies and Farm Business Tenancies (FBT) would not “necessarily†be protected. See also: Council accused of ‘misleading’ tenants on estate sell-off The council’s task and finish group previously recommended that the farm estate be retained and rationalised, but the cabinet used its executive powers to overturn this recommendation. ‘Nobody has been to see us’Mixed farmer Nick Lloyd, who has been a tenant on the council’s estate for 19 years, made the complaint to the ombudsman with the support of the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA). He was served notice to quit on his six-year FBT with the end date set for January next year. “Nobody from the council has been to see us since we were served notice to quit,†said Mr Lloyd. “The only correspondence we’ve had is a tenant ‘support package’. [They are offering] £500 to each tenant for business planning or financial planning – but you’ve got to spend the £500 before you can claim it back.†The package included a list of contact details, mainly for non-council services, said Mr Lloyd, but these included organisations such as the TFA and businesses such as auctioneers “which as farmers we already know about.†Disposal plan may be too late for tenantsThe council has said tenants will be given the opportunity to buy part of all of their holdings if it does not impact the overall sale of the farming estate, but tenants will not be given details until after a disposal plan has been formulated. A council cabinet meeting last week was held to discuss the appointment of an agent to develop the disposal plan. Mr Lloyd said he feared the plan would not be ready until the autumn, leaving him and other tenants in limbo until then. “At the moment we’re carrying on, [but] we can’t really do anything and it’s very difficult not knowing,†he said. We need clarity, say tenantsTim Lane, another HCC farm tenant who has been served notice, said the council faced having land left unfarmed and houses empty if its tenants left before a buyer was found. “We need clarity. Everybody needs to know where they are,†said Mr Lane “It would be ridiculous if we all moved out in winter [when many tenancies end] and then a new owner bought the estate and everyone was off farming somewhere else.†George Dunn, chief executive of the TFA, said about 10 tenants were at the cabinet meeting last week and had been hoping for the notices to quit to be rescinded, but were told this would not happen. He said the LGO’s decision to investigate was “a great boost†for tenants. See also: Petition against council farm sell-off snowballs A spokesman from the LGO said it could not confirm or deny whether a case was being investigated, but it did have the power to ask a council to rectify an issue for all those affected, not just the individual who has made the complaint. The council has offered tenants a meeting with a cabinet member and senior manager in the next few weeks. When asked for a comment about the LGO’s investigation, HCC said it did not want to make a comment at this time. Quote
Pete Boggs Posted April 20, 2016 Report Posted April 20, 2016 Ombudsman findings are only recommendations. Councils can ignore them if they wish, although by convention they don't. However, I wouldn't count on the gang of plutocratic spivs leading the Council to do the right thing even if the ombudsman does find in Mr Lloyd's favour. Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 21, 2016 Author Report Posted April 21, 2016 No indeed in the HT today you have Terry James calling for the resignation of the Cons who do not agree with the sale of the farms and the Council saying they have no record of receiving notification of the complaint - mmmmmm I personally call for the resignation of the Cabinet - they hold far too much power - it's always dangerous - power goes to people's heads in a lot of cases Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 22, 2016 Author Report Posted April 22, 2016 Two Hereford Council farms up for short term let or matthew.williams@herefordshire.gov.uk Grove Farm, Burghill, Hereford HR4 8NF Land and Buildings equating to approximately 48 ha (120 acres) Letting particulars Grove Farm plan Annex A location plan Annex B field schedule and plan Tender form Tenancy application form Lodge Farm, Ocle Pychard, Hereford HR1 3QQ Land and Buildings equating to approximately 40 ha (100 acres) Letting particulars Lodge Farm plan Annex B - Details of fodder Annex C field plan Annex C field schedule Tender form Tenancy application form Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 25, 2016 Author Report Posted April 25, 2016 Tories who are against Herefordshire's tenant farm sell-off should quit - opposition party leaderA LEADING opposition figure says Conservative councillors who don't agree with Herefordshire Council's tenant farm sell-off should resign from the party. http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14449356.Tories_who_are_against_Herefordshire_s_tenant_farm_sell_off_should_quit___opposition_party_leader/ Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 25, 2016 Author Report Posted April 25, 2016 Resignation call as running of Norfolk County Council’s farm estate is branded a ‘shambles’ 06:30 22 April 2016 Dan Grimmer https://t.co/rNNomwssVQ The comments attached to this report are worth a read Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 27, 2016 Author Report Posted April 27, 2016 More bad press for HC. Excellent interview from Nick Lloyd and George Dunn on Radio 4's You and Yours today http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0783lkl Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted April 28, 2016 Author Report Posted April 28, 2016 http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14458280.Herefordshire_is_investigated_over_its_decision_to_sell_off_tenant_farms/?ref=mr&lp=5 Today's Hereford Times Quote
lpusseycat Posted April 28, 2016 Report Posted April 28, 2016 Typical tory politics sell it off regardless cut all funding we need more money for the banksters must keep at least 2 yachts afloat this summer. Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Posted May 1, 2016 Buchannan Farms Bosbury are mentioned in earlier pages and I am fairly certain that they form part of Council farms. Back in 2014 HC wanted to withdraw from any involvement in the Trust that is responsible for running the farms. Indeed The Following make up the current Board on behalf of the Trustee. Cllr Terry James Cllr Philip Price Cllr John Hardwick Cllr Patricia Morgan Cllr Harry Bramer Does anybody know if these people are still Trustees? Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Posted May 1, 2016 Or it could be Terry James/Phillip Price/Anthony Johnson which were listed on what looks like a slightly later document = undated so absolutely impossible to tell Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Posted May 4, 2016 I do not know whether this is tenant farmers in general or specific to Council farm tenants. Let us hope that Jess and Bill at least put in an appearance and at best have an input representative of the county they represent. George Dunn â€@georgewdunn 3h 3 hours ago Excellent news that @Nus_Ghani has secured a Westminster Hall debate on tenant farming on Tuesday 10 May at 3.30pm #FBT10plus Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Posted May 5, 2016 https://www.fginsight.com/news/news/national-government-policy-needed-to-halt-council-farms-sell-off-11912 Farmers Guardian 2 hrs · A national Government policy which stops cash-starved councils selling off their agricultural holdings could be the industry’s last opportunity to safeguard the future of local authority units. Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Posted May 5, 2016 Care Farms are very current and they do wonderful work Bridget Warren â€@bridgetwhipsin 5h5 hours ago Useful letter in the @FarmersWeekly about Care Farming. County Farms provide all sorts of services. @tenantfarmers Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 8, 2016 Author Report Posted May 8, 2016 Not really relevant but sounds so desperate if anybody is kicking their heels after lambing http://brecon.fyinetwork.co.uk/my,31297-Farming-help-urgently-needed--Llanwrtyd Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Posted May 10, 2016 160710/L Barns at New House Farm Almeley Hereford Proposed change of use of traditional agricultural buildings to three dwelling houses, associated internal and external works and demolitionof modern agricultural building. Listed Building Consent Valid 2 June 2016 P160709/CD3 Barns at New House Farm Almeley Hereford Proposed change of use of traditional agricultural buildings to three dwelling houses, associated internal and external works and demolitionof modern agricultural buildings. Fairly quick off the mark. Would this be sustainable? Ward Councillor - A Skelton if my memory serves me correctly he was co writer of a letter to the HT a couple of weeks ago Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Posted May 10, 2016 Apologies it is Clive Skelton Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Posted May 10, 2016 Having looked at the accompanying photos to this application I should have passed comment on the state of this farm. The buildings are nothing short of in state of delapidation. Is this what is termed as Council maintained? Is this classed as getting best value for the tax payers? The council should be ashamed of themselves that what could have been a lovely farm and a real money spinner has been allowed to fall into this state of repair. Quite obviously they had development lined up on this a long long time ago. Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Posted May 10, 2016 Let's see if agent Ben Corbett of Berry's is more fortunate with this planning application than he was with a previous pa(143561) for 2 pig units in Almeley. Judging by the string of objections to the smell the traffic the noise etc etc the Almeley residents are a feitsy lot Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 11, 2016 Author Report Posted May 11, 2016 MPs debate county farm sell-offsJohann Tasker Wednesday 11 May 2016 6:32 © Tolga Akmen/LNP/REX/Shutterstock Defra minister George Eustice says he is keen to reinvigorate England’s system of tenanted county farms so it offers new entrants a “real option†to carve a career in agriculture. Acknowledging that the government was powerless to stop cash-strapped county councils from selling off their farms, Mr Eustice said the 1970 Agriculture Act nonetheless gave Defra scope to work with local authorities to help them to “refine†their plans. See also: Land workers protest in London at county farm sell-offs “We cannot block them from selling those assets – they have a statutory right to do that – but we have a role to play in working with them on any plans for reorganisation of their county farms,†Mr Eustice told MPs during a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday (10 May). Concern about county farms, particularly in Herefordshire, has already prompted Mr Eustice to set up talks with local authorities. “I am keen to have discussions with them about how we can try to refresh the model and make it a real option for new entrants to the industry.†The debate was tabled by Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani to discuss the length and security of farm tenancies. Mr Eustice was responding to a question by shadow Defra minister Nick Smith, who asked what the government was doing to help tenant farmers. Mr Smith said: “County council farm estates are an increasingly painful issue for tenant farmers that the government needs to address. Herefordshire Council has become the latest to sell off its estates – land that provided a good entry point for young farmers.†Herefordshire Council agreed to sell off its 50 county farms totalling some 1940ha last December. The local authority said the annual gross revenue from the estate was about £400,000, but the net income value was negligible after maintenance and support costs were included. Some 42 tenant farmers are affected by the Herefordshire sell-off. But the local authority said it needed to realise the value of its assets. “It is not a requirement for the council to manage a farm estate and there are many other agricultural landlords who may be better placed to do so.†R I wonder if either Jess or Bill were in attendance and expressed an opinion - or did they do what they are best at when it comes to things of Herefordshire? Quote
twowheelsgood Posted May 11, 2016 Report Posted May 11, 2016 Having looked at the accompanying photos to this application I should have passed comment on the state of this farm. The buildings are nothing short of in state of delapidation. Is this what is termed as Council maintained? Is this classed as getting best value for the tax payers? The council should be ashamed of themselves that what could have been a lovely farm and a real money spinner has been allowed to fall into this state of repair. Quite obviously they had development lined up on this a long long time ago. Given that the Ecology report was commissioned in July 2013, and the structural survey in July 2015, yes, this whole debacle was stitched up and shared out well before it ever went 'live'. Most Council's simply don't 'do' maintenance and Herefordshire is certainly no exception. It takes time and care and dedication to manage assets - as well as money - and too many of those responsible would rather sit in meetings and waffle than do the real work required. Look at any Council building, including schools (and the LEA pool for instance), and they're badly maintained, badly repaired, badly altered. It's easier to run them into the ground and then either get a capital grant to build a new one with 'partners' at twice the going rate or just sell them off for £1, as in all of the Council housing to Herefordshire Housing. Yet strangely, despite a reducing portfolio, we still need a huge, highly paid team to 'manage' property and other resources. Of course, no account is taken of the people who have to live or work or be educated or be cared for in these sub-standard buildings in the interim. It does make me very angry - we pay a lot through council tax for a service that simply isn't delivered and there doesn’t seem to be a damn thing we can do about it. Looking at this application in particular, some of the buildings are listed - the owner has a legal obligation to maintain them. But then so do the owners of the burnt out shell in High Town, and that's going well isn't it? Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted May 12, 2016 Author Report Posted May 12, 2016 Eustice said there were some interesting models that enable new entrants, who perhaps do not have capital behind them, to get access and set up a new business. Concerns about the sale of county farms has prompted Defra Minister George Eustice to call for discussions about how new entrants to the industry can be better served. "There has been concern about those, particularly in Herefordshire, which prompted me to set up some discussions," said Eustice. "We cannot block them from selling those assets—they have a statutory right to do that—but we have a role to play in working with them on any plans for reorganisation of their county farms. "That is why I am keen to have discussions with them about how we can try to refresh the model and make it a real option for new entrants to the industry." Eustice said there were some interesting models that enable new entrants, who perhaps do not have capital behind them, to get access and set up a new business. The Defra Minister cited an example of a large pig producing company which uses franchise farmers, who run the unit for a fee. "That is a great way to give young people who want to farm, but have no capital behind them, the first stepping stone into the industry. "It is also a model that can lead to better knowledge transfer and access to technology." "We think about the future of farming in this country, we perhaps need to move beyond the traditional notion of tenancies and land ownership and look at some of those other, more creative models, which may actually have far more promise for new people trying to get into the industry." 'Availability of land' The availability of land for purchase or rent is the most difficult challenge young farmers face. The report, published by the European Commission this week, identified issues such as land ownership laws, inheritance rules and land prices as some of the main hurdles young farmers face. Following extensive interviews with more than 2,200 young farmers across the EU in order to identify the main challenges faced in each Member State, the report shows that access to credits and subsidies are also perceived as difficult by more than one third of young farmers. There is relatively little difference on these issues between young farmers in the EU-15 and those in the EU-13, but for questions such as access to qualified labour, seasonal workers and machinery, there is clearly a stronger problem perceived by young farmers in the new Member States. This study also indicates that young farmers do not consider knowledge acquisition as a crucial element for successful farming. In their opinion, knowledge and lessons can easily be available and therefore the respective need is perceived in a less prominent way than other needs. Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted August 7, 2016 Author Report Posted August 7, 2016 Very sad times for many - only farmers know the pain felt when losing their farms. Never mind the coffers of HC will be be filled for a few days until they decide on another vanity project to fritter it away http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14665101.Firm_appointed_to_oversee_sale_of_Herefordshire_s_smallholdings/ Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted September 3, 2016 Author Report Posted September 3, 2016 News - Treasure the treasures on your doorstep http://www.newsroom.herefordshire.gov.uk/2016/august/treasure-the-treasures-on-your-doorstep.aspx#.V8qCRu0mBjc.twitter … via @hfdscouncil I could post this on over 50% of the forums on HV. HC would be well advised to use this as their mantra but sadly in too many cases it is too late Quote
Denise Lloyd Posted September 24, 2016 Author Report Posted September 24, 2016 With over 600000 youngsters expected to join the farming industry(either in a conservation capacity or a food production capacity) in the 4 years leading up to 2020 and with such excellent agricultural colleges nearby have HC in their capacity as caretakers of what is fundamentally an agricultural county missed one hell of an opportunity? Not forgetting the planned Uni - you had it all on a plate to do something to make this county wonderful again!! Quote
twowheelsgood Posted September 24, 2016 Report Posted September 24, 2016 Perhaps the emphasis is changing at Holme Lacy as well - Wilsley House up for sale now, OIRO £480k, with planning permission to convert to dwellings and build houses in the garden. Quote
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