Chefs and celebrities are urging the public to write to their MP calling for a block on low-quality food imports, as politicians gear up to vote on the Agriculture Bill.

In a video posted on social media, TV chef Jamie Oliver and fitness coach Joe Wicks were among those to warn of dire consequences if the government allows food such as chlorinated chicken to be imported into the UK.

Campaigners for Bite Back 2030, which is lobbying for a healthier generation, warn that chlorinated chicken is “the tip of the iceberg”.

Other concerns include milk from cows injected with hormones, hormone-injected beef, pork bred from sows confined to narrow stalls, antibiotic overuse, crops sprayed with pesticides that are harmful to pollinators, and food that is high in fat, sugar and salt.

All too often, consumers will not know what they are eating due to poor labelling, the group adds.

However, they are far from anti-trade, adding: “Our vision is a brand Britain selling high quality food all over the world. And if farmers from other countries can make the same quality produce at a cheaper price, then fair play to them.

“When it comes to food standards, let’s have a race to the top, not a race to the bottom.”

Farmer Jimmy Doherty says: ‘In response the government has said they’re going to set up a Trade and Agriculture Commission which is very, very positive for first steps but it’s focus is too narrow.”

Campaigners are urging the government to ensure that environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards are upheld in all UK-produced and imported products.

They are also calling for the Trade and Agriculture Commission to be extended to five years, and include recognised experts in public health, child obesity, animal welfare and the environment. It should also produce a report on every trade deal, which should be debated and voted on in parliament, the group says.

A pre-written letter crafted for MPs reads: ‘The trade deals we’re now negotiating could drive the biggest change in what British people eat for decades.

‘We welcome trade. But the wrong kind of trade deals could mean British farmers and food producers have to compete with products that would be illegal to produce here in the UK. They could also damage child health, as shown by past trade agreements between Canada and Mexico and the USA where obesity rates increased dramatically.’

The Agriculture Bill is due for its third reading in the House of Lords on 1^st October, before progressing to consideration of amendments and finally Royal Assent.

Peers recently voted in favour of a clause that would require food imports to meet domestic standards.

Click HERE for more information on the campaign.

Farmer Tom Warner and founder of Warner’s Gin, diversified his family’s livestock farm back in 2012, with no idea that he was about to trigger the trend for flavoured artisan gins. We spoke to Tom about his inspiration, and how the business has adapted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having spent 10 years working in the produce industry, Tom Warner returned to the family farm in Northamptonshire, hoping to take on a new diversification project. After deciding to grow plants for making essential oils, he hit upon the idea of using the distillery to make gin throughout the rest of the year.

At the time, seven years ago, the gin industry was not what it is today – Tom’s idea preceded the explosion in craft distilleries and the array of flavoured gins now on the market, and the industry was dominated by multi-million-pound businesses, not independents.

The brand’s first elderflower gin was inspired by his mother, who picked elderflower from the farm hedgerows and added it to the gin, creating the first modern day flavoured gin and the first of that flavour to be available at the time.

Tom says they “accidentally” found themselves ahead of the curve, becoming pioneers in pink gin when they launched the first Rhubarb Gin in 2014, followed by Raspberry in October and the limited-edition Strawberry and Rose this year. One third of each of these gins comprises pure fruit juice and Tom says the flavour palette is very much inspired by the countryside and what is being grown on the farm at the time.

“When you’re born on a farm, it’s intrinsically ingrained in you that you’re the custodian of that land,” he explains. “We wanted to create a business that’s symbiotic with mother nature, high quality and flavoursome.”

The farm now has 10 gins, with 25 per cent of their flavourings being cultivated on the 200-year old Falls Farm in Harrington, and 74 per cent of the ingredients being sourced from Great Britain. The farm, which has been in the Warner family for 70 years, spans 140 acres, including three botanical gardens spread over five acres, 20 bee hives and a cattle operation which continues to be run by Tom’s father. As well as providing the flavours for gin, it also provides a huge habitat for pollinators – something that is close to the heart of the business, which aims to become as self-sustaining as possible when it comes to botanicals.

Describing the brand, Tom says: “When you grow up on a farm, your heart and soul is rooted in the land you work every day. To us, real craft means graft so we strive to make not just the best gin, but the most authentic.

“Like all farming, I guess there’s an honesty in the hard work that goes into every drop, and in knowing that every flavour can be traced back to the land. Being gin farmers is no different – uncompromising, hand-crafted quality is at the heart of what we do; we don’t use flavourings, we don’t use synthetics, everything we do is real. Creating something extraordinary that brings people together, that’s what truly matters.”

Setting a trend

When starting out, Tom acknowledges that he and his business partner knew nothing about the gin industry but decided to trust their gut and inspiration. He believes creativity and the ability to “turn weaknesses into strengths” played a part in their success – while they faced certain disadvantages, namely being cash poor and developing a novel product that had not yet taken off, these fuelled his hunger for success.

“Being cash poor can be a killer for a new business and is probably the biggest enemy, but the hunger made us more creative and work harder,” he explains. “We had to be really inventive and creative with our flavours and our story. Our creativity made us stand out and our little distillery became the blueprint for all the distilleries that followed when the flavoured gin craze hit.”

After slow sales initially, Tom says business “took off like a rocket”, resulting in a demanding couple of years. Now, co-owned with his wife Tina, the business owns more than 23 per cent of the super-premium flavoured gin market, turning over £10.9 million in 2019.

For farmers who are thinking about diversifying, Tom says it’s very easy to copy other people, but he recommends going into it with open eyes and doing thorough research, looking for the white space in the market that no one else has filled yet. He also cautions against viewing diversification as a side project – it can be all-consuming and requires someone to run it full time.

With Brexit looming and the possibility of trade deals with the US, Tom predicts that diversification will become increasingly important, as well as selling the added value that British farming can offer – high quality, high welfare and brands that tell a story.

The pandemic effect

When global lockdowns saw us retreating into our homes back in March, Tom says 50-60 per cent of the business was switched off overnight, forcing him to furlough staff initially and restructure finances and business plans for the next year in case of a worst-case scenario.

The company bounced back in true entrepreneurial fashion by bringing a taste of the British countryside into consumers’ homes through launching a series of interactive virtual tastings and tours, broadcast from their farm distillery.

Beginning on 13^th June, they are the first of their kind from any British drinks company and follow Tom around key sites at the farm including five acres of botanical gardens, showing millions of bees in their hives. Tom describes it as “like Countryfile Spring Watch but with gin”. Lasting for 1.5 hours, it comprises live distillations, talks and a goody bag that includes a botanical growing kit and five double mixers.

Participants can also explore the company’s award-winning conservation programme – it has a dedicated conservation and sustainability manager and donates proceeds from is Raspberry Gin to the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, and those from the Honeybee Gin to the Royal Horticultural Society.

Going forward, Tom predicts that Covid is partially responsible for a growing awareness of health. Coupled with the fact that a quarter of Generation Z do not drink, he is currently looking to develop alcohol-free gins, noting that it is essential to observe market trends and plan for the future.

Continue to hold off drilling winter wheat fields where blackgrass is a worry until early October where possible, or mid-October in the worst fields, says agronomy firm ProCam.

Drilling before this puts more pressure on achieving top results from in-crop herbicides, the company points out.

Paul Gruber, ProCam regional technical manager, says: “A lot of growers have made huge inroads into reducing blackgrass seedbanks over recent seasons. This was aided by last season’s large area of spring cropping. However, it only takes one misjudgement in drilling date or in residual herbicide strategy and that good work can come undone.”

Delaying drilling becomes even more important in a year like this when blackgrass seed dormancy is high, says Mr Gruber. While up to 90% of blackgrass seed may emerge within a month of shedding in a low dormancy year, he says this can take up to three months when dormancy is high.

“Delaying drilling allows more time for stale seedbeds. However, high blackgrass dormancy also means stale seedbeds will take longer to flush.

“Do not consider a stale seedbed has done its job until it has produced at least one good flush of blackgrass. From experience this takes at least 10–14 days after decent rainfall. Shortcut this and you put more pressure on residual herbicides,” he adds.

Another disadvantage of drilling too early, he says, is reduced residual herbicide performance due to faster active ingredient degradation and poorer weed uptake in warmer and drier soils.

Importantly, ProCam data shows delaying drilling does not necessarily reduce yield. Growers in ProCam 4Cast, the annual analysis of thousands of hectares, managed to push average drilling date from early to mid-October between the seasons ending harvest 2011 and harvest 2019, yet if anything yield increased.

“Another pitfall to avoid is drilling your worst blackgrass fields first because they are on the heaviest land. Drilling should also only be done if seedbeds are good enough for residual herbicides to work, which means fine and firm.”

When finalising herbicide strategies, Mr Gruber says while being responsible, it is not worth skimping: 6% better control can deliver 0.5t/ha extra yield.

He says: “Crucially, ensure residuals are timed accurately, and utilise best practice spraying to get the best coverage of the soil.

“Timing needs to be pre-emergence of the blackgrass. By peri-emergence, control declines. Control in one of our trials in 2018 was reduced by at least 20% and up to 28% depending on treatment when application was delayed.

“As well as flufenacet, other active ingredients have roles. If you have already drilled into warmer and drier soils there is an argument for including the granule version of tri-allate in programmes – for releasing active ingredient as vapour against emerging weeds.

“Also, consider whether to apply residuals in a sequence or tank-mix. There may be advantages to some sequencing this season for extended residual activity with the high blackgrass dormancy. But you have to balance this with still being able to travel on your land for the later sprays.

“Applying liquid residuals in 200 l/ha of water also offers better control than in 100 l/ha. Also, keep boom height down to 50 cm for best soil coverage, and spray at a maximum of 12kph. Any faster and efficacy declines due to drift.

“Finally, consider including an adjuvant. Trials with residual herbicides showed with a suitable adjuvant it is possible to achieve an extra 5% blackgrass control.”

Supporting farm income has been cited as the main reason for offering agricultural contracting services, according to a survey by NFU Mutual.

“There has been considerable growth in the agricultural contracting sector over the last few years,” explains Charlie York, agri-contracting and technology specialist at NFU Mutual. “With the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and as farmers look to new ways to operate in the future, contracting is only going to grow in its importance.”

Four in 10 (40%) of survey respondents said supporting farm income was the main driver for providing agri-contracting services, while a quarter said it was to get a foot on the farming ladder.

Charlie York adds: “Our latest survey provides clear evidence that contracting now provides a crucial contribution to many farm incomes in today’s highly-competitive marketplace. The growth in contracting also makes it possible for modern, high-tech equipment to be used to get time-sensitive jobs done safely and efficiently.

“In an era where many farms struggle to support the younger generation, our research found a quarter of respondents saw contracting as a route into agriculture. Contracting is not only providing an opportunity for young farmers to plough their own furrow in the industry but also gives entirely new entrants a chance to start a farming career.”

Nearly a fifth of survey respondents (18 per cent) said contracting offered a way to develop expertise in a chosen field, while 17 per cent said it was a way to invest in modern machinery.

Research by NFU Mutual earlier this year found 60 per cent of farmers employed some form of contractor, though the figure is probably far greater when all contractor services are taken into account.

Charlie adds: “As farm support changes to a system based on enhancing the environment, we also think it’s likely that contractors will play an increasingly important role in providing services and skills to enable farmers to qualify for payments.”

A separate survey on the criteria farmers use to select a contractor showed they are less likely to compromise standards and safety over speed. Getting the job done safely and well was the first choice for over half of respondents (51%), followed by contractor expertise (19%), while value for money took third place (18%) and lastly – getting work done quickly (12%).

“It is reassuring to see that farmers now put ‘getting a job done well and safely’ as their first priority when choosing contractors,” adds Charlie.

NFU Mutual has enhanced its contractor insurance, with policies now providing more flexible cover to cater for a wider range of contracting businesses. Optional extensions are now available which cover damage to another farmer’s crops from spray drift and protection if contractors’ activities inadvertently result in a reduction in farmers’ payments from the Basic Payment Scheme – or its future replacement.

NFU Mutual’s podcast, with host Will Evans, on agricultural contractors and their role in the farming industry can also be found on www.nfumutual.co.uk/agri-contractor. Will is joined by Ian Maddever, NFU Mutual Agent and agricultural contracting specialist, and Charlie Yorke from NFU Mutual to talk about agri-contracting, how the industry has changed and the role it now plays in the farming industry.

Two entrepreneurs who started their business at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) are growing a community of consumers passionate about having a say in where their food comes from.

Alumni David Poussier and Pascal Hegglin are the co-founders of The Consumer Brand, an initiative which engages with consumers and empowers them to decide where their food comes from, how it is produced and what price they are willing to pay. After choosing products and completing questionnaires to select product characteristics on the on-line platform, The Consumer Brand team will negotiate with producers, retailers and processors to bring the products that have been chosen to market.

David and Pascal both studied for a Graduate Diploma in Agriculture at the RAU, graduating in July 2019. While working together on coursework and bonding over similar values and experiences, they developed their consumer initiative idea. They established The Consumer Brand as a company, and then worked on a website, a communication strategy, product questionnaires and importantly the development of a consumer community.

Through the RAU’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Programme, David and Pascal were introduced to Farm491, a leading UK based agritech incubator and innovation space based at the University, which supports entrepreneurs wanting to advance their businesses within the agricultural sector.

“It was clear The Consumer Brand would perfectly fit the goals pursued by Farm491,” said David. “They have provided us with the perfect office facilities, allowing us to organise meetings with outsiders, and interact with the extensive Farm491 network, including other businesses with their own stories.”

The duo have already successfully launched their first questionnaire for eggs, which simulates the real cost of food production, and are in the process of preparing three more questionnaires for products including milk, flour and porridge oats.

The results of their current egg questionnaire have proven that consumers are giving consideration to principles such as sustainable farming in the UK and a fair price for farmers.

“We have also had a lot of interest in our work following promotion in regional and national media, and it is becoming clear that consumers do want to be involved in defining the products they choose,” said Pascal.

With products defined and collectively created by consumers, the goal of The Consumer Brand is to then market the products and make them available to consumers all over the UK.

“We can be described as a ‘Fork to Farm’ initiative,” explained David. “By which we believe that from our responsible consumption and commitment to fair trade for farmers, we are contributing to the start of a virtuous circle in the food supply chain. Growing issues in the sector cannot be avoided or ignored anymore and preparing future students to understand and face the issues is the beginning to providing the solutions.”

David and Pascal are also currently in the process of registering as a Community Interest Company (CICI), which being not-for-profit, will help drive their activities for the benefit of their growing community of consumers.

“These include, but are not limited to, the organisation and management of activities that enable members of the public to participate in the creation of food products,” said Pascal. “The CIC will make sure that the consumers’ wishes with regard to the environment, farmer remuneration, and animal welfare are respected.”

Membership to the CIC will be open to everyone for a lifetime fee of just £1.00.

“We encourage everyone to join and to become an active protagonist in the story of positive change.”

Looking for a course that inspires you? Discover a range of courses available at the RAU, with spaces available this September.

With the new Terria stubble cultivator line in the trailed stubble cultivator sector Pöttinger presents a new solution that will be available from November 2020. With working widths of 4.0 to 6.0 metres and as 3- and 4-row models (Terria 4030, 5030, 6030 and TERRIA 4040, 5040, 6040) this machinery offers a wide range of tillage applications. The choice is yours – from shallow stubble cultivation to full-depth tillage.

Optimised reliability

The Terria trailed stubble cultivator’s tools are arranged symmetrically along the drag line. This ensures reliable penetration even in difficult conditions as well as driving stability, thorough loosening and perfect mixing. To guarantee a steady soil flow even where there are large quantities of straw and harvest residues, the trailed Terria stubble cultivator has a generous frame height. Tilling depths of 5 to 35 cm are possible.

Pöttinger has further improved its existing solution for the NONSTOP stone protection system. This is vital for uninterrupted operation. Besides a mechanical NOVA element (600 kg triggering force), an adjustable hydraulic version (650 kg triggering force) has been added to the range. Both systems guarantee maximum trip clearance and reduce wear and tear on both frame and equipment.

Selection of tools for more flexibility

Two settings allow adjustment of the leg to the desired task. Tilling intensity varies according to the position selected – flat or steep. The screws also function as shear bolt protection. Flexibility is also provided by two wing positions for shallow cutting-through or generous mixing. The wear parts supplied by Pöttinger comprise the well-known lines Classic, Durastar and Durastar Plus. A 40-mm wideDurastarnarrow share is also available for deep loosening. 

Ground-protecting chassis

To guarantee a turning circle that is as tight as possible the wheels have been integrated into the work area, resulting in a more compact total length. The machine is equipped with either a 2-wheel chassis or, as an option, a 4-wheel chassis, depending on the working width. With the latter, the machine is in contact with a larger area of ground which results in ideal weight distribution and perfect ground protection.

Hydraulic depth control for greater convenience

For fast and precise adaptation to all kinds of soil conditions, Pöttinger fits the Terria trailed stubble cultivator with fully hydraulic depth adjustment as standard. The large jockey wheels and rear roller ensure that the machine does not deviate from the selected working depth. The drawbar is fitted with a hydraulic cylinder for precise contouring in the direction of travel. Additionally, the drawbar cylinder can improve traction with the aid of swing clips and transfer the weight of the stubble cultivator onto the tractor’s rear axle.

For reliable levelling, Pöttinger supplies maintenance-free concave discs arranged in pairs which are guided in the soil by the rear roller. Repeated adjustment of the working depth is therefore unnecessary. The wide range of rear rollers, consisting of a pack ring, rubber packer and the Tandem Conoroll rollers, ensures perfect compaction.

The NFU has published 26 examples of how farmers are working towards net zero on their farms, showing how other farmers can make changes to their businesses to help achieve the NFU’s 2040 net zero ambition.

The booklet, titled ‘Doing our bit for Net Zero’, includes case studies from every sector and from farms across England and Wales, and cover each of the three pillars outlined in the NFU’s net zero plan: productivity, carbon storage and renewables and bioenergy.

Some of the work outlined in the booklet includes:

• Improving genetics and animal health
• Increasing soil health and fertility
• Undertaking precise tree planting and woodland management
• Investing in new technologies to increase productivity
• Creating biomass and renewable energy to power the farm and local areas.

The 26 case studies aim to inspire farmers to start their net zero journey ahead of the 26^th meeting of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow in November next year.

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts features as one of the case studies. He said: “British farmers are ambitious and we want to be the global leader when it comes to climate-friendly food.

“Our goal of net zero agriculture by 2040 means the industry as a whole being a net zero contributor to climate change. It is a challenge but by coming together to encourage progress it can be done, and it will also help improve our business resilience as well as our environment.

“There is not one singular way to go about these changes – it just needs to work for the individual business. Even within the NFU’s three pillars of improving productivity, increasing carbon stores and boosting renewables and bioenergy production, these case studies show that there are so many options for farmers to explore.

“We also recognise that each farmer will be starting their net zero journey from a different place. Whether they’re at the start of this journey or well on the way, every farm and business model has something it can offer.”

NFU Cymru President John Davies said: “As we look ahead to COP26 next year, we want to be able to show the progress we are making. We want to help pave the way for other agricultural industries across the world to start on the path to net zero. We want to show that it can be done and that every farmer is part of the solution to climate change.”

The NFU will be publishing extended versions of the case studies online over the next few months to provide even more detail about the work farmers are undertaking and how it is contributing to the NFU’s net zero vision.

Fuel & Lubricant distributor, New Era Fuels Ltd., has teamed up with Green Biofuels to provide Green D+ (an enhanced form of HVO – hydrotreated vegetable oil), a low emission fossil-free diesel alternative, so that New Era’s infrastructure and construction customers can significantly and instantly lower their carbon emissions and environmental impact.

New Era Fuels will distribute and be the preferred supplier of Green D+ fuel, within and around the London M25 region initially, to a network of approximately 4,000 customers, including the big name brands such as Volker Fitzpatrick and Balfour Beatty. This will be followed by distribution via New Era’s depots covering East Anglia, across to Oxfordshire and down to Kent. Green D+ will be available in bulk (up to 36,000L) and smaller quantities (200–1,000L) on nationwide next day delivery.

The partnership will see New Era Fuels add Green D+ to its offering in line with their current fuel solutions. With a potential c.100 million litres used across their client base, CO2e emission savings could reach more than 232,000 metric tonnes when compared to conventional red diesel.

Using Green D+ fuel reduces particulate emissions by up to 85% and Nitrogen Oxides by up to 30% compared to regular diesel, according to independent tests at the Millbrook specialist vehicle testing facility. New Era’s customers will therefore have the option to significantly lower their emissions, helping them move towards a more sustainable environmental with reduced impact. Green D+ can be used immediately and without any changes to equipment or fuel tanks, meaning companies can take climate change action quickly with no costly upgrades to machinery or equipment.

Green D+ is the leading HVO based (hydrotreated vegetable oil) paraffinic fuel that significantly improves local air quality, giving the lowest emission of any advanced fuel, replacing standard diesels in plant and equipment on construction sites.

William Tebbit, CEO of Green Biofuels Limited, commented: “New Era Fuels is a leader in its field, both in size of distribution network and in quality of delivery – we’re extremely pleased to be working with them to reach even more of the infrastructure and construction industries and to enable a greener, cleaner shift to eco-friendly fuel.

“Infrastructure and construction are, historically, some of the biggest consumers of fossil fuels, but there is growing recognition from industry players that they need to embrace diesel alternatives swiftly in order to slow climate change and align with governmental policy. At Green Biofuels, we want to help our customers who use diesel engines to adopt an environmentally friendly and commercially viable alternative to standard diesel fuels.

“The advantage of using our fuel is that it has an immediate positive impact on air quality, something we all aspire to.”

James Hunt, managing director of New Era Fuels Ltd., said: “Fossil-free fuels have enormous potential and we believe Green D+, with its formulated additives, is the best product out there – it lasts longer and it performs better. For New Era, where we seek always to provide our customers with the best products available, with the best accredited customer service including FORS Gold, Construction Line Gold members, HS2 approved trucks, ISO 9001:2015; 14001:2015; 45001, and our unrivalled delivery service, it’s a no brainer.”

Green D+ is aligned with each of the Mayor of London, TFL and Network Rail’s separate policies to reduce transport’s contribution to climate change with the use of, amongst other initiatives, biofuels. Specifically, in line with the Mayor’s proposal for solutions which are price competitive with conventional technology, Green D+ enables construction and infrastructure operators to switch from conventional road vehicles to low CO2- emitting transport and low carbon fuel sources without any change to equipment or fuel tanks.

Green D+ has already been widely adopted in the UK as a drop-in diesel replacement by centrally fuelled fleets – on-road, off-road and in back-up power applications, where it helps to meet the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) and the Non-Road Mobile Machinery requirements for improved air quality.

Cabins, Logs & Pods Ltd is the official distributor of Astel Garden timber products in the UK. Based in Leyland, Lancashire, it is ideally geographically located to be able to serve the whole of the UK.

The business was established in 2019 through a shared love of camping and caravanning, staying on farming sites in particular that provided a unique holiday experience – with each having their own particular niche. With the impact of Covid-19 likely to continue for an undetermined period, Cabins, Logs & Pods Ltd believe that the interest in taking staycation holidays in the UK, for both main and weekend-type breaks, presents a real and tangible potential for the farming and country community.

From September 2020, the company is launching an opportunity for farming customers to be able to rent out Glamping Pods on a try before you buy basis. The Barrel Pods will be delivered to any site and can be moved around on the skids by any suitable tractor. The pods sleep up to four people and are capable of generating an income which could provide a return on investment within one season, subject to sufficient bookings.

The key to the company’s success is the close association with Astel Garden, who are widely regarded as the premier manufacturer of log cabins in Estonia. Astel distribute their product line around the world.

This association with Astel Garden enables Cabins, Logs & Pods Ltd to have real tangible advantages from both an order point to delivery, as well as enabling a competitive price point for direct business to their growing client base.

The product line is available from point of order to delivery in 30 days and where stock is available, 21 days or sooner.

All the company’s products are manufactured in the factories of Astel Garden, which has over 100 years of collective experience with the timber log house factory in Rakvere, being established for over 70 years – making it the oldest wooden house factory in the Baltic states.

The company are proud to have this kind of experience with Astel Group, because timber is the most sustainable building material available – and they have the knowledge to make it into high quality products for clients from around the world.

In addition to glamping pods, the company also provides larger holiday lodges capable of being used 365 days a year. With different wall profiles and insulation materials available they can easily provide a solution that will satisfy your proposed diversification needs. An example of a two-bedroom model is shown below.

Interested in Nordic quality timber products? Contact Steve or Simon today to turn your ideas into a new income stream – www.cabinslogsandpods.co.uk.

Contact :

Steve Taziker- info@cabinslogsandpods.co.uk

Simon Smith – simon@cabinslogsandpods.co.uk

Office – 01772 650450

Steve – 07800 528816

Simon – 07590 569444

• Cost of rural crime at eight year high – up almost 9% in just 12 months
• Coronavirus effect sees livestock rustling incidents
• Concern rural crime expected to escalate as economic impact of crisis hits
• Farmers’ fears over crime contribute to rising anxiety and rural isolation

The cost of rural crime is at its highest level for eight years, with organised criminal gangs targeting high value tractors, quad bikes and large numbers of livestock.

In its 2020 Rural Crime Report, published today (Tuesday 4th August), rural insurer NFU Mutual reveals that rural crime cost the UK £54m in 2019, an increase of almost 9% on the previous year.

While there have been some reductions in crime under lockdown, there are concerns that rural theft is set to escalate as the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic bites.

In 2019 rural crime rose in every region and nation within the UK. The biggest percentage increase was seen in Scotland (44%), although its rural crime cost remains below the UK average. The second-highest regional rise was 18% in Northern Ireland followed by the East of England (16.9%).  The lowest regional increase was in North East England, up 0.4%.

For the second year running, the sharp rises are being driven by organised criminal gangs targeting high-value tractors, quad bikes and other farm vehicles – accounting for an increase of nearly 25% to £9.3m on agricultural vehicles. Within that total, quad bike and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) theft rose by 21% to £3.1m. In addition, Land Rover Defender thefts reported to NFU Mutual rose by 34% to £2.1m. Demand from overseas for expensive farm kit is fuelling the rise and in one joint operation between NFU Mutual and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, five vehicles totalling more than £100,000 were recovered from Poland earlier this year.

Livestock theft also increased in 2019 with the cost going up 9% to £3m. Well-organised gangs taking large numbers of sheep, which are thought to enter the food chain illegally, are driving the increase. A spate of sheep being slaughtered and butchered in farmers’ fields also contributed to the rise, and farmers continued to be affected by rustling during the pandemic – with initial figures suggesting an increase of nearly 15% year on year in April 2020.

Theft of tractor global positioning systems (GPS) is a major concern as farms move to using precision technology to run field operations. Typically costing £8,000 to £10,000, GPS equipment has become a highly-prized item on the shopping lists of rural thieves, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown where smaller, high-value items appear to have been targeted to meet demand overseas.

Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Rural crime is like a wave as organised criminality spreads through our villages, farms and fells, affecting everyone in the countryside. We continue to work hard to stem the tide and are warning rural communities and helping with prevention advice, as there are concerns for the months ahead as the economic impact of Coronavirus bites.

“As well as the £54m financial cost, there’s a serious effect on the mental well-being of people living in rural and often isolated areas. There are fears that the impact will be felt harder this year as farmers have been working flat-out to feed the nation and many rural communities have been put under additional pressure by the challenges brought by COVID-19.”

A survey of NFU Mutual Agents last year found that a quarter knew someone who had been forced to change the way they lived or farmed as a result of crime and the biggest fear in rural communities was repeat attacks.

Speaking about crime under Coronavirus, Rebecca said: “Our provisional theft claims data for the first half of 2020 indicates that, while rural theft fell overall during the early part of pandemic lockdown, we’ve seen a number of trends including a spike in livestock rustling in April.

“There’s no doubt that organised criminal gangs are targeting our countryside again and these figures would be much higher if it weren’t for specialist rural crime teams in police forces, and improved farm security measures such as trackers for tractors and quads. However, it’s not good enough for one successful security measure or initiative to displace organised criminality to another area.”

This year NFU Mutual invested £430,000 to tackle rural crime, including a police UK-wide agricultural vehicle crime tracking and recovery unit. The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) co-ordinates farm machinery theft intelligence between NFU Mutual, police forces, Border Force and Interpol. The insurer has also provided funding for the welfare and shelter of stolen farm animals as police investigate and track down their owners.

To help farmers and rural businesses protect themselves for the new wave of organised crime, NFU Mutual has also joined forces with Security Exchange to fund a free-of-charge security service for its existing Directors and Officers insurance policyholders with AIG PrivateEdge. The service includes a telephone advice service, which can include on-the-ground support, from experienced security consultants, advice on cost-effective and innovative security measures; and rapid response in the event of a security incident.

NFU Mutual’s rural theft figures are used by police forces to help them understand rural crime on their patch and plan rural police responses. In Scotland, NFU Mutual provides financial support for the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC).  It also provides support and expert advice to many local farm and rural watch schemes across the UK.

For more information on rural crime trends and advice on how to beat rural crime in your area download the report at www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime.

To hear NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime podcast, click here (live from August 4th).

Join in the conversation using #ruralcrime Twitter – @nfum, Facebook – NFU Mutual.

Rural Crime Trends

Quads and ATVS

• Quads and ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) are disappearing from farms in large numbers – thanks to being easy to transport and absence of registration plates
• The cost of Quad and ATV theft claims to NFU Mutual rose to £3.1m in 2019 – a rise of 21%
• Smaller, more portable equipment such as quads and ATVs continued to be a target for thieves under Coronavirus
• Bespoke physical security devices, such as Quad Vice, can deter opportunist thieves
• CESAR marking and tracking devices are the most effective security measures, once basic measures of removing keys and keeping vehicles out of sight in a building with the machine secured have been addressed

Land Rover Defenders

• Land Rover Defenders remain highly desirable to thieves with landies insured by NFU Mutual stolen in 2019 at a claims cost of £2.1m.
• However, while at least four Defender thefts a week were being reported in January 2020, numbers fell from March to June
• Trackers, alarms and storing vehicles out of sight help deter thieves from stealing these British icons

Tractors

• The cost of agricultural vehicle theft claims to NFU Mutual rose by nearly 25% to £9.3m in 2019
• Thieves are increasingly cloning the identity of tractors to make detection more difficult
• Thieves are stealing expensive tractors costing over £50,000 for export to developed counties and small, older tractors to export to third world countries
• NFU Mutual goes to extreme lengths to trace and recover stolen kit and in one operation with Navcis earlier in 2020 four tractors and a farm loader worth £108,000 were traced to Poland and brought back to the UK. 

Livestock

• The cost of livestock theft reported to NFU Mutual increased by 9% to £3m in 2019
• Although rustling dropped at the start of the year, initial figures suggest nearly a 15% increase in cost year on year in April as thieves targeted farms under lockdown
• Technology – including DNA testing, fleece marking with micro-dots, electronic chips and boluses – now offers robust evidence to help bring rustlers to justice
• Thefts of large numbers of lambs are raising concerns that stock is being stolen for slaughter and processing outside regulated abattoirs before illegally entering the food chain 

Regional Rural Theft cost

Worst affected counties by cost: 

Estimates and percentages based on NFU Mutual claims data, costs rounded to nearest £100,000.