With the country facing an unprecedented health crisis, there is growing evidence to suggest farmers are being targeted by thieves. Now, more than ever, it is time to review and boost the security of your farm or agricultural business.
While farmers are busy out in the fields, with fewer workers on hand than usual, many will be more vulnerable to theft and other rural crime. Intelligent, remote security backed up with local mobile patrols are the perfect solution when it comes to protecting valuable machinery, equipment and stock.
“Our state-of-the-art Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) helps protect many large and small farms and agricultural businesses across the country,” says Securitas UK’s chief commercial officer, Craig Robb. “CCTV cameras can be placed around a farm and outbuildings, and connected to the 24/7 in-house ARC where the live feed is constantly monitored.”
“These are intelligent cameras,” Craig adds. “They can detect movement and alert our highly trained operatives, who will co-ordinate a response with our mobile security teams and, if necessary, the emergency services.”
With a growing number of buildings standing empty, Securitas UK can also provide mobile security services in just 24 hours to help protect farms from the increased risk of vandalism and theft.
SIA-licensed officers, in marked vehicles, patrol farms and agricultural businesses across the UK, to monitor alarms and CCTV, complete empty premises inspections and provide keyholding services too.
Protect your farm today. Contact secureyourfarm@securitas.uk.com or CLICK HERE.
The National Beef Association (NBA) has written to Asda CEO Roger Burnley and Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe raising concerns over their use of imported Polish mince. The letter has been written after an array of furious comments from British farmers and consumers, calling supermarkets out for their choice to ignore struggling UK livestock farmers.
Simon Hoare, the Conservative MP for North Dorset, tweeted: ‘Milk is being poured away by some in North Dorset and I’m told Sainsbury’s has Polish milk and beef. In the words of (Trade Secretary) Liz Truss, THAT. IS. A. DIS. GRACE!’
Read the NBA’s full letter below :
Dear Mr Coupe,
Firstly, may we congratulate your organisation and its staff for your part in feeding our country during these unprecedented times. The food supply chain has been thrown into turmoil, and the problems you are facing with both supply and demand and logistics at this time are ones that you and our members have in common.
The National Beef Association was very concerned to note the Polish mince fiasco, widely reported on social media last week. It is unacceptable to us as an organisation, and, we suspect, to the British population, that you would choose to import beef from abroad at this time. Currently, there are no definitive answers on how COVID19 may or may not be transmitted – are you able to guarantee the safety of imported food? Can you confirm and evidence that the source farms in Poland comply with the same rigorous conditions that British farms must adhere to in order to be able to supply your stores? That source farms have adequate welfare standards, including a definitive record of medicines administered to all animals, and that withdrawal periods for those medicines have been observed? Unfortunately for you, this gaffe has come at a time when the country seems to be pulling together in a flush of patriotic fervour; supplying imported mince is perceived as out of tune with current thinking, and people have plenty of time to spread the news. At a later date, when the crisis is over and the luxury of choice is handed back to the public, perhaps they will remember which supermarkets backed Britain.
Recent Kantar data indicates that previous to March 23rd, 20% of all evening meals were consumed in eateries outside the home. Post lockdown, this 20% volume has been added to shopping lists and the money spent in supermarkets across the UK, which means more potential profit for your company. It would be satisfying to think that you would share this tiny glimmer of light in our new and dark world with both your customers and your suppliers, but instead it appears that special offers have been withdrawn, prices have been hiked on certain goods, and producers have been subject to a squeeze on farm gate prices through processing suppliers. Whilst we appreciate that your own staff deserve monetary reward for the extra effort they have made, we would expect that our supermarkets would support British agriculture at a time when they too are working extra hard. There are other key sector workers standing shoulder to shoulder in this fight, and no one is suggesting they work harder but get paid less.
The point of this missive is not to denigrate the excellent job the supermarkets are currently doing. You rely on us, we rely on you. We are all in uncharted waters, and finding a way forward is imperative. Our symbiotic relationship requires some adaptation to the current situation so we can continue to provide you with an excellent choice of home-sourced produce, and we would like to make a few suggestions.
As you have obviously discovered, there is a deficit of mince in the system. This is largely due to carcass imbalance which has been created by closure of the restaurant sector. It would help to balance the supply chain if you targeted your special offers on different carcass areas – steaks or roasting joints for example, along with appropriate recipe cards which utilise these. Perhaps now is a great time to bring back the tradition of a family Sunday roast, whatever the meat of choice may be. And while we, the producers, would applaud an increase in your staff wages, we ask that you don’t take cash out of our pockets to fund them. Perhaps the extra 20% increase in food sales that will surely come your way after the closure of the leisure sector will help you fund a wage increase.
Many, many businesses will not survive this crisis. When the immediate threat is over, and people begin to poke their heads above the parapet, the world that we left at the end of February will not be the same as the one that emerges. The size of the worldwide recession, which will echo through the economy for some years to come, should not be underestimated. People will need jobs, and agriculture offers a chance to contribute to our country’s recovery by increasing the supply of the home-grown food it needs, and consequently decreasing reliance on other countries to supply imports.
The busiest organisations are currently, rather ironically, the health sector, supermarkets and undertakers. Please do not play a part in killing British agriculture. Remember, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Shand,
Trustee – National Beef Association
With millions of people having to cancel their Easter holiday plans due to the pandemic, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents 5,000 rural tourism businesses, is urging everyone to re-book cancelled holidays in the UK once it is safe to do so. Choosing a ‘staycation’ is not only greener but is a great way to support the local economy.
Rural tourism is worth £18.5 billion a year to the economy and employs over 600,000 people. Yet, almost overnight, many businesses have shut down for an unknown period of time. This is having crippling consequences on a beloved industry.
Going on holiday in the UK is also one of the easiest steps you can take to reduce your emissions. An average domestic flight gives off three-times more Co2 emissions per km travelled compared to travelling in a car.
Many farms now provide holiday lets, camping, bed and breakfasts and farm stays as a way to support their business. These farmers, who have already suffered from flooding and uncertain trading conditions, now face another hammering to their income. They need the support of British holidaymakers after this crisis is over.
The CLA is seeking reassurances from the UK Government on support for the sector, such as:
A clear definition of what businesses make up the tourism industry so every business that needs it can access relevant Government support schemes.
Fast payments of financial support to struggling firms, including wage cost support.
A flexible approach from the insurance industry when dealing with rural tourism business claims.
Clear and prompt guidance on what will happen to support schemes in the next 3-6 months so businesses can put in place recovery plans.
CLA Vice President Victoria Vyvyan said: “Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, millions of people will want to take a well-deserved break, especially those who have cancelled their Easter holiday with friends and family.
“When re-booking their holidays, we are asking people to consider staying in the Great British countryside to support local businesses. The hard truth is that thousands of businesses, who are extremely welcoming to their guests, will go bust without their support.
“Choosing a staycation not only helps out small businesses up and down the country, but is also a great way to lower your carbon footprint.”
A new online marketplace, Foodens has launched in the UK – connecting shops and food suppliers with their local communities. Businesses can list food boxes for sale (for both collection and delivery), helping to distribute food across the UK in a safe zero-contact manner.
The Non-Profit is run by Somerset based couple, Rob and Anna Kerry, who said, “We started Foodens as a way for people to receive a reliable source of food, without queueing at supermarkets and whilst also supporting independent local businesses. We want to keep local food suppliers afloat through COVID-19, whilst also stopping the panic buying and mass gatherings at supermarkets.”
The online marketplace will offer services for suppliers such as, farm shops, butchers, patisseries, fruit and veg wholesalers, ready meal companies, restaurants and anything in between. The company welcomes anyone that can provide local people with food, in accordance with Food Standards regulation.
Having always wanted to create a marketplace for food and being lucky to be surrounded by fantastic local food producers, Rob and Anna decided that now was the right time to put their plans into real action, helping local communities across the UK.
Rob continues,“People get into a habit of shopping in major supermarkets and that habit is hard to break. It’s only now that people are realising how fragile our food infrastructure is. We are reliant on just a few brands like Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons, leading to huge queues and greater demand than can be supplied. At the same time, our local Butchers and Greengrocers are empty of people and full of the food those people want and need at this time.
We know that this service is needed now and hope that Foodens will live on as a key source of food and supplies for years to come. Even if just a fraction of people’s weekly shop went through Foodens, it would make a sizeable difference to local food suppliers, who would otherwise miss out on this much needed revenue.”
How to sign up your businesses
Foodens.com is run by the Foodens Foundation, a non-profit organisation. Retailers are not charged for joining or listing their products, however there is a 10% transaction fee on any orders taken. This covers card payment fees and operational costs. Any profit is reinvested into Foodens or used to support other food initiatives. Rob states, “Foodens is a labour of love, rather than a profit-making machine. After covering operating costs, we’d like to start offering discounts to key/critical workers. We would also look at supporting Food Banks. Right now, the priority is just giving a reliable food supply to as many people as possible.”
Sign up to sell via: https://www.foodens.com/en-GB/signup
The Farming Help charities – Addington Fund, Farming Community Network (FCN), Forage Aid, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I), and RSABI, supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund – are working together to support the farming community during the current coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
To raise awareness of how the charities can support the farming community throughout Covid-19 and beyond, next week (13th-17th April) they are launching Farming Help Awareness Week. The Farming Help charities will be using social media to promote each other’s work in supporting rural communities during Covid-19.
The purpose of the week is to:
- raise awareness of what each of the charities involved in the Farming Help partnership does;
- highlight that although the charities support the farming community in different ways, they are all working together under the umbrella of Farming Help to support the farming community through this difficult time;
- encourage farmers and farming families to get in touch via the Farming Help helpline – 03000 111 999 – and make use of the support that the charities offer, taking a proactive approach to help their farm businesses and personal wellbeing.
The Farming Help initiative is in conjunction with The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, The National Farmers’ Union, and the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.
Utilising the Farming Help helpline (operated by FCN) and respective organisations/volunteer networks, the charities can offer the following local support. Get in touch on 03000 111 999 if you:
- Feel concerned or anxious and would like to talk to someone who understands farming, will listen to you and help you think through your options
- Would like help to draft a contingency plan to ensure you and your farm are prepared, should you be unable to work for a time.
- If you or people you rely on become ill or are self-isolating and you need to find help locally- we will endeavour to find support for you in your local area. We will source contact details of local organisations and groups who may be able to assist you in finding help to feed livestock, collect shopping or collect prescriptions if you are unable to do so. This directory will be revised and updated in the coming weeks and months.
Call 03000 111 999 or visit www.farminghelp.co.uk
Dry conditions are well known to increase the risk of nitrogen losses from granular urea but perhaps less widely acknowledged is the risk for liquid fertilisers. For over a decade, granular urea users have been able to switch to a urea fertiliser product treated with a urease inhibitor, to reduce such losses. With the introduction of a new urease inhibitor from BASF, liquid fertiliser users now also have the opportunity to better manage this risk, according to Richard Corden from BASF.
“Liquid fertilisers e.g. UAN, are an excellent source of nitrogen, allowing accurate application and improved workload efficiency. However, it is often not fully understood that nitrogen can be lost after application. Up to half of the nitrogen in UAN is derived from urea. As the urea component is converted to plant available ammonium, it is subject to ammonia volatilisation, unless sufficiently washed into the soil.
He adds: “ADAS led a project to evaluate ammonia volatilisation losses from UAN over a 3-year period and found that nitrogen losses due to volatilisation ranged from 5.5% to 19%.”
Certain environmental conditions, many of which are currently relevant for much of the country, can increase the risk of ammonia losses, including:
- Low rainfall: To minimise volatilisation, more than 10mm of rainfall is required within two days of application to wash the nitrogen into the soil
- Dry or drying soil surface: This reduces the diffusion of the nitrogen away from the soil surface
- Warm soil temperatures or high soil pH: This speeds up the conversion process resulting in greater losses
“Fortunately, these risks can be managed, and losses reduced by adding Limus Clear to liquid fertilisers,” notes Mr Corden.
Managing the risk with Limus Clear
Limus Clear is a new product to the market, available exclusively from Frontier Agriculture and designed specifically for liquid fertilisers. Extensive field trials carried out by BASF have demonstrated that Limus Clear reduces ammonia emissions from urea by up to 98%, minimising nitrogen losses and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).
Ed Downing, Frontier’s National Crop Nutrition Technical Manager notes: “Nitrogen use efficiency is always important, but given the challenging season we’ve had so far, it is perhaps even more so. The high over-winter losses of nitrogen have left very little in the soil, meaning we’ll be even more reliant on applied nitrogen than usual to feed our crops.”
“Limus Clear is fully compatible with all liquid fertilisers, both straight N and NS grades, is easy to use and low cost” he adds. “A low rate of Limus Clear, typically less than 0.2 l/ha (specific for each liquid grade), costing £2 – 4/ha, is mixed in with the liquid fertiliser during sprayer filling. This makes it an excellent risk management tool. When soils are moist and sufficient rainfall is shortly expected i.e. low risk, you wouldn’t include it. However, if no rainfall is forecast and there’s little or no canopy cover, resulting in fast-drying, bare soil, you would definitely use it,” Mr Downing adds.
This sentiment is echoed by Essex farmer, James Faulkner, who farms 1350ha at Peldon in Essex. He took part in one of three ADAS managed Agronomics, field scale trials on wheat crops last year, in which he added Limus Clear to his final two UAN applications.
Mr Faulkner noted how the small pack size made it a flexible product to take with him when he is operating the sprayer: “It has a low dose rate and it is an easy product to carry with you on the sprayer, so you can decide whether to add to the tank or not, depending on the weather conditions at the time.”
ADAS Agronomics trials show yield and economic benefit
Like many farmers, Mr Faulkner has switched from solid fertiliser to UAN in recent years. James invited BASF and ADAS to run a tramline trial after seeing Limus Clear perform well in Frontier trials, and was pleasantly surprised with the results.
“It didn’t seem like the type of season that Limus Clear would have big effects. The UAN went on as a split application in April and there were rainfall events soon after both applications,” he recalls. However, the results told a different story.
“The average yield of the farm standard crop was 12.78 t/ha. The modelled effect of the Limus Clear treatment, using the ADAS Agronomics methodology, was an increase in yield of 0.29 t/ha and an improved margin over input costs of £36.15/ha,” he concludes.
Results from the other farms were also positive. A cross-site analysis carried out by ADAS showed a clear yield and economic advantage from using Limus Clear.
| Site | Yield benefit | MOIC |
| Essex | + 0.29 t/ha** | + £36.15/ha |
| Leicestershire | + 0.17 t/ha** | + £18.36/ha |
| Bedfordshire | + 0.57 t/ha | + £76.57/ha |
| Cross-site analysis | + 0.24 t/ha** |
*MOIC based on wheat at £150/t **Statistically significant
A useful tool for the current season
Frontier’s Mr Downing adds: “Given the weather extremes we’ve experienced in recent years, who knows what the coming weeks will bring. However, if it stays dry and temperatures increase, liquid fertiliser users now have a flexible, effective and low-cost tool to manage the risk of ammonia losses.”
You can find out more at BASF’s website here or contact Frontier here.
With the nation’s restaurants closed for the foreseeable future, farmers and chefs are teaming up to help people enjoy the perfect steak dinner at home.
Usually, 20 per cent of beef is consumed in the eating-out market, with steak a popular choice, but current closures mean there will be 2.5 billion fewer eating-out occasions between April and June this year.
With social media an increasingly important source of recipe inspiration, AHDB is rallying industry and chefs to use the hashtags #steaknight and #makeitsteak over the next three months to show consumers how to enjoy restaurant-quality steak in the comfort of their own home.
The initiative aims to put steak on the menu for some of the additional 500 million meals a week which will now be consumed at home during lockdown.
For those unsure where to start, AHDB has a range of quick and easy recipes on its simplybeefandlamb.co.uk website, such as steak nachos with salsa, Korean beef bibimbap and bistro steaks on garlic bruschetta.
Will Jackson, AHDB Strategy Director for Beef & Lamb, said: “We want to join up the supply chain and showcase the fantastic ways we can all enjoy an eating-out experience in the comfort of our living rooms by linking up communities across social media with farmers and chefs to share their expert knowledge and tips.
“We encourage everyone to prepare and share simple steak recipes to help people cook with confidence in their own home during these difficult times.”
Steak can also make a valuable contribution to a balanced diet, as red meat is naturally rich in protein, low in salt and provides eight vitamins and minerals which contribute towards good health.
Red meat, such as beef, is one of the main sources of vitamin B12, which is typically only found naturally in animal products, such as meat and milk. Vitamin B12 helps the immune system work normally and contributes to normal psychological function.
#Steaknight is part of AHDB’s extensive consumer-focused marketing and PR programme, and complements Great British Beef Week, taking place from 23 to 30 April.
Stories of farmers being forced to dump milk due to the impacts of the Covid-19 lockdown have been circulating widely on social media, prompting calls for crisis talks with the government to protect the sector.
NFU has said the survival of many dairy farming businesses depends on urgent action from the government. It is calling for a meeting with Defra secretary of state George Eustice today (9th April).
The Covid-19 lockdown has seen demand for milk from cafes, restaurants, pubs and hotels virtually disappear as businesses are forced to close. Meanwhile, an additional strain is being seen by processors due to staff being off sick or having to self-isolate.
RABDF estimates around 300 farms are affected based on the amount of milk being disposed of, but a significantly higher number of farmers are being impacted by reduced milk prices and/or payment terms.
Similar problems are also being seen on a global scale, including in the US and Canada.
Speaking to the BBC Points West programme, RABDF chairman Peter Alvis said: “It’s having a massive impact – there’s farmers that are really distressed and they can’t see an end to what is happening. They’re not receiving any income so they can’t afford to pay their bills. You can just see on social media and from speaking to people the devastation it’s causing on farms.”
Winterdale Cheese in Kent said on social media that their milk was not collected on 5th April and it has still not been paid for February’s milk. Northleaze Farm in Wiltshire was also recently ordered to dump milk due to staff shortages and slower production. Meanwhile, farmer Melissa Underwood posted an emotional video on Twitter after tipping away 2,000l of milk, which she said was “absolutely devastating” for the fourth-generation farm, saying they “can’t go on in these circumstances”.
‘Move fast’ to mitigate impacts
RABDF said suppliers are working to redirect milk and fresh dairy products to shops as quickly as possible, but it is not a simple process. The government is currently looking at proposals put forward by the association to directly reimburse farmers who are receiving significantly reduced value or are having to dispose of milk as a result of their processor being highly reliant on the food service sector.
NFU president Minette Batters said: “For weeks now, we have been flagging to government in our daily calls the issues within the dairy sector and working with Defra to try and find solutions. But the situation is becoming untenable. Only four weeks ago all of this milk was being used, losing businesses at this stage will leave consumers reliant on convenience stores and other difficult to reach outlets not being able to have access to the same supply of milk.
“We believe there may be at least 2,000 dairy farmers suffering severe financial pressure and that number is growing by the day as a result of the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak and as things develop very few dairy businesses will be left unaffected. We need to move fast to mitigate the impacts of this unfolding crisis on dairy farming businesses across the country.
“The Secretary of State needs to step in now and take urgent and decisive action, before it is too late and many of those iconic dairy businesses go to the wall.”
NFU dairy board chairman Michael Oakes said a key issue is that dairy farmers or processors largely cannot access the treasury schemes designed to help businesses through the Covid-19 crisis.
In a statement, a Defra spokesperson said: “We have taken a number of measures to support our food and farming sectors to manage the impact of coronavirus on the dairy supply chain. We are also working very closely with farmer and processor representatives to understand the specific challenges that the dairy sector is facing.
“Frequent discussions with the dairy supply chain will continue through this crucial period to understand what further support the sector needs.”
- Yellow rust pressure on wheat is increasing across the country
- Less than 20% winter wheat crop drilled in areas of Leicestershire and Warwickshire
- Lower levels of black-grass in Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire
- High increase in spring barley cropping area expected across the country
In a regional round-up from BASF Agronomy Managers, feedback suggests it’s a real mix bag of winter wheat and oilseed rape crops, unsurprisingly following the wet winter.
In the north of England and Borders region of Scotland, Neil Thomson estimates between 85-90% of the winter wheat was planted in the region. He said, “The crops that were established earlier, in the first half of September, before ground conditions deteriorated are looking great. However, the later drilled crop that went into poorer seedbeds isn’t as good. Disease wise, nothing much to report, we can get yellow rust, but nobody has seen any yet.”
Further south and east, in Suffolk, that’s not the case. Matt Keane said, “There is quite a lot of yellow rust about, but it hasn’t been moving very quickly because it is still cold. The thought is to try and tidy it up at the imminent T0 with pyraclostrobin or epoxiconazole.”
Because of the wet winter, crops have not had to forage for moisture. Mr Keane said, “Root plates are not as good as you’d like and nowhere near what they’d be in a normal year. The use of plant growth regulator in the tank mix at T0, as well as giving rooting benefit and helping retain tillers, will give the growers a bit of an insurance plan for T1.”
80-85% of winter wheat crops were drilled in Suffolk and neighbouring Norfolk. Mr Keane said, “Although a lot of crops went into sub optimal conditions at least they went in. Consequently, growers are having to manage anything from late drilled thin crops to really good, lush forward wheats.”
Across the Midlands, growers are glad if they have a winter wheat crop to manage at all. Colin Mountford-Smith said, “In the west of my area, in parts of Leicestershire & Warwickshire less than 20% of winter wheat is in the ground but spring drilling is now progressing well.
Disease levels are typical for this time of year with Septoria and mildew readily found but yellow rust is also starting to be talked about. Forward crops will be getting a CTL based T0 about now.”
In the south east, in Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire, Jonnie Dennis reports, “In terms of disease there is Septoria in the lower leaves and yellow rust starting to come in across most varieties. There are lower levels of blackgrass this year; because of the moisture in the autumn residual herbicides have worked very well.”
Another winter crop, oilseed rape, is looking fine in the north of the UK, where it established well but it has taken a while to get going and is requiring a bit more nitrogen than normal. Mr Thomson said, “The crop has sat with its roots in anaerobic conditions until recently and the rooting is not great.”
Further south Mr Keane said there have been 40% losses of sown crops in Suffolk, however, in neighbouring Norfolk, Hugo Pryce reports only 10-15% losses. He said, “Crops are variable but generally they are alright. There are some big crops out there that have had Caryx applied for canopy management and with the earliest drilled crops now starting to flower the first flowering spray for Sclerotinia is not too far away”
Spring drilling is well underway across all of the UK. On the south coast Andrew Clune said, “About 35%, of the land destined for winter wheat didn’t get drilled, this will be taken up by spring barley, beans and peas. With lots of chalk ground in the area it is relatively easy to produce malting barley.”
Many growers may find themselves growing malting barley and indeed spring barley for the first time this year. Mark Tucker, Agronomy Manager UK, Yara said, “With spring barley, early nutrition is the key to success; it is always a short season, so you need the crop drilled and up out of the ground. Typically we would recommend 60% of the total nitrogen going into the seedbed, with some fresh phosphate and potash. Then aim to get the balance of nitrogen on when you can start to see the tramlines, at three leaves and certainly before the crop gets to GS 30.”
In terms of the total amount of nitrogen to apply, that’s largely down to the market it is being grown for. Mr Tucker said, “For feed, the nitrogen can be pushed up to 170kgN/ha, for a particular market with a specific grain nitrogen value needed, approximately 160kgN/ha will get you high N type contracts, up around 1.8 % grain N . If you are trying to achieve a low grain N, then the nitrogen regime needs to be nearer the 120kgN/ha – 130 kgN/ha.”
Micronutrients also have to be addressed early in the growth of the crop. Mr Tucker said, “Zinc, copper and manganese are crucial for achieving high grain number in the ear, 60-70% of the samples that we take are deficient in those nutrients, so either take a prophylactic approach or use farm data to help guide the programme.”
Farmers, landowners and members of the public are being urged to be extra vigilant amidst a spike in fly-tipping caused by recycling centre closures and disrupted bin collection services.
Councils across the nation have closed down Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in response to the coronavirus lockdown and some have also scaled back rubbish collections due to reduced staff numbers.
Rural insurance specialist Lycetts is calling on farmers and landowners to take all necessary steps to protect their land, liaise closely with neighbours and ensure they have sufficient insurance cover in place should they fall victim to fly-tipping. Members of the public are also being encouraged to report any suspicious activity they witness to the police.
“At a time when farmers are working flat out to feed the nation ahead of the busy harvest months, they can ill-afford to contend with the costly and time-consuming burden of removing waste from their land,” said Rupert Wailes-Fairbairn, Rural Divisional Director, Lycetts.
“Although the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has strengthened local authorities’ enforcement powers in recent years, the onus still lies with farmers and other private landowners to dispose of fly-tipped waste on their land. They can even be prosecuted if they fail to do so quickly enough.
“Despite pressure on government from organisations such as the Tenant Farmers Association and the Countryside Alliance, there are currently no plans to change the law.
“Although local authorities can investigate fly-tipping incidents on private land, and bring prosecutions when there is sufficient evidence, the Local Government Association has called for more funding to help them do so. The coronavirus pandemic has further intensified the pressure on stretched council resources.
“It can be difficult to prevent fly-tipping, but we should look to support each other as much as possible during these testing times by keeping a lookout and reporting incidents.”
Wailes-Fairbairn has also reminded farmers of the steps they can take to help deter those responsible, including ensuring that fields, particularly those which are roadside, are gated and locked where possible.
“Security lights and cameras at vulnerable locations throughout farms, and at entrance points hidden from view, can also be effective and help to provide crucial evidence should councils decide to investigate,” he added.
“Furthermore, farmers should consult with their insurance broker to see what cover is afforded to them in the event of an incident, particularly in the case of repeat offences. Many combined farm insurance policies will cover the cost of the cost of removal and disposal of fly-tipped waste – generally around £5,000 per incident and capped at £15,000.”
According to Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) statistics, 1,072,431 incidents of fly-tipping were dealt with by local authorities in 2018/19, an eight per cent rise on the 998,000 in 2017-18.
