Rural Business Consultancy Report
Rural Business Consultancy
www.ruralbusinessconsultancyltd.com
Re: Ballacamaine Farm, Ballacorey Road, Bride.
I have been contacted by [redacted] to provide an assessment of the current and proposed agricultural activity on the family farm, Ballacamaine Farm, Bride with specific reference to a potential application for planning permission to construct a dwelling on site. I have the following points that should be considered in assessing any application for a new dwelling on site.
- The farm business currently extends to 103 acres, all owned land, stocked with 34 beef cows, 1 bull, 6 in-calf heifers, 35 calves suckling and 21 older calves. Calves are currently reared through to slaughter age.
- As a result, the farming business currently generates a labour demand of 0.56 standard labour units.
- The principle labour force is currently [redacted] 200 parents, [redacted]
- [redacted] is 2 years old and his wife [redacted] is 10 years old.
- Historically the farming operation was based around dairy farming, but the physical demands of dairy farming became too great for [redacted] and they ceased dairying and moved into beef farming which reduced the physical demands required and freed up time to allow them to enjoy time with their family.
- The cows calve over a 6-month period. Throughout this period the cows and new-born calves require an increased amount of supervision to ensure that animal health and welfare is not adversely affected. Monitoring and assisting calving cows is not something that [redacted] can manage alone and assistance is routinely required to provide the level of care needed to ensure good calf survival rates.
- [redacted] and his wife currently reside in Douglas and as a result [redacted] must rely upon friends and neighbours to assist with animal management tasks. [redacted] is available evenings and weekends.
- Both [redacted] are now at an age where they are wanting to step back from the running of the farm and support their [redacted] and his wife with their farming career.
- [redacted] wish to remain residing on site and retire from the farming operation, whilst providing guidance and support to their son.
- The farm requires investment and the family see handing the farm onto the next generation as key to ensuring that the farm continues into the future.
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- Mr ______ and his wife wish to replace an existing house with a new dwelling on the farm so as they can reside on site to monitor the livestock and drive the business forward.
- Residing on site will allow them to drive the business forward by increasing the livestock operation which will require an increased amount of management and observation so as the health and welfare of the stock is not adversely affected.
- They have exciting ideas to develop the business further including the introduction of a calf rearing business, rearing 50 calves a year for onward sale, a 500-bird egg laying unit as well as growing 5 acres vegetables to supply a growing local demand.
- Their ideas for the farm are likely to result in the labour requirement increasing to 1.0 standard labour units.
- The standard labour calculations take no account for the preparation, packaging or sales element that is key to a vegetable enterprise of this nature. Equally the labour associated with calf rearing is not for bucket rearing of calves but for managing calves suckling their mothers.
- It is likely that there will be, on average, at least a further 10 hours a week involved in calf rearing, processing, packaging and sales of the eggs and vegetables produced. A further 520 hours can be associated with the business which increases the labour requirement to 1.27 standard labour hours.
- Currently ______ reside in a bungalow constructed shortly after the family purchased the farm. There is an original farm dwelling which has never been habited by the family and is utilised for some limited agricultural storage.
- The original farm dwelling is not in a sound habitable condition. It is now centrally located in the farmyard and would ideally be best removed to improve access to the modern agricultural buildings.
- ______ has actively looked for suitable dwellings in the near by area but without much luck. There are tied farm workers dwellings within a 3-mile radius of Ballacarmaine farm, but nothing available or within a farm workers price range.
- Ideally ______ would like to construct a new dwelling on site that is modern, energy and resource efficient and provides sufficient room for his family. It is likely that he could construct a new dwelling for somewhere between half and two thirds of the price of purchase with reduced ongoing costs for maintenance and operation (heating etc).
- There is the potential to convert and extend or replace an existing stone building into a dwelling. This would have the benefit of utilising an existing building that is no longer suitable for modern agriculture, or the construction of a new dwelling that is in-keeping with the character of the landscape and farm.
- For the farming business, with a considerable investment required, it makes sound financial sense to build cheaper than buy off site and have improved cash flow to grow the business enabling everyone involved to have a wage.
- Residing off site brings both time and financial implications to the business which would likely limit the businesses growth. A likely consequence of not residing on site is that the suckler cows would have to be sold.
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- The alternative to the proposed dwelling is that the business will consequentially not reach its potential or ability to reward everyone involved for their efforts. Any business will struggle if the next generation cannot be facilitated into the business, both logistically and cost effectively.
- Should not be able to reside on site at a cost-effective price then the farm is likely to decline further with the amount of agricultural activity continually reducing until the farm requires a significant investment.
- Often farms are leased out with little further investment into the land and buildings. The farm then continues to decline to the point where significant investment is required.
In conclusion, the provision of an agricultural farm workers dwelling on site to allow the succession of a family farm to pass from one generation to another is essential for the future of this family farm. Whilst not significant in its size and scale it is one of many family farms that form the backbone of the industry and contribute considerably to the rural economy, biosphere and environment. Without the encouragement to invest and retain the young people on the land, then these family farms will struggle. Any proposed residential dwelling would likely be in-keeping with the landscape and breath life in a family farm that has a lot of potential for a greater contribution to many aspects of the Islands fabric. Investment into the farm can only be a positive thing for the environment and economy.
Should you require any further assistance or information regarding this application please do not hesitate to get in touch
Kind Regards
Chris
Chris Kneale
Rural Business Consultancy Ltd.
07624301863
[email protected]
