DEFA Agricultural Justification 11/01442/A

Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture

Igle of Man <br> Givernment

Rheynn Chymmyltaght, Bee as Eirinys

Chris Kneale Agricultural Advisor Agriculture Division, Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St. Johns, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 695726 Fax no (01624) 685851 Email: [email protected] www.gov.im

Date: 15 Nov. 11 Dear Chris Re PA 11/01442/a - Field 432300, Upper Billown Farm, Grenaby Road, Ballasalla - Approval in principle for the erection of an agricultural worker's dwelling

Having reviewed the application and spoke with the applicant's son Mr Peter Kneen on 15th November 2011 to consider the agricultural enterprise, I would like to make the following comments:-

• The farmed area extends to 67.67 acres. 55.99 acres are down to cereals and 11.68 acres to grass.
• The labour requirement for the farming enterprise is approximately 0.25 standard labour units. See appendix 1.
• Mr Peter Kneen has established a growing agricultural contracting business that involves a range of activities to throughout the year. Contracting tasks range from slurry and manure spreading through the (mostly) winter months to combining in the summer months.
• The contracting business is an essential element of modern day agriculture.
• The agricultural contracting enterprise has a labour requirement of approximately 1.5 standard labour units. See appendix 2.
• The total labour requirement for the combined enterprises is 1.77 standard labour units.
• The contracting enterprise is based at Upper Billown farm, with well equipped workshop facilities and storage buildings.

• Mr P Kneen suggests that security is an issue as tools, equipment and machinery is high value. Fuel security is also becoming more of an issue with increasing fuel prices.
• Mr P Kneen suggests that his parents are at an age where their health is limiting their ability to maintain the property and a smaller residence would allow them to be more comfortable in their retirement.
• Mr P Kneen is 40 years old and currently resides in the main farm house with his parents. Mr P Kneen is looking to establish a family in the future. The current situation is obviously unsustainable.
• Alternative housing availability in the surrounding area was not discussed and I have not explored availability of either agricultural or conventional dwellings.

Yours Sincerely

Chris Kneale Agricultural Advisor

Encl: Appendix 1 Appendix 2

Appendix 2. Labour requirement.

From appendix 1 495.9

Contracting business 2900 (from tractor hours)

Total (496+3045) / 2000 1.7 labour units

Worksheet for calculation of Standard Labour unit requirements

Enterprise	hours/yr
	Standard per acre	calculated total
Cereals	8.1	453.4
Potatoes
- early	48.6	-
- mancrep	36.4	-
Vining peas	10.1	-
Oilseeds	5.1	-
Field Beans & peas	4.0	-
Linseed	6.1	-
Grass seeds	8.1	-
Grassland	1.6	18.9
Rough grazing	0.6	-
fodder crops	2.4	-
fodder roots & Brassicas	40.5	-
Fodder maize	8.1	-
other cereal slages	8.1	-
Fallow	1.0	-
Sugar Beet	13.4	-
Set Aside	0.4	-
Hops	24.3	-
Outdoor veg & salads	40.5	-
Vinning peas	10.1	-
Other peas & beans	202.4	-
Top & soft fruit	182.2	-
Mushrooms	2,923.1	-
total farm size	67.67	472.3

Name: AA Kneen

Address: Upper Billown Grenaby Road Ballasalla

Date: 14/11/2011

enter number:	Enterprise
Dairy Cows	39
Beef Cows	12
Other cattle	9
Sheep
- ewes & lambs - lowland	5.2
- ewes & lambs - upland	4.2
- other sheep - lowland	3.3
- other sheep - upland	2.6
Pigs
- sows	16
- finnish & rearing (pig place)	1.3
- piglets <20kg (pig place)	1
Poultry
- table fowl	0.03
- laying hens	0.3
- growing poults	0.12
- other poultry	0.045
Horses	150
Goats	20
Deer	15
Free range increase factor	0.15
Total livestock	-

enter acres:	Enterprise
55.99
11.68

Total livestock - 495.9 Total livestock - 0.25 Total crops 472.3 Total standard man hours per year 495.9 Total labour units required 0.25 assuming 2000 standard labour units per labour unit Produced by the Agricultural Directorate of Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture These standards figures are sourced from the SAC Farm Management Handbook 25th edition, published September 2004, page 281