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
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Source & Provenance
Official reference
11/01442/A
Source authority
Isle of Man Government Planning & Building Control