Labour Requirement Report

Labour Requirement Report

For

A.J. and S.M. Sanders,

Trading as

Sanders Farms Ballalough, West Baldwin. Isle of Man. IM4 5HD

11th May 2006

Prepared by:

SAC c/o DAFF Agricultural Services Division, Knockaloe Farm, Peel. Isle of Man. IM5 3AJ Tel 01624 842335 Fax 01624 844374 email: [email protected]

Contact: Andrew Macdonald

Disclaimer: This report has been prepared exclusively for the use of A.J. and S.M. Sanders on the basis of information supplied, and no responsibility can be accepted for actions taken by any third party arising from their interpretation of the information contained in this document. No other third party may rely on the report, and if they do, then they rely upon it at their own risk.

RECEIVED 27 JUN 2006 P&DC DEPT OF STATE

Ballalough Farm

AB Unit Reference 1383

Ballalough Farm, West Baldwin is operated by A.J. and S.M. Sanders, trading as Sanders Farms. It is an owner occupied unit, extending to approximately 383 acres, farmed in conjunction with an adjacent block of some 190 acres of long-term tenanted land. In addition to the land at West Baldwin, the business farms a further 830 acres on long term let at Ballamanaugh, near Sulby.

The business has been farming at Ballalough for just over 10 years, with agricultural production based on a herd of some 400 pedigree dairy cows. In addition to milk sales and as well as being the number one herd in the Isle of Man the herd is also one of the foremost in the U.K. in terms of genetic merit, and generates a significant proportion of its turnover from the sale of breeding stock to other dairy farms. The rented land at Ballamanaugh is used primarily to produce arable crops to feed the cows, as well as for grazing replacements, and supporting a flock of some 600 breeding ewes.

Summary of Stocking 2006	Number
Dairy Cows	400
Dairy young stock 0 – 12 months	120
Dairy young stock 12 – 24 months	120
Dairy young stock > 24 months	60
Beef cattle	12
Bulls	11
Ewes and gimmers	600
Gimmers for sale as breeding replacements	200
Other sheep	25

Using Standard Labour Data produced for agricultural and horticultural activities as agreed by SEERAD, DEFRA, and DANI under the UK Farm Classification Working Party, the total labour requirement for Ballalough Farm can be calculated (see Appendix 1).

Taking account of the cropping and livestock carried on the farm, it is calculated the current labour requirement is 14.36 labour units.

THE SIZE OF THIS UNIT AND STOCK CARRIED THEREFORE JUSTIFIES 14 FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS (FTE’S) ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY.

Summary of Cropping 2006	Acres
Cereals	400
Grass - grazed	350
Grass - cut	500
Rough grazing	153
Total	1403

The following points should be noted:

1. Although the business has 5 dwellings available to it, only one of these dwellings is owned – Ballalough Farmhouse. As such there is neither long-term control nor ownership over the remaining properties.

1. There is no accommodation available at or near Ballalough itself, other than the main farmhouse. Due to all of the breeding (and hence calving and milking) animals being located at Ballalough, this is where labour accommodation is most urgently needed.

1. It is essential for animal welfare, and desirable for security purposes that those individuals involved in looking after the breeding animals are resident on the unit.

1. As a dairy unit with year-round calving and milking, it is essential that competent staff members are available all year round.

1. As one of the foremost dairy herds in the UK, breeding animals are significantly more valuable than the average dairy cow. The cows also require a higher standard of care and management than average to maintain this status. Again this requires that those responsible for the care of breeding animals are resident on the unit.

1. Recruiting the calibre of staff required to work with pedigree livestock such as at Ballalough is becoming increasingly difficult. This problem is exacerbated in the Isle of Man due to the cost and lack of availability of affordable housing on or near the farm itself.

1. The site proposed for the dwelling house is within 100 metres of the farm buildings and breeding livestock. The proposed site would not result in the loss of any trees, hedges, or walls, and therefore would not impact upon the natural heritage of the area.

Appendix 1

Crop	Area (ac)	Hours/ac/annum	Total
Cereals	400	8	3,200
Grassland – cutting	695.50	1.60	1,113
Grassland – reseeding (5.5 year average sward life)	154.50	8	1,236
Rough grazing	153	0.60	92
		Sub-Total	5,641

Livestock	Number	Hours/head/annum	Total
Dairy cows	400	39	15,600
Heifers 0 – 12 months	120	9	1,080
Heifers 12 – 24 months	120	9	1,080
Heifers >24 months	60	9	540
Bulls	11	9	99
Beef cattle	12	9	108
Ewes and gimmers	600	4.20	2,520
Tups	25	4.20	105
Other gimmers	200	2.60	520
		Sub-Total	21,652

Calculation of Standard Hours Worked

Total Standard Hours Worked = 27,293

Based on UK Agricultural Wages Board 39 hour week, one Full time Equivalent (FTE) = 1900 hours

Calculated Standard Labour Requirement for Ballalough Farm = $\frac{27,293}{1,900}$ = 14.36 Labour units