SAC were contacted by Mr Taggart in order to comment on the agricultural justification and purpose of a proposed dwelling house at Glashen Farm, as part of a planning appeal, reference 07/00498/A.
Description of Building Purpose
Mr Taggart's original planning application referred to the proposed dwelling in terms of retirement. This term suggests that Mr Taggart intends to have no more dealings with the running of the farm business.
However, this was not Mr Taggart's intended meaning. Rather, Mr Taggart intends to continue to actively manage and run the farm business on a full time basis. Mr Taggart does now recognise however that he will require more assistance to carry out the physical work and activities on the farm, and it is order to accommodate such further assistance that he is looking to provide an additional dwelling on the farm.
Agricultural Justification
Mr Taggart's core enterprise is a beef suckler herd, rearing and finishing cattle. Additionally, Mr Taggart breeds and rears a number of pedigree cattle. Also on the farm is around 120 acres of barley, and a flock of some 150 breeding ewes (previously as many as 500 ewes were maintained on the holding).
Summary of Stocking and Cropping The total labour requirement for Glashen Farm was calculated (see Appendix 1). The labour requirement was calculated as 4.34 labour units. THE SIZE OF THIS FARM, THE CROPS GROWN AND THE LIVESTOCK MAINTAINED JUSTIFIES AT LEAST 4 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE. If you have any further queries on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours sincerely
Andrew Macdonald SAC Agricultural Adviser c/o DAFF
Cropping
Acres
Livestock
Number
Grassland
450
Suckler cows
220
Cereals
120
Breeding bulls
10
Reseed
70
Finishing cattle (SYB)
20
Total
640 acres
Store cattle
167
Finishing steers (for 2 months)
74
Finishing heifers (for 10 months)
94
Breeding ewes
150
Appendix 1 – Calculation of Standard Hours Worked
Cropping
Sub Total 2,240
Livestock
Acres
Hours/Acre/Annum
Total
Cereals
120
8
960
Reseed
70
8
560
Grassland
450
1.6
720
Sub Total 6001
Total 8241 hours DAFF standard man year = 1900 hours Calculated standard labour requirement Glashen Farm = 8241/1900 = 4.34 labour units.
Category of Livestock
Number
Hours/Head/Annum
Total
Suckler cows
220
12
2,640
Breeding bulls
10
9
90
Finishing cattle (SYB) for 8 months/yr
20
9 (x 8/12)
120
Store cattle
167
9
1,503
Finishing steers for 2 months/yr
74
9 (x 2/12)
111
Finishing heifers for 10 months/yr
94
9 (x 10/12)
705
Breeding ewes
150
5.2
780
Other sheep
10
5.2
52
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Source & Provenance
Official reference
07/00498/A
Source authority
Isle of Man Government Planning & Building Control
