Chatting to Sally Elkington from Lincs FM at LAMMA

The TFA and many members were at LAMMA.  It was a brilliant show, despite the traffic problems.  We saw many current members and signed up more new members than expected, who I welcome warmly and remind them to make every use of what we have to offer. 

Wednesday had the better weather and the high numbers although Thursday was still very popular, but it was not so busy.  There were some attending for a second day, as there was so much to see. 

Most enquiries were about rents, pending arbitrations and landlord’s agent’s inactivity.  The ball is in their court; the world has changed since the heady days of last year!  If your landlord is acting against you and you’ve heard nothing, only the appointment of an arbitrator, then use the time to prepare your case.  It is then up to him to come to you with an offer.  If you have problems, speak to head office for advice and comparables.  Don’t forget the TFA’s RENT DATABANK, we need information in to make outgoing data as accurate as possible. 

If you have a current notice to review in this year (served last year before the December 1st VAT changes) take advice.  The Mason v Boscawen case has changed the landscape short term and may provide you with a useful lever, if your landlord is being unreasonable.  However, there is no reason why reasonable negotiations towards a settlement cannot carry on (see the TFA brief for more information).

Other things are much as usual, sad wet land, lots of pests, livestock inside and all drains running full bore.  Our sheep are in 2 weeks early, we are loading wheat – the photo of me in my “office” behind the popup at LAMMA is the result of 8 live foreign grain beetles in a load at Kings Lynn.  Normal procedure, back to the farm with haulage of £10.50 and the remaining 190t to treat.  Luckily we can do it ourselves, so as not to rack up more cost, and an indoor job for 2 days will suit Paul, our store operator.  It’s typical though that the problem was about as big as a bucket found in between 2 piles of grain that had been dried and conditioned.  It had also been regularly monitored, but was not visible on the surface.  Be vigilant – especially when loading.

In my temporary office at LAMMA dealing with live foreign grain beetles in a load of wheat.

Prospects for next harvest are interesting.  Prices at the moment are driven by currency and perhaps a hint of lower production.  November 09 price of £124 this week was enough to make me sell a proportion.  These are hard decisions to make in this volatile market.  My feeling is that there is more upside, but decisions should be made for reasons specific to your business.  Markets are not rational at the moment and the speculators are back in!  We still have to pay the rent.

It will be an interesting spring and crop prospects will be a driver.  Let’s hope both lamb and beef prices stay up and that milk improves.  When will the processors realize they are destroying their supply base?  Not when it’s too late I hope.  NVZ regulations are bad enough; the money has to come from somewhere to pay for this.  We are still pushing for grant aid, but there is no money unless you are a bank!

I am attending a meeting with Sir Don Curry on Tuesday 27 January with NFU and CLA about implementation of set-aside mitigation.  We shall be pushing for a voluntary scheme that isn’t to the detriment of ELS or HLS and compensated rather than cross compliance.   I will report on my thoughts after the event.

Keep dry – the wet weather is a good time to do that office work!