< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFARM & COUNTRY LINK - FARM MANAGEMENTAs the sector has to deal with increasingly complex supplychains and meet tough requirements from its customers,much emphasis is now being placed on improving skills andprofessionalism. It’s particularly important given thatresearch shows that some 242,000 new entrants to the sectorwill be needed over the next decade to simply maintaincurrent workforce numbers.This will doubtless be assisted with a £2.9 millioninvestment as part of the Employer and Investment FundPhase 2. This fund will enable Lantra, the Sector Skills Councilsupporting land-based and environmental industries, createand deliver new skills projects. One project involves creating aland-based business centre, which will act as a one-stop-shopfor the information and support businesses need to makesensible decisions on how to invest wisely in skills andbusiness development. Another aim is the introduction of a professional standardsframework, encouraging the workforce to build its level ofprofessional standards, leadership and management skillsthrough industry-wide professional registers. This frameworkwill help the industry earn formal recognition for increasingtheir skills base while helping individuals plan theirprofessional development. Another project is aimed atsupporting land-based career entry and progression routes,including apprenticeships, which are not particularly commonin the sector but could have a huge impact.Valerie Owen OBE, Chair of Lantra, says, “This governmentinvestment for skills is welcome news for the land-based andenvironmental sector in the UK. Lantra looks forward toworking with land-based businesses to help maximise theirreturns on investment in skills through improvedproductivity and profit.”Meanwhile, agricultural businesses can also benefit fromthe Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme. Part of theRural Development Programme for England, this has beendeveloped to help farming, forestry and horticulturalbusinesses to become more efficient at using resources. Theproject aims to help make rural businesses more profitableand resilient whilst reducing the impact of farming on theenvironment, with grants of up to £25,000 available.Although the first round of the scheme is now closed, asecond round will begin later this spring, and all together thescheme intends to give out £20 million in grants by the endof 2013.Schemes such as this can make a huge impact toagricultural business in our part of the world. Retailers areincreasingly requiring their suppliers become more efficient,and investing in skills can ensure they are well-placed to landnew contracts. The new initiatives also ensure that land-basedbusinesses themselves can take ownership of theirdevelopment, allowing for a more mature sector.In recent years,Lincolnshire’sagricultural sectorhas certainly had todeal with sometough times, but newinitiatives are inplace to providefunding and supportfor an oftenundervaluedcontributor to localprosperity.BoostingbusinessS•M•RANBY AGRICULTURE• Hay & Straw Bailing• Stubble to stubble contracts• Combining• Straw Laying• All aspects of farm workundertakenSM Ranby AgriculturePear Tree Farmhouse, Marsh Lane, Saunby, RetfordNotts DN22 9ESTel/Fax: 01427 848170 Mobile: 07860 49625060:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:17 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY61FARM & COUNTRY LINK - FARM MANAGEMENTBecause farmland is recognised asdeserving special treatment forinheritance tax purposes, HMRC isaware the generous reliefs could beopen to abuse. As a result, there hasbeen a succession of appealsconcerning agricultural property reliefin recent years. It seems even workingfarmers need to take advice about theirposition, as it is easy to lose thebenefits. Many farmers want to pass the farmdown to their children and may startthis process as they get to retirementage. In such cases, it’s vitalprofessional advice is taken in ordernot to lose the valuable inheritancereliefs. For example, relief will be loston the farmhouse if the land is givento the next generation, but thefarmhouse is retained by the retiredfarmer. This will equally be the case ifthe farmhouse is given to children,but the land is retained. Various otherpermutations can be very inefficient intax terms. As a general rule, it’s usuallybest to take the children into afarming partnership and to hold allthe land and the farmhouse as apartnership asset, but carefulstructuring of the partnershiparrangements is still advisable.There’s a tax disadvantage foranyone holding farmland to leave itby will their surviving spouse. Nearlyall these gifts are exempt frominheritance tax and the opportunity ofclaiming agricultural property iswasted against the spouse exemption.The gift of the land to a family trustby will should be considered as analternative.The various tax reliefs for farmlandare generous and care should be takento utilise them. Where it’s inevitablethey will cease to be available in theforeseeable future, an immediate giftof the land to a family trust, or directto the next generation, should beconsidered. In all cases, advice isdesirable.Inheritance Tax andCapital Gains Taxplanning for farmersexplained by Sue Kitchen of Haines WattsSue Kitchen | Managing Partner23 Algitha Road, Skegness Lincolnshire PE25 2AGTel: 01754 766 991 |Fax: 01754 769 318skegness@hwca.com |www.hwca.com/skegnessWe provide high quality financial advice to local businesses and individuals. Being part of Haines Watts places us in a unique position - allowing us to offer our national range of services without losing the local personal attention to detail. Being in Skegness we are always close by to pop in and have a chat and help and advise you.We specialise in Accountancy, Book Keeping, Tax Planning, VAT and Financial Services.Corporate Finance Taxaon VAT I.T & Accountancy soware support Expenses Asset Finance61:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:17 Page 162 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFARM & COUNTRY LINK - OUTDOOR PURSUITSThe wide open spaces in our part of theworld have long been put to great usewith a host of outdoor events. There’splenty of opportunity to get out there andenjoy breathtaking scenery while takingpart in some thrilling activities. We’veoften reported, for example, howLincolnshire is considered something of amecca for horse riders, with the countybeing used as the base for Team GB’sequestrian stars prior to the OlympicGames. The county also continues topromote itself as the home of golf.There’s lots more to discover too. InLincoln, for example, almost £190,000 isavailable for events and activities in threelocal communities, thanks to a grant fromthe Community First programme.Carholme, Park and Abbey wards havebeen awarded the money to fundcommunity projects and schemes, as partthe likes of Rushmoor Country Park,Lincoln’s Medieval Bishops’ Palace andGoltho Gardens, and tours of famousattractions like Lincoln Cathedral and RAFScampton, but there’s also a chance to tryout a new experience – such as a tasterday on the zip wire at Caistor OutdoorPursuits or the chance to arrange a trialflight at the Lincolnshire Gliding Club.This month too the streets of Lincolnwill doubtless be filled with thousands ofpeople taking part in the annual Lincoln10K race. The event, which takes placethis year on Sunday 25th March, is alwayshugely popular – even among those whotake a more leisurely trip along thecourse. This year, as well as the usualcompetitors, a group of Nordic Walkerswill be taking part. Nordic Walking is anenhancement of ordinary walking, usingpoles to propel the walker along andmake sure the upper body muscles areused as well as the legs, and a group fromMandarin Leisure will be taking part inthe run this year.Keith Taylor, who helps organises therace, says, “Over the years, we’ve had allsorts of people taking part in the Lincoln10K. Usually, people set off with the aimof running at least some of the course,and this is the first time we’ve had agroup of dedicated walkers. We’re alwaystrying to make the Lincoln 10K accessiblefor everyone, which is why we have theschool and parent races the day before themain race.”No doubt many people will be suitablyinspired by what’s going on in Londonthis summer to take part in some of thesports themselves – and that’s possiblehere in the county as the LincolnshireSports Partnership is running its Quest forGold programme. Part of the Olympicof a £30 million national programme,which has also allocated money inGainsborough South. Panels of localresidents will work Development Plus, todecide how the money is spent betweennow and 2015 on various events andactivites for young and old alike. Forevery pound given in a grant, this will bematched by other money or anequivalent value, such as volunteer time.The emphasis is on bringing thecommunity together – and that’ssomething that will also be emphasisedduring March’s Discover LincolnshireWeekend. Taking place on 10th and 11thMarch, many of Lincolnshire’s topattractions will be opening their doors forfree and providing the opportunity totake a closer look at some parts of thecounty that you often don’t get to see.Not only does this mean free entry toGoing forgoldSuitably inspired by the OlympicGames? Get active inLincolnshire!Going forgold62-63:Layout 1 17/2/12 11:26 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY63FARM & COUNTRY LINK - OUTDOOR PURSUITSSoutherton GunsREGISTERED FIREARMS DEALER, HUM 165SECTION 5 REGISTERED DEALER, 2011-17-41-11Stockists of:shotguns, rifles, air rifles, air pistols, BB pistols, ammunition, cartridges,pellets, reloading accessories, clothing,gun transfers and small gun repairs1b Station Road, Habrough, Nr ImminghamNorth East Lincolnshire DN40 3APwww.southertonguns.comTel:07957 279021 or 01469 575758legacy programme, the scheme providesthe opportunity to take part in all thesports in the Olympics and Paralympics.Signing up online allows you the chanceto take part in a number of taster sessions,most of which are free to attend. Awardswill be given out at the end of theprogramme to reward those who havereached certain key sports milestones.Many of the sports are on offer at thecounty’s sporting clubs and the SportsPartnership are also offering sessions at anumber of major events, including theLincolnshire Show. There are no limits ofthe number of events you can take partOlympics – as could those who take partin this sporting challenge.However you choose to get active,there’s almost certainly somewhere inLincolnshire where you can achieve yourgoal.in, Olympic or Paralympic, and at the endof it you could become a real all-rounder.The small fee charged to register with thescheme goes towards the Partnership’swork in supporting talented local athleteswho could go on to excel at future62-63:Layout 1 17/2/12 11:26 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFARM & COUNTRY LINK - SAFETYAlthough technology andmachinery has become more reliableand safer in recent years, theagriculture sector still reports aworryingly large number of safetyissues. Indeed, the provisional figuresfor 2010/11 from the Health andSafety Executive reveal that there were42 fatalities reported in the sector. Thisis the highest rate of any industrialsector, and is in addition to the hugenumber of people who are injured orsuffer from ill health – despite therebeing less than 1.5% of the populationworking in the industry.This isn’t to say that the workcarried out is generally moredangerous than in other sectors butthere are obvious reasons as to thehigh rate of accidents in this sectorcompared to others. The sector isdominated by very small businesseswhich often have very informalmanagement structures, if any exist inthe first place, and therefore it’s likelythat less thought will be given tohealth and safety training.Indeed the majority of the fatalaccidents over the past decade haveoccurred to self-employed workerswhere health and safety considerationstook – wrongly – a back seat to theneed to get the job done quickly. Aculture of resourcefulness has in thepast been considered a benefit of thesector but cutting corners can lead tovery unpleasant consequences.A further problem affecting theindustry is that it continues to employa large number of older workers. Manyfarming businesses have been passeddown through the generations and anumber of farmers consider it more ofa duty than a job to work on the land.Sadly, a significant number of theaccidents in the sector involve thoseaged over 65 who, despite stillexhibiting energy and desire to tend tothe land, aren’t as physically adept asthey used to be. The use of aging orobsolete material can also be adrawback in this instance.The agricultural sector also has afurther complication in that it workscloser to members of the public thanmany similar sectors, so the potentialfallout from health and safetybreaches can be far greater.Unfortunately the sheer size andinformal nature of the industry meansonly a complete cultural shift is likelyto have a major impact on the numberof issues, but that’s not to say therearen’t steps being taken to createawareness of, and find solutions to,the problems that remain.The Health and Safety Executive, forexample, are making nearly eightthousand places available at Safety andHealth Awareness Days across thecountry, with the aim of cutting thenumber of deaths and injuries infuture. The events, which are free,offer up practical demonstrations onworkplace transport, machine safety,working at height, handling livestock,safe lifting and working withchemicals.In addition, a host of agriculturalorganisations have recently launchedthe Farm Safety Charter, aiming toincrease awareness of the issue. TheCharter has been supported by thelikes of the NFU, CLA and Lantra andaims to challenge traditional attitudesto risk by providing a more coherentindustry-wide approach. The Charterwas launched at the 2011 Grassland &Muck show by NFU President PeterKendall, who said, “The number ofpeople I meet who think they have aone-off story about a tragedy on-farmnever ceases to amaze me. I couldfocus on the financials, and the factA culture changeThe old idea of making do is being challenged as health and safety takes onincreased importance in agricultureNFU President PeterKendall has helpedlaunched the new FarmSafety Charter64-56:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY65that accidents and injuries cost about£343 million every year. But this isabout your family and your valuedworkers coming home safe.”The cost of health and safetybreaches in personal terms iscompelling enough – but as PeterKendall points out, there are financialissues at stake too. The HSE’s new costrecovery scheme comes into force inApril, based around the idea that theHSE should be able to recover thecosts it incurs while investigating amaterial breach of health and safetylaw, and also any additional costs inproviding support to the employer asan aid to ensuring the situation issuccessfully remedied. These costs willwork at an hourly rate of £124 perhour – making a sizeable dent incompany finances. The most obviousway to avoid these costs is to ensurethat businesses’ health and safetypractices and procedures are effectiveand comprehensive.It’s not just on the farm itself wheresafety is a serious problem – ruralroads suffer more than their fair shareof accidents. In Lincolnshire we’re wellaware of the problem as the A46 haslong been cited as one of the mostdangerous roads in the UK, in terms ofthe number of accidents that occur onit, and with this in mind a newcampaign has been launched to ensureyoung drivers in particular take careon rural roads.The warning comes following newresearch by Road Safety Analysis,examiners of road casualty trends,which reveals how risk levels foryoung drivers vary according to wherethey live. The South Holland District iscited as the number one young driverrisk area in the entire UK, whileBoston Borough also appears in thetop ten. The survey shows that ruralyoung drivers are 37% more likely tobe involved in an injury collision thantheir urban counterparts. One of thebiggest factors in the elevated riskprofile is the much higher averageannual mileages driven by rural driverswith 31% more miles driven perperson than their urban counterparts.CLA East regional director NicolaCurrie says, “This increased exposure,combined with young drivers’ relativeinexperience, is a signal to rural localauthorities and police forces thatspecial attention needs paying to thissubject. With this sort of information,local authorities can develop a muchbetter understanding of the risksexperienced by their residents androad users, helping them to addressthe inequalities that many people areexperiencing in countryside areas.” Asyou’ll see elsewhere in these pages,greater education for drivers,pedestrians and riders alike can make ahuge difference – but it also dependson the authorities properlymaintaining the roads to ensure as fewpotential flashpoints as possibleremain.Strides are being taken to create aclimate of health and safety in thesector, though it remains down to theindividual farms to ensure bothemployees and members of the publicaren’t put at risk.FARM & COUNTRY LINK - SAFETYHealth and safety in agriculture is often compromisedby the close proximity of the publicSouth Holland has been named as a majoraccident blackspot thanks to its rural nature64-56:Layout 1 16/2/12 15:18 Page 2www.roadlincs.comBe seen Plan your route Know your horse...Be seen Plan your route Know your horse...66-67:Layout 1 16/2/12 14:31 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67FARM & COUNTRY LINK - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD SAFETYSafer horse riding on the roadsBefore you set off...The Highway Code offers basic rules forpeople riding on the road, it is a legalrequirement that you adhere to thislegislation. Rules 50-55 give informationon the expectations of the suitability oftack, fluorescent clothing and the rider’sability to control the animal and it isstrongly recommended you check thelaws which apply. It is advisable to ride at times whentraffic is less congested and when daylightis at its best. When you have to ride inpoor light, be sure you follow guidancefrom the Highway Code. Be as observantas possible while on the road, pull over iftraffic is struggling to pass and use armsignals to warn drivers of your intentions.Ensure you are considerate and courteousto other road users and where possible,thank drivers for slowing down. Do notride on the pavement or in a cycle lane, itis against the law.Plan your route...Use an ordinance survey map to seewhat bridleways you can use, but makesure you have the permission of the farmmanager or land owner before riding onfarm tracks. It may be worth asking forpermission in your local area as this canincrease options of riding off road andenjoying scenic routes. Whether you areriding alone or in company, try to take amobile phone. If riding alone, ensuresomeone else knows the route you aretaking and roughly how long this maytake you.Know your horse...It is difficult to know how any horsemay behave, especially a young or newhorse, so train off the road to try andensure the horse is controllable and hasthe correct bridle before subjecting to itmore stressful environments. Start onquieter roads to experience things at aslow pace, the less daunting andproblematic, the less likely the horse is toworry. On the first few outings, it isadvisable to ride in a pair, with the moreexperienced horse on the outside andtrying the less experienced horse on theoutside, nearest the traffic. Riding single file is appropriate fornarrow roads and corners, although ridersshould be aware this can encouragedrivers to pass too closely to the animal oreven pass while there is oncoming traffic.Riding two abreast tends to encouragedrivers to slow down and pass wide whenit is safe; this is safest for novice horses. Ifriding in a group, never ride more thantwo abreast, if your group is larger thansix or eight it may be safest to split intotwo groups for cars to overtake easily. Safety is paramount for a horse and riderbecause even when we do everything tothe best of our ability, accidents can stillhappen. Every opportunity we have tomake things safer for ourselves and ouranimals should lessen the likelihood of anaccident. Be confident you are safe andlegal, be seen and be considerate… Have agreat ride! Equipment featured is availablefrom: www.equisafety.comEQUISAFETY Ltd19a Tarran Way West, Tarran WayIndustrial Estate, Moreton, WirralCH46 4TTTel/Fax – 0151 678 7182www.equisafety.com66-67:Layout 1 16/2/12 14:32 Page 268 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFARM & COUNTRY LINK - MOTORINGOur topcountryside 4x4’sFor those living in the countryside the 4x4 is the definitive vehicle of choice.Whether you’re a farmer or just living in the area, Lincolnshire Today takes a lookat some of our own favourite 4x4’s. Land RoverDefenderPerhaps the most iconicfarm and country vehicle,this rugged off-road 4x4has been used for years onroads and farmland byfarmers and country loversalike. Now over sixty yearsold, the principal designof the Defender has barelychanged, which goes along way to showing justhow enduring this vehiclereally is.Practicality is thegreatest asset of theDefender, and with itssolid chassis, high groundclearance and strong 4x4 ability, there isalmost no terrain that could prove toomuch for this vehicle. A favoured choiceof those who expect a large amount ofoff-road driving, this vehicle sees a lot ofuse by farmers and livestock owners whomight need to traverse fields that havebecome veritable swamps after heavyrainfall. Despite this, it still handles wellon roads, and can reach up to 70mph onany of the motorways you might take iton.It’s not just the ability of the Defenderwhich makes it one of our top pickshowever, the image, the design, thefeeling one has when driving it issomething that’s worth mentioning. Thecar screams adventure, it’s the vehicle onecould take into a forest, or a jungle, or adesert. And even when you’re simplydriving it down country roads, you stillfeel like you’re more of an adventurerthan everyone else. BMW X3The BMW X3 is a different story fromthe Defender. While the latter is a ruggedEnglishman wading through mud anddoing hard work, the X3 is a sophisticatedGerman standing on the side-lines inboots and fatigues, but never actuallygetting dirty. And there’s nothing wrongwith that. If you want a country 4x4 thanhas power and reliability, but you’remainly sticking to roads and hard worntracks, then why sacrifice comfort.The X3 is without a doubt a stylish car,and is certainly one you wouldn’t feel outof place in for those trips into the city offurther afield. It still has the heavy torqueof any other 4x4, it still has the vastamount of storage space. But it also has alot more comfort and amenities thanmost other models. It has all the internal68-69:Layout 1 16/2/12 14:32 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69FARM & COUNTRY LINK - MOTORINGtechnological aspects you’d expect aBMW to come with, from electric powersteering to the inbuilt iDrive, which givesyou access to radios, DVD’s and even aSat-Nav system, all from a single control.The X3 also clocks in at around 50mpgwhich makes it a much more economicalvehicle to run, and for those who are self-conscious of the countryside they live in,the X3’s emissions are touted as thelowest across the 4x4 industry. Mercedes MLWithout a doubt an incredibly powerfulcar, the Mercedes ML averages at around240bhp, which is more than could everbe needed on country roads, but for theperson who wants to feel ten yearsyounger, this car certainly delivers. Makeno mistake, this is a road vehicle. It’s a4x4, so the handling is good and with itshigh powered engine, the accelerationand top speed are brilliant as well. Takethis off-road however, and all of it won’tserve much use. This is not a mud-plugger. Rather its a beautiful and stylishvehicle. It doesn’t seat seven like theDefender can, but seating for five peoplereally ought to be enough. There isplenty of boot space, but you won’t befitting three sheep in. It’s a compromisebetween utility and style. It’s an expensive compromise however.Coming in at £20,000 more than eitherof the others, it also clocks in at a ratherdistressing 24mpg, its emissions are quitehigh too. But then, being beautiful hasnever been cheap. Considering it’s not asoff-road practical as the Defender, thisvehicle does depreciate quite rapidly, soyou can actually snap it up at a muchreduced price second hand. 68-69:Layout 1 16/2/12 14:32 Page 2Next >