Land Business Update | Week Commencing 20th May 2019

Welcome to our update on key land management, farming, planning and energy issues

Farming and food

European farmers want full support from the CAP and caution on Mercosur trade agreement

Copa-Cogeca, a large European farming lobby group, has again pressed the European Council to fully fund the CAP. It says that demands on farming are increasing so now is not the time to cut support. In relation to the potential trade deal with the Mercosur countries (which are Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and other associate countries), it made the valid point that agriculture, and in particular beef, should not be used as a bargaining chip to agree a trade deal. The EU is already more than 100% self-sufficient in beef, and this could increase with a no deal Brexit, so opening the market further will put downward pressure on demand and prices. In addition, the group made the point that beef produced in the Mercosur countries is significantly less carbon efficient (although we have not seen the calculations).

UK farming unions state their joint ambition for farming with Europe

The main four UK farming unions (NFU, NFUS, Ulster Farmers Union & NFU Cymru) have issued a document that stresses the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with Europe and agreeing an enabling regulatory regime, so that trade can continue on as even a basis as possible. The document highlights six critical policy areas: Brexit, trade and standards, climate change, environment, healthy plants and animals, and science.

Cereals 2019, 12 and 13 June, Boothby Graffoe, Lincoln

We will be attending Cereals again this year. Come and see us on our Stand 302 at any point over the two days where members of our farming department and agency team will be on hand. We will also have the results of our latest contract farming agreement survey as well as our latest benchmarking work.

Another damages award made against glyphosate

Bayer is appealing a decision by a Californian court to award $2 billion to an elderly couple who claimed their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was the result of exposure to the glyphosate. There are a further 13,000 cases still pending in the US alone.

Food waste is a product of our profligacy

Michael Gove has asked businesses to urgently cut food waste, describing the current approach to food as extravagant and profligate. The Committee on Climate Change recently said that food waste must be cut 20-50% if we are to reach our climate objectives. The responsibility though is not just on food companies as over 70% of UK food waste happens in households.

Request Countryside Stewardship Scheme mid-tier application pack by 31 May – and make submission by 31 July

The mid-tier scheme is an excellent opportunity for land managers to apply for grant funding for capital items such as planting new hedgerows or erecting livestock fencing to protect environmental features or prevent water pollution. Anyone requesting a pack is not obliged to put in a full application, but getting hold of a pack keeps the option open.

Energy

UK has first coal-free week since the 1880s

The National Grid, as Electricity System Operator in GB, said this would become the new normal. The government plans to phase out the UK’s last coal-fired plants by 2025 to reduce carbon emissions. During the ‘coal-free week’, around half of the UK’s energy came from burning natural gas, which creates around half the emissions of burning coal. About 20% came from renewables – but this going to have to grow significantly if the UK is to become net zero emissions. Separately, the Labour Party has said that it will invest £2bn in installing solar panels on the rooftops of a million social and low-income homes; the proposal would more than double the number of houses with panels and, Labour claims, make having them more socially equitable as some critics have claimed that previous subsidy scheme for installing panels were regressive as they favoured the wealthy.

Property

Rainwater harvesting

The Environment Agency has clarified if and when a water abstraction licence is needed for rainwater harvesting, which is rainwater collected from roofs and other above ground surfaces including above ground pipes and tanks. This can be a good way of providing some water for domestic and business use, as well as reducing demand on water supply systems. Please contact Helen Gosling for more information on this and other water issues.

Tenant fees ban (from 1 June) and six other rule changes that affect rural landlords

The Tenant Fees Act (England) will come into force on 1 June 2019 and bans most fees charged by landlords – including charging for reference checking and inventories to tenants. It is just one of a large number of new regulations and rule changes meant to raise standards for tenants and improve professionalism in the private residential rented sector. Other changes include: the Deregulation Act 2015; Fitness for Human Habitation Act; Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards; septic tanks and general binding rules; mandatory five-yearly electric checks; eviction proceedings under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 consultation. If you would like to discuss any of the above, please contact Jessica Waddington.

Rural Housing Week, 1 – 5 July

This year’s theme is ‘building for rural communities’, with the aim of showcasing what rural housing associations do, working with local people and organisations to ensure that homes meet the specific needs of communities. A range of events, including a conference on 3 July, will feature residents telling stories of how their housing association has provided them with high quality housing that made a difference to their lives. Contact the National Housing Federation for more details.

Telecoms

Proposed cooperation between mobile operators to boost rural 4G

Four mobile phone networks (O2, Vodafone, EE and Three) have proposed to set up a new firm with the aim of boosting 4G coverage in rural areas by allowing access to each other’s masts. It is the first time that the four British networks have collaborated, which includes funding new masts to eradicate ‘not spots’ where mobile reception is poor. However, the offer comes with conditions. Firstly, the firms have said that Government must remove rural coverage obligations attached to the 5G spectrum licences (which Ofcom is auctioning this year) as well as reducing the annual licence fees paid by networks to fund new masts. Secondly, it appears to be a reaction to the Government’s threat, in February, to allow mobile users to connect to the strongest signal – which is called ‘national roaming’- and which the networks strongly oppose. Thirdly, the networks have said that installing new masts in the countryside must be demand-led, so putting the onus on local communities and councils. More anon.