The Rural Bulletin: 29th March 2018

Farmers call for more prosecutions to deter fly-tippers

Farmers and landowners affected by fly-tipping are calling for a campaign to educate householders not to use illegal waste carriers and for tougher prosecutions. 

According to the CLA, its members reported a 200% increase in fly-tipping on private land in just three years. CLA Legal Adviser Andrew Gillet said: “Fly-tipping is not a victimless crime.

Almost two thirds of private rural landowners suffer from repeated fly-tipping incidents and are fed up with clearing away other people’s rubbish and paying for the privilege.

“Introducing a fixed penalty notice for householders who pass their waste on to unauthorised waste carriers would be a useful deterrent. However, to really tackle the crime, raising awareness of the risks of being caught and bringing forward more prosecutions will bring about a real change in behaviour.”

NFU Scotland launches post-Brexit policy document

NFU Scotland launched its latest policy document – “Steps to Change” at the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh this week.

The document highlighted three main areas for focus - financial stability, productivity, and the environment - which together would enable Scottish agriculture to be more competitive, resilient and profitable. 

Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland president said: “Given the scale and nature of the changes ahead, farmers and crofters will need to be given the time and the tools to adapt. That means enabling a transition, over several years, from the current CAP system to a new Scottish agricultural policy.

“New and practical policy options would meet the needs of emerging and developing farm businesses, with an overarching objective to make all farms and crofts more physically and financially robust.”

Farm input costs on the rise

Increases to fuel, feed and fertiliser prices have driven farm input costs up by 4.5% in the past six months, according to the AF Group.

The group’s AgInflation Index has shown a 16.9% increase in fertiliser prices, a 6.5% rise to fuel costs and a 4.8% jump in animal feed prices between September 2017 and February 2018.

It is the second consecutive increase of more than 4.5%, highlighting that farm costs are rising faster than the retail price index of 2%, said Jon Duffy, AF Group chief executive in a report for Farmers Weekly.

“Our figures once again highlight volatility within the marketplace, underpinned by the weak performance of sterling and global supply chain issues.” 

Avoid low rent renewals for telephone masts, warns CAAV

Landowners should beware low rental offers from telecoms operators, according to the Central Association of Agricultural Advisers.

The new Electronic Communications Code, which came into force on 28 December 2017, has sparked a spate of lower rental offers as many operators claim it moves from market rents to a compulsory purchase type compensation for loss– but that isn’t the case, explains Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV.

“This apparatus is only on land by agreement: All the terms are open for negotiation and rents are to be based on market value,” he says.

“It’s therefore important that landowners get professional advice to avoid selling themselves short – operators will have people acting in their interests; landowners should do the same.”