CARA Wales

The national minimum wage will increase from 1st October 2008. From this date, you will need to ensure that all staff are getting at least the new minimum wage per hour; appropriate to their age.  Below are last years rates and the new rates for this year:

National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2007

• Workers aged 22 and over – £5.52 per hour
• Workers aged 18-21 –         £4.60 per hour
• Workers aged 16-17 –         £3.40 per hour
• Accommodation offset –      £4.30 per day (£30.10 per week)

New National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2008

• Workers aged 22 and over – £5.73 per hour
• Workers aged 18-21 –         £4.77 per hour
• Workers aged 16-17 –         £3.53 per hour
• Accommodation offset –      £4.46 per day (£31.22 per week)

If you have any queries regarding payroll, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

The credit crunch seems to be the only news meriting any attention at present, but is this really having an impact on the agricultural sector? The major impact will be seen by new borrowers or those restructuring debt. In these circumstances, the cost of raising funds at bank level is increased, and therefore this will be passed onto the borrower.

In basic terms, although most owner occupier farmers have reasonable levels of security, new debt may not be at such good rates as previously seen. In order to prise as good a deal as possible out of the bank there are several things you can do to help:

1.       Ensure you ask for the correct amount of capital – asking for more at a later date is a sign of poor planning

2.       Structure the debt over the correct period – too quick a repayment period will see overdraft pressure

3.       Make sure you have an up to date balance sheet and farm valuation – security is still vital

4.       Always allow for some sensitivity and over spend in plans and budgets

5.       FINALLY … Show the bank a professionally produced business plan. (CARA does these regularly) 

Having all five factors above covered will gain respect and understanding from the bank manager and help in negotiating a competitive rate of borrowing.

As of midnight on the 1^st of September the whole of Wales has been included in the bluetongue protection zone.  This means that the area that covered the South East of Wales has been extended to cover the whole country.

The extension to the zone means that farmers are able to move their stock from Wales to all areas of England that are in the protection zone. Stock can only be moved to a “free” area if they have been vaccinated under a vet’s supervision, subject to a 60 day standstill or 35 days if a blood test establishes immunity. Stock can be moved into Wales from all areas in the protection zone as well as the free areas which will come as good news to many people wanting to purchase animals at any forthcoming Autumn Sales.  Farmers are however urged not to move animals from areas of higher risk unless needed.

Farmers have been urged to vaccinate their stock as soon as possible as September is a month of high risk for the disease and it was the month when the first case was reported a year ago. The vaccine is available by ordering it from your vet.

The vaccine comes in 50ml and 20ml bottles, and is available through private veterinarians via veterinary wholesalers.

The wholesale “list” price is reported to be £22.02 for the 50ml bottles and £13.10 for the 20ml bottles.

The final on-farm price is likely to be around £27.50-£33.00 for the 50ml bottles (55-66p per ml) and around £16.35-£19.65 for the 20ml bottles (82-98p per ml) plus VAT, to cover the overhead, handling and administration charges throughout the distribution process.

Farmers are reminded that the vaccine will require a 1 ml dose in sheep and two separate 1 ml doses in cattle.