We produce benchmarking data for our customers to compare to. This allows system and business weaknesses to be highlighted and opportunities identified. This invaluable tool enables CARA customers to move forward and improve profits. For further details please contact the office.
The Young Entrants Support Scheme will include a 50% grant up to a maximum £15,000 for new entrants. Eligibility is limited to those farmers under 40 who have become head of holding for the first time, or at any time in the last 12 months. Sole traders under 40 will be given priority followed by partnerships where all partners are under 40, and then partnerships with one partner under 40.
Very few details are currently available on what will be eligible for grant aid, other than the general heading of capital expenditure, however we are expecting more information to be released in January.
Menter a Busnes will be holding meetings in early January to publicise these details. The meetings will commence at 7.30pm and are located at :-
7th January 2010 – Talbot Hotel, Tregaron
18th January 2010 – Nantyffin Motel, Llandissilio
If you wish to apply for the scheme, you will need to complete an Expression of Interest form, and submit your application along with a viable business plan by the 28th February 2010.You will be able to access 80% funding towards the preparation of the business plan through Farming Connect, where John, Iwan and Wendy are registered to deliver. Please contact us immediately if you would like us to assist, since time constraints will be tight.
For reliable fertiliser planning it is essential that the nutrient content, rate and time of application of manures are known. The nutrient content of animal excreta is greatly influenced by factors such as diet and water dilution. Slurry nutrient content may vary from one year to the next on the same holding. CARA recommends that the nutrient content of a representative sample be determined by analysis at least once per annum. Interim assessments of slurry can be made by using a slurry hydrometer. CARA are able to provide a lab analysis service, interim assessment via hydrometer and give a report on crop nutrient planning based on results.
CARA slurry/manure analysis = £42 + VAT. Analysis gives levels of Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash, Magnesium and dry matter. This would allow you to carry out a manure management plan and accurately plan fertiliser requirements. This in turn would:
· improve crop nutrient management
· result in potential savings on fertiliser inputs
· meet farm assurance criteria
· gain environmental agency approval
· benefit the environment
We have formed a relationship with Robert Cope of the Jigsaw Buying group to enable customers to source chepaer feed. The group bulk buys inputs, mainly feedstuffs and passes the savings on to it’s members. There is no membership fee, and the feed is all of a very high quality and regularly tested. If you are interested, click through on the link in “People we work with” or phone the office here.
Typical savings of £20-30 per tonne possible on concentrates which is equivalent to £7,500 per year for the average dairy herd.
If your farming business has one or more partners under the age of 40, then you now qualify for 80% funding towards any consultancy receieved through the scheme. If all partners are over 40 then 50% funding is available towards the cost.
This consultancy can be used for whole farm planning, budgets & cashflows, technical advice, succession planning etc, and can be tailored to your indvidual needs.
If you are interested in recieving advice through Farming Connect, you will need to call 0845 6000 813 and ask for either John Crimes, Iwan Price or Wendy Jenkins under AgriPlan Cymru.
The Single Application Forms have now arrived. PLEASE, PLEASE phone for your appointment as soon as possible on 01570 471516. The last day of appointments in the office is the 8th of May 2009.
When you come into the office for you appointment please bring with you :-
SAF 2009 Form (Yellow Pack)
2009 Maps (Green Pack)
Exact Stock Numbers
Soil Assessment Booklet
Farm Assurance Number
Tir Gofal/Organic Scheme Maps & Agreements
List of any extra land - holding numbers etc
We look forward to seeing you!
You may have read the article in the Farmers Weekly recently about locking in your Single Farm Payment at the current Euro/Sterling conversion rate. This e-mail attempts to explain the issue and to make you aware of the options available.
Your Single Farm Payment is calculated in Euros by the Welsh Assembly Government. You can then choose on your Single Application Form whether to receive the payment in Euros or Sterling. The vast majority of farmers usually elect to receive their payments in Sterling. The payment is therefore converted to Sterling by the Assembly on the conversion rate on the 30th of September in that calendar year. (0.79 conversion rate in 2008)
The farmers who elect to receive their payment in Euros are paid in Euros into a Euro bank account which they have set up with the bank. They can then convert these Euros back to Sterling at any time they wish, (most would do so when they received the payment – 1st of Dec for majority). This effectively means that these farmers can choose to play with the exchange rate if they wish.
The article in the farmers weekly by World First, highlighted the option of forward booking a conversion of your euros into sterling at today’s conversion rate, which is 0.94. They required a deposit of 10% from farmers for this service, however the main banks are offering this service without a deposit.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU GAIN?
The conversion rate in 2007 was 0.69
The conversion rate in 2008 was 0.79
The conversion rate today is 0.94
On a payment of say €40,000 you would have received (before modulation) :-
All you are doing is therefore eliminating the risk that the exchange rate falls back between today and the 30th of September when the Assembly converts the money.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU LOSE?
The gamble you would take by forward booking a conversion rate is that the pound weakened further and that the conversion rate would improve by the 30th of September. (Barclays Chief Economist is however indicating that the exchange rate will fall back towards 0.85 towards the end of the year. )
By pre-booking this conversion rate you are entering into a contract to convert your Euros in a certain payment window e.g. 1/1/10 to 31/03/10. If your payment was late for any reason, you would then be in breach of contract. However, the contracts can be extended for a fee.
Many businesses pay from £700 upwards for their annual accounts to be completed. How many actually use the accounts to assess their position and profitability?
Accounts show real costs, all be it sometimes not broken down into enough detail. But, they can provide a good starting point to see where things have gone wrong, or gone right. Questions that should be raised from annual accounts are as simple as:
Did I make a profit?
Did the profit cover my drawings?
Did my balance sheet improve?
Is my output, measured by sales, growing?
Are my costs increasing faster than my output?
These questions will provide a starting point for some decisions on best way forward.
In the current climate of falling milk prices it is easy to become despondent, but in most situations there are things that can be done. An important starting point is to benchmark your business and see where weaknesses lie. CARA as a company produce management accounts for many farms, which enable like to like comparisons. This process gives producers a real pence per litre cost of production, and shows where improvements can be made.
Contact us if you are interested in moving your business forward and seeing how you can reduce your production cost.
Many farmer’s have yet to order fertiliser, and this now seems like a good decision. The price is forecast to reduce, notably for nitrogen based products. There is currently, and locally some exceptionally good deals available on urea fertiliser, which should be considered.
When comparing fertiliser, it is best to use the price per unit or kilo of nutrient. For example 1 tonne of urea contains 460 kilos of nitrogen, at a cost of £275 per tonne this is 60 pence per kilo of nutrient. For ammonia nitrate to compete (345 kilos of nitrogen per tonne) it should be no more than £207 per tonne - certainly food for thought!
The best advice would be to order at least early spring requirements soon to guarantee product on farm for spreading in February / March.
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