Land miles from home (From Smallholder)

Land miles from home

9:46am Wednesday 30th December 2009

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So what can we do on land a few miles away from home and what is important.

Careful Planning Not being able to walk out of the back door and tend to your livestock does not make life easy. However, with careful planning and creating a routine, it is possible to work wonders.

Vegetables Clearly, vegetables are more appropriate when you are unable to live on site, but are only suited to small areas of an acre or less.

livestock livestock require more land and much more attention, of a standard, which is difficult to provide from afar. Think very carefully before keeping livestock and be sure that you are going to be able to provide the attention they need!

Animal welfare We are of the opinion that keeping livestock, if you are not living on site is only for the most dedicated individuals.

To comply with the five freedoms, which are the basis of the farm animal welfare act, will at certain times necessitate a great number of journeys, back and forth to the land at all times of the day and night.

The five freedoms are: Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, injury or disease, by prevention or by rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Freedom to express natural behaviour.

Freedom from fear and distress.

Birthing we believe is a time when someone should be on site, just before, during and for a time afterwards, even if no assistance is required. It is important to make sure the newly born livestock have bonded and sucked colostrum from the mother.

It is possible, we are told, to get permission to live on site during lambing time for a limited period, this permission, must be applied for annually if it is for more than 26 days a year.

It is difficult to actually find any clear information on these rules.

Choice of livestock Grassland must, be kept grazed or cut to prevent it turning into a wilderness. Even land planted as woodland requires a certain amount of mowing around the young trees and it seems sensible therefore, to graze any grass with appropriate livestock or poultry.

cattle and/or sheep are the obvious choice, they give birth only once a year, both are reasonably easy to look after and the produce is in demand.

Getting cattle back in calf will be easier by using a bull, either one you own or if possible, a hired one. Artificial insemination can also be used but, is rarely successful in these circumstances.

Getting sheep in lamb is slightly easier, again hiring, borrowing or buying a ram and putting it in with the ewes on bonfire night, will produce a crop of lambs in early April.

Lambing at this time of the year will, coincide with warmer weather and lighter nights, which will make the midnight inspection much more pleasant.

poultry will require letting out of the pen in the morning and shutting back into the pen at dusk.

This will of course be after 10pm in the summer.

Pigs give birth twice a year and they are little more likely to escape unless the fencing is ultra secure. They are not suitable for grassland management, because they just turn it into a minefield.

Security This is a problem which, unfortunately, is getting worse, perhaps due to the present economic situation.

A small acreage used for horticulture, where it is possible to take all your hand tools home with you is one thing, but leaving anything on site with an engine on does mean that unless steps are taken to safeguard the machine it will disappear.

A metal container, of the type which fits onto a lorry, is excellent for safe storage, especially if a few modifications are made to the fastening mechanism. It will also double as somewhere to get out of the rain and make a cup of tea and even somewhere to site personal hygiene facilities.

Because it is moveable, it should not require planning permission, despite what the planners may tell you.

Livestock Housing Hen and pig pens or field shelters, which are on skids or wheels fall into the same category.

If the planners pay you a visit, explain that your smallholding venture is not a hobby but a business, which feeds your family, with surplus production being sold to consumers in the locality.

So, is it possible to have a smallholding away from home?

Yes if you are very enthusiastic and determined. It will not be easy and the standard of stockmanship will have to be excellent.

You will have to be convinced that everything is in order before leaving the land at night. There is not much pleasure in being at home worrying about what is going on in your absence.

Basic requirements Good and secure fences are essential.

A reliable supply of good, piped, drinking water on site. Transporting water even short distances takes too much time and effort.

Some form of lighting even if run off a generator or batteries. Feeding, checking or helping livestock to give birth, is not easy by torch light.

Adequate feed and water troughs and dry secure storage for feedstuffs.

The facility to lock doors and gates. Insurance companies are loath to payout if no effort has been made to safeguard the property.

Insurance against fire, theft, public liability and livestock straying. Consult an insurance company with experience of agriculture Start with small numbers of poultry and other livestock, to gain experience, before investing serious money, and effort. It may be possible to increase the livestock, perhaps to a level which will fulfil the criteria demanded by the planners to be granted temporary and eventually full planning permission. To contact David Morris for help or advice with your smallholding, ring 01283 585 410 or visit www.newlandowner.co.uk.

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