Farm insurance: How to get the best value possible

Farm insurance is critical to rural businesses across the length and breadth of the UK, but how do they ensure they get the best cover and the best service for the best price?

Getting value from farm insurance is often tricky because although cost is important, especially in the current climate, lower premiums can also mean less cover and a poor service experience when it comes to claims or making changes to your policy.

In the long run, it is often better to consult an experienced rural insurer and take out a more comprehensive policy.

Tendering for farm insurance

There are significant benefits to building up a good working relationship with your existing broker over months and years, such as discounts and a named personal contact available on the phone to handle queries and claims.

That said, it if you want to review the farm insurance products on the market and get a good understanding of what’s on offer, then it may be good practice to carry out a tender exercise.  

However, limit the number of insurance companies approached to three and focus on asking the right questions to ensure products quoted for are fit for purpose.

Begin by checking which markets brokers provide for and that they offer a wide pool of insurers to choose from. This will help you achieve a good balance of cost versus value.

To yield the most attractive premiums, you should carry out a thorough risk assessment that clearly demonstrates how you mitigate dangers in and around your farm.

Another way of reducing the cost of farm insurance is to exclude specific items or buildings from the cover, such as old barns that would not be repaired if they were damaged by extreme weather.

Provide a detailed brief

When you approach your broker, provide a detailed brief to ensure insurance policies quoted precisely match your needs. If you need a like-for-like policy, supply copies of your existing paperwork, which should include all schedules and claims histories.

The more information you can provide the better, so check what brokers and other providers you speak to need or whether they have a tender guide. This will enable them to come back with a comprehensive review containing risk mitigation improvement recommendations and advice.

Honesty is the best policy

Openness and transparency when it comes to what you want to insure, details of buildings, land and employees working on your farm, as well as risk mitigation measures in place, is essential when buying insurance.

Whether you are dealing with brokers or directly with insurers this will help them provide the best premiums and cover available (and from multiple markets in the case of brokers).

Also, if you are dishonest about any aspects of the information you provide, this could lead to insurers rejecting a claim and refusing to pay, as well voiding your policy.

Finally, timings are important when it comes to buying insurance so don’t leave it until the last minute. Although many brokers and insurers can, depending on how complex your requirements are, provide an indicative quote, allow as much notice as possible (a month to six weeks if possible).

This will allow brokers and insurers to thoroughly review the information provided and offer a competitive quote.  

Making a final decision

To make a final decision you need to understand the cover being provided and be clear on any exclusions to avoid a potentially ruinous situation where you think you are insured for something you are not.

Be sure you have asked all the right questions before making a decision to buy and if something isn’t clear, speak to brokers or other providers on the phone, via video conferencing or even in person.

Sometimes, inviting brokers or insurers to your farm may help identify and resolve issues that previously might not have come to light.  

Before deciding on your farm insurance policy be sure to consider price, level of cover and service too. Good brokers or insurers often stand apart from others based on how they handle queries and claims, so do your research and read the online reviews.

Farm insurance: How to get the best value possible

Farm insurance is critical to rural businesses across the length and breadth of the UK, but how do they ensure they get the best cover and the best service for the best price?

How biodiversity net gain (BNG) can unlock a strong and stable financial future 

Professor David Hill CBE, chairman, Environment Bank

As farmers and landowners continue on the seven-year Brexit transition journey, there is a raft of political, economic and legislative measures that will change.

From a financial perspective, a key shift is an end to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) which will be phased out by 2027. Many farmers and landowners are also currently experiencing huge rises in input costs as products like fertilizer rocket in price. It’s vital therefore that farmers and landowners explore other methods of long-term revenue and look at how they can create diversified and sustainable income streams to safeguard their future.

One way is through creating Habitat Banks in partnership with Environment Bank. Habitat Banks are a new, privately funded scheme that guarantees an income for 30 years. The scheme was created as a result of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), a concept that was legally mandated under the 2021 Environment Act in November 2021.

Under the Act, all new developments and infrastructure projects in England are legally required to offset and deliver a minimum uplift of 10% in the amount of biodiversity as a result of the developer’s activity – called Biodiversity Net Gain. Essentially leaving nature in a better state than before development began. The initiative is a game-changer in the way biodiversity is considered within the land and development sector.

BNG is the concept where the landscape and habitats impacted by a development are measured, and a score is applied to the biodiversity value of the land (in biodiversity units). The total number of units is then increased by a minimum of 10% (many planning authorities are requiring a greater than 10% uplift) and this is the number that has to be delivered as part of the development planning permission.

The development masterplan is assessed and the number of units lost as a result of the develoment, calculated. For example, the land for development may have 136 biodiversity units; increase that by 10% and the developer has to deliver 150 biodiversity units. Some of that can be accommodated within the development site boundary (as long as 30-years of funding is guaranteed by the developer). The remainder will be placed off-site, perhaps within proximity of the development.

We are now creating hundreds of Habitat Banks across England to accommodate the demand for frictionless delivery of BNG. The Habitat Banks are established so as to generate ‘conservation credits’ which are purchased by the developer to make their development compliant with the mandated regime. And that’s where farmers and landowners have a role to play. 

Why is habitat banking relevant to me?

Farmers and landowners play a key role in habitat banking. We partner with them to create new habitats at scale and pay them annually per hectare of land for managing it over a 30-year contract. This contract is called a Conservation Bank Agreement. Our expert team of ecologists monitors how the Habitat Banks perform according to the objectives of a Biodiversity Management Plan that’s developed in partnership with land managers from the outset. The plan is tailored to your needs and is relevant to your circumstances. 

We create Habitat Banks on many land types, usually 10ha+ in size where sufficient biodiversity uplift can be delivered with the appropriate conservation management interventions. The best uplift occurs where we convert arable farmland into woodlands, wood meadows, species-rich grasslands, wetlands or rewilded sites. We pay the cost of conversion upfront and then the focus is on management to achieve and maintain what is set out in the contracted plan.

Why should I choose habitat banking to secure my financial future?

Firstly, there’s no financial risk involved. Your habitat banking project is fully funded upfront. We are not dependent on the commercial environment or markets, so whatever may happen, there’ll be no risk or cost to you. Your payments are guaranteed, it does not affect your land or tax status and you’ll receive your first year’s rent upfront then annual payments that increase with inflation for the 30 years.

How does it work?

You’ll find videos and answers to frequently asked questions at www.environmentbank.com which feature landowners who are already delivering BNG. Get in touch with our team who can talk you through the process and offer an initial desk-based assessment. Our ecologists will visit your site to discuss the habitat options that are best for you and nature.

Securing financial security and creating a new plan for our planet

Not only does our Habitat Bank scheme provide a realistic and long-term funding option for landowners, but it also enables you to support the restoration of biodiversity in the UK. You’ll be playing a key role in creating a new plan for our planet – something we need to take urgent action on if we are ever going to deal with the dual threat of climate change and the nature emergency.

For more information, please call one of our experts on 01904 202990 or visit

www.environmentbank.com.

The biological control of slugs

Due to relatively high costs, biological control of slugs is particularly suited to organic systems and high-value crops. It is also extremely useful in situations where it is difficult to target the slugs effectively with pellets, such as in mature lettuce crops.

Use of nematodes

A biological molluscicide, based on a nematode parasite of slugs (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita), is available. Unlike pellets, nematodes can target soil-dwelling slugs, as well as surface-active slugs. However, slugs may not feed or rest on substrates treated with nematodes.

The nematodes enter the slug’s shell sack (mantle) and release bacteria from their guts. The nematodes feed on the multiplying bacteria. Eventually, the slug’s mantle swells and bursts. Although it usually takes 7–21 days for an infected slug to die, it stops feeding soon after the nematode enters the body. When the slug dies, the nematodes feed on it until the food source is depleted. They then leave in search of more slugs.

The grey field slug is highly vulnerable to the nematode but larger species are only susceptible when they are young and small.

Nematodes can be applied in advance of expected damage, at sowing or any time during the crop’s lifetime. However, they are best applied in dull weather, in the evening and before rain. Success is dependent on wet conditions after application.

In ideal conditions, nematodes provide a reduction in damage for about six weeks after application. To get the best out of the product, it may need to be used soon after purchase (always follow the instructions carefully).

Natural enemies include ground beetles, rove beetles, parasitoids, birds, amphibians and hedgehogs, so providing habitats for these species may help to control slug populations.

The chemical control of slugs

The chemical content of bait/pellets affects their attractiveness to slugs and their durability. Too much active substance may deter slugs from feeding before receiving a lethal dose. Too little may also prevent slugs receiving a lethal dose, especially in larger slugs. There are no records of resistance to plant protection products authorised for slug control.

Ferric phosphate

Ferric phosphate is particularly suitable for organic systems. Slugs quickly stop feeding, become less mobile and die within 3–6 days. As slugs often die underground, effectiveness of the treatment should be measured by the decrease of feeding damage in the crop.

Metaldehyde

Metaldehyde is a selective molluscicide and principally acts on slugs by inducing excessive secretion of mucus, leading to subsequent dehydration and death. At high temperatures (around 20°C), the activity of metaldehyde is optimised. At low temperatures, its toxic effect may be diminished. Metaldehyde does not harm predatory ground beetles.

Metaldehyde withdrawal timeline

This active ingredient has been a central component of the chemical control of slugs for decades. However, its detection in raw (untreated) water above the drinking water standard, along with environmental concerns, placed a great deal of scrutiny on this relatively cost-effective option. As a result, metaldehyde will be withdrawn and integrated control, using various techniques, will become increasingly important. http://www.desangosse.co.uk

Health is the key to success!

With the smaXtec health system, make the first step towards a healthier dairy herd – most precise heat detection included!

A healthy herd is the basis for your economic success. Only fit cows have a stable and high milk yield, a significantly reduced cell count, a lower insemination index, easier calvings and require less time for individual care.

To ensure or improve animal health, you have to keep a close eye on your cows at all times. This is the only way you can intervene early in case of health problems, thus prevent serious disease progression, save on antibiotics and costs.

A number of issues can be recognised and solved through good observation and care but changing farm structures and sizes do not always allow for the ideal level of individual care. This is where the proven smaXtec technology supports you and detects health issues earliest possible.

Success through holistic monitoring with the smaXtec health system

The deeper the insights, the earlier you notice changes in your cows’ health status. smaXtec measures the meaningful parameters inner body temperature, rumination with smaXtec TruRumi™, activity and drinking behaviour in the highest quality directly in the reticulum. The collected data is automatically transmitted to the smaXtec Cloud and processed by the smaXtec TruD™ technology, where data is combined and supplemented. This is the basis for valuable recommendations for action and particularly helpful for the early detection of diseases. The more factors and symptoms are taken into consideration, the better, earlier and more accurate the recommendations.

As soon as the immune system reacts to pathogens or stress, for example, the inner body temperature changes – long before external signs become visible! As a result, the smaXtec system detects diseases up to 4 days before clinical symptoms become visible.

Monitoring animal health by temperature measurement offers another advantage: depending on the temperature change, you know what to check the cow for. If inner body temperature rises, it is an indication of a feverish condition, infection or inflammation. A drop in temperature, on the other hand, is an indication of a metabolic disease such as milk fever or ketosis.

In addition, continuous measurement of rumination allows you to draw even more precise conclusions about the disease and its severity. To make the unrivalled parameter package complete, smaXtec also measures drinking behaviour and activity, detecting issues such as lameness in a very early stage.

Steps ahead through early detection

Early detection allows you to intervene earliest possible, reduce the risk of serious disease progression and significantly reduce the use of medication, especially antibiotics. You can thus improve animal health and welfare and further increase the success on your farm. Customers report a reduced usage of antibiotics by up to 70% since using the smaXtec system.

With smaXtec early detection you detect diseases such as mastitis up to four days before clinical symptoms become visible. This way you are able to treat the cow with lighter medication such as an anti-inflammatory, avoid legal waiting periods caused by antibiotics, reduce the vet’s bill and workload.

Health, heat AND calving detection – is it possible?

smaXtec not only detects diseases earliest possible, by monitoring your animals 24/7 the system gives you the possibility to follow the recovery process of every cow over time. Thus, you are able to see if the treatment has made an impact on the health of the cow and when she has fully recovered.

Additionally, when using the smaXtec health system on your farm you receive precise and automatic heat detection as well earliest possible calving detection.

smaXtec detects heats for you and provides you with additional information on the ideal insemination time. Your benefits are shorter calving intervals, improved pregnancy rates, reduced insemination costs, ongoing productivity and much more.

smaXtec also supports you with reliable and early calving detection. The system not only monitors your cows’ health in the critical phase around birth, but you are also informed about imminent calving. You receive a notification on average 15 hours before calving, enabling you to take measures if necessary. This guarantees a problem-free calving and a good start for cow and calf.

The smaXtec system pays for itself

Customers report that the smaXtec system pays for itself within a very short period of time! But how?

By monitoring your herd’s health with smaXtec you ensure a stable, high milk yield with no loss of production. The system helps you to cut treatment costs by up to 30% and through early detection you are able to reduce use of antibiotics by up to 70%. Your cows are healthier and severe disease progression is 90% less likely. But also, reproduction figures, such as the calving intervals improve with the help of smaXtec.

The smaXtec health system helps you to be successful, reduce costs and workload on your farm.

Ready for your success. With smaXtec to a healthier herd. Get in touch now and implement the most comprehensive system for monitoring health and reproduction in dairy cows on your farm tomorrow!

Your consultant:

Chris Howarth

T: +44 7973 26 92 86

E: info@smaXtec.com

Spring grass growth – don’t let it dwindle

Philip Cosgrave, Country Grassland Agronomist, Yara UK

One of the most important factors affecting spring grass growth on Scottish farms is the timing and quantity of the first spring nitrogen (N) fertiliser application. The high value associated with spring grass availability on livestock farms means that however modest any increase in grass growth might be, it is worth it when livestock can be let out to grass.

Silage crops too require improved spring N management to optimise 1^st cut yields and quality, particularly on multi-cut systems. We need to fine tune these spring N applications, so they are economical and potential losses to water are kept minimal.

Spring N for Grazing

There’s always an element of debate around the right approach to spring N management. As a rule of thumb, the timing of the first N application should coincide with soil temperatures reaching 5 – 6^oC and only when favourable weather and field conditions allow. Farmer experience and common sense, should always prevail in the final decision.

We recommend on good perennial ryegrass swards, 20 – 23 units N/acre of YaraBela Nutri Booster for this first application. For the second we should aim to deliver 40 – 45 units, to coincide with improving growing conditions in April.

Spring N & S for Silage

Timely nitrogen and sulphur applications for 1^st cut silage are important, especially for those planning to cut early. Anything we can do to boost grass growth in early spring, results in more growing days and greater leaf area, ready to take advantage of longer days and improving growing conditions in April.

For 1^st cut silage we should aim for a total N rate of 100 units/acre. The available N in spring slurry applications must be accounted for when calculating your 1^st cut fertiliser N requirement. We can use the following simple example to calculate the fertiliser N rate for a 1^st cut with slurry.

3,000 gallons of 6% DM cattle slurry applied by trailing shoe, contributes 27 units of available N (24 units if by splashplate). This leaves a fertiliser N requirement of 73 units/acre. We would plan to have this fertiliser N applied 6 weeks before the preferred harvest date. Again, YaraBela Nutri Booster would fit well in this instance with the added benefit of increased silage selenium content.

Get organised this spring. Calculate your fertiliser requirement and have it ordered and delivered in good time. It’s better to have what you need sitting in your yard rather than someone else’s!

For more grassland advice visit www.yara.co.uk

What is NovaPro?

Sustainable dairy cow feed NovaPro is produced at Yelo’s state-of-the-art rapeseed expelling facility in Warwickshire. It uses 100 per cent UK-grown oilseed rape (OSR) in its manufacturing process, supporting British farmers and reducing food miles. Around 60% of the OSR fed into the process becomes NovaPro, with the remaining 40% being the expelled oil that is subsequently refined and sold by Yelo as the UK’s only pressed, refined rapeseed oil.

While many protected rapemeal diets are available, NovaPro uses heat and mechanical presses to squeeze oil from the rapeseed, creating a high energy rape expeller – rather than producing rapemeal with hexane solvent extraction. The residual cake is then treated, using a unique patented process with Xylig, a wood extract rich in Xylose, which increases the level of rumen bypass protein. This process, coupled with NovaPro’s higher energy content, gives it the edge over many other protected rape proteins and helps to explain how it has improved milk performance over soya based rations.   

Protected ruminant proteins work by increasing the bypass protein, lowering its digestibility in the rumen and increasing the proportion that passes intact, to be digested in the small intestine. This increases the availability of the essential amino acids lysine and methionine to the small intestine. These two amino acids are both present in rape based protein feeds at levels better matched for milk protein production than soya, which further drives milk performance.

NovaPro was tested in formal trials with M&S at several of its dairy farms in 2020. An “out-in-out” testing regime compared milk performance, with and without soya, using a nutritional equivalent ration made with NovaPro. Milk performance across several farms, either remained unaffected or improved with the replacement of soya with NovaPro. 

Yelo is currently undergoing a detailed carbon life-cycle analysis on its products as its facility is supplied by its own renewable heat and power using UK-sourced, low-grade biomass residues or clean recycled wood chip derived from used wooden pallets. In addition, the wood sugar used in the process is a co-product from the wood pulping industry and for every tree used, another three are replanted. Yelo says the environmental footprint of rape cake has around 60-70 per cent of the impact of soya.

FARMFIT – THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOUR FARM!

The expert team at FarmFit have been working at the forefront of the industry for over 12 years, putting their unrivalled experience at the heart of the agricultural industry to great use. The family business was founded when the team realised that there was a gap in the market for a reliable agricultural equipment manufacturer who could also provide a full design, fitting and installation service.

Through utilising personal knowledge and experience, and working alongside those using the products and veterinarians, FarmFit has developed an ergonomically efficient range of quality products which deliver added value to customers’ operations for generations to come. The team work to make sure that your wants & needs are met, and that available space is used as efficiently as possible, all while keeping the wellbeing of your animals in mind.

Since FarnFit’s conception, not only has the companies own range of products grown significantly but the number of well-established partners they have has grown too! FarmFit have excelled in filling the quota of one-stop-shop” – whether you are looking for a set of self-locking yokes, a gate, concrete T Walls, a replacement water bowl, a handling system, lambing accessories or some GRASSMEN goodies to keep you warm, they’ve got you covered.

Whether you are wanting to kit out a full new build shed, breathe some life into an existing setup, or simply replace some worn equipment, the friendly team at FarmFit are here to help from start to finish! You can contact them via email at sales@farmfituk.com, for a chat at 01576 204 963 or you can even pop in to see them at the FarmFit shop in Lockerbie if you are nearby. Thanks to their continued growth, the team have also recently acquired a new office and stockyard, so keep your eyes peeled for further information on where you can visit and look at their range of products in person!  And finally, as the team know first hand that farming is not a 9-5 job, you can shop & browse online 7 days a week at www.farmfituk.com

Premium Sheep and Goat Health Schemes – helping you to stay one step ahead of Maedi Visna (MV) and Johne’s Disease 

SRUC’s newly launched Monitoring Schemes provide an opportunity for more sheep owners with commercial flocks to cost effectively screen for Maedi Visna (MV) and Johne’s Disease. Regular monitoring not only provides an early warning to limit disease spread, it also attracts potential purchasers who want to avoid buying in disease.

The monitoring schemes tackle two endemic ‘iceberg’ diseases: maedi visna (MV) and Johne’s disease.  The term ‘iceberg’ is applied to diseases when only a small proportion of a flock might be showing symptoms, but in fact a much larger proportion will be infected; similar the way in which only a small fraction of an iceberg is visible above the water.  For this reason, iceberg diseases are impossible to control without testing and can be devastating to a farm in terms of their financial impacts.

Monitoring will be of value to all flock owners wishing to minimise the impact of disease in their flocks, especially commercial sheep farmers with large flocks for whom the more stringent biosecurity requirements of the accreditation scheme may be a barrier to joining.

While PSGHS Accreditation is the gold standard, the monitoring schemes provide a level of assurance for buyers looking to reduce disease risk, making them particularly useful for producers of female breeding stock who want to provide reassurance to buyers. 

Members of the monitoring scheme test three groups of animals:

• High risk animals – 12 per year for flocks below 500 animals or 20 per year for flocks over 500 animals
• All rams on the holding
• A proportion of added animals that are not from a monitored or accredited flock

Samples are taken by the veterinary surgeon and undertaken at least six weeks before animals are due to be sold.  The ‘high risk’ animals for testing are to be selected by the vet, consisting of those that are thinner, have raised poor lambs or had a poor milk yield with no other apparent reason (such as lameness or dental disease).  The farm’s vet will also need to carry out an annual appraisal of the biosecurity measures that are in place. In instances where disease is found, members can take a proactive approach to manage the disease with the help of their vet.

Membership of the monitoring scheme is just £40 per year, for one or both diseases plus discounted testing rates for each disease.

Visit www.sheepandgoathealth.co.uk for information on PSGHS monitoring and accreditation schemes and/or www.cattlehealth.co.uk for PCHS information email: psghs@sruc.ac.uk