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Active Farmer definition

Following a consultation and Tynwald approval (May 2015), the active farmer definition has now been agreed. 

Definition of Active farmer:

“active farmer” means a person who –

(a) undertakes an activity or activities listed in the definition of 'agriculture' in this Scheme; and

(b) is responsible for the decision making power, benefits and financial risks in relation to the agricultural activity in (a) above; and

(c) is in possession of records of agricultural type expenses and receipts on which they are the named recipient, and which are readily available for inspection by the department.

An active farmer is an individual, an equal or senior partner or an equal or major shareholder in a business, who has the decision making power, is responsible for the financial risks normally faced by a farming business and will be the beneficiary in relation to the agricultural activity undertaken on the land which comprises the application. They must have management control of the land. This can be determined by the applicant demonstrating they undertake financial transactions on behalf of the business; such activity should be evidenced by providing specimens of the following records as required.

Assessment

To qualify automatically as an active farmer the applicant will be expected to meet one or both of the following eligibility requirements, as calculated from their census return:

  • Their declared stocking/cropping would generate a 520 standard hours labour requirement per annum (standard hours will be from a recognised, independent source and published below)

and/or

  • The declared livestock stock numbers would achieve a minimum stocking level of 0.45LU/BML acre on the relevant forage area as outlined in GC 02/13 Countryside Care Scheme - National Reserve Policy

However, where these criteria are not met, additional evidence of farm business activity may be requested by the department to demonstrate that the claimant would normally fulfil the ‘active farmer’ criteria.

The full Government Circular is available on the right.

The 'active farmer definition' will be implemented from 01 April 2016.

Please contact Agriculture@gov.im

EnterpriseSMD*EnterpriseSMD*
per unitper acre

Dairy Cows

 

per head

4

Cereals

 

0.71

Bulls

 

per head

3.5

Oilseeds

 

0.45

Beef Cows

Lowland

per head

1.35

Field Beans

 

0.38

 

Upland

per head

1.68

Peas

 

0.65

Cereal Beef

 

number sold

1.9

Linseed

 

0.4

18 month Beef

 

number sold

1.6

Lupins

 

0.4

Finishing suckler bred

 

per head

1.1

Grass seed

 

0.57

Calves to 6 months

 

number sold

1.2

Potatoes

early

2.23

 

 

 

 

 

maincrop

3.74

ewes & lambs - lowland

 

per head

0.5

 

 

 

ewes & lambs - upland

 

per head

0.45

Grazing

 

0.16

Rams

 

per head

0.5

Re seeding

 

0.24

Winter finished store lambs

 

per head

0.3

Rough grazing

 

0.08

 

Silage 1 cut

 

0.65

 

 

 

 

Silage 2 cuts

 

1.13

Sows incl weaners to 30kg

 

per head

2.25

Silage Bale 1 cut

 

0.89

Boars

 

per head

2

Silage Bale 2 cuts

 

1.46

Other bacon pigs

 

per head

0.25

Hay

own use

0.57

 

 

 

 

Hay

sale

0.73

table fowl

 

per head

0.002

Forage Maize

 

0.65

laying hens

 

per head

0.6

Fodder crops

 

0.3

growing poults

 

per head

0.005

Fodder Beet

 

1.3

 

 

 

 

Outdoor veg & salads

 

2.02

Horses

 

per head

18

Top & soft fruit

 

9.71

Goats

 

per head

0.5

Mushrooms

 

145.69

*SMD = Standard Man Day (SMD) is 8 hours

A labour unit is 275 SMDs

Standards figures from the John Nix Pocketbook 48th edition, published September 2017

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