Farmers Guide

ADS – began the transition to flat rate area payments in 2014. For general information see here or contact +44 1624 685844 or email agriculture@gov.im. 

Grants and assistance -The Department of Economic Development promotes a range of schemes and initiatives to assist new and existing businesses. 

Small Business Start up Scheme (SBSUS) offers a five day training course run over two separate dates. Offering advice on setting up and running your own business, plus

• a weekly allowance of £50 for up to 30 weeks
• 50% (Max £1,500) to cover start up costs
• ongoing adviser support for first 18 months

Business Support Scheme (BSS) Consultancy and Mentorship support offers guidance in up to 10 different disciplines as well as a possible 50% towards project cost up to £4,500. 

Contact – Mike Corkhill telephone +44 1624 682326 mike.corkhill@gov.im or Andy Bostock, Business Development Manager  telephone +44 1624 687361 or email andy.bostock@gov.im 

The Agriculture and Fisheries Grant Scheme, Knowledge and Innovation Grants – DEFA grant scheme is available to help with travelling expenses, potentially up to 60% for individuals who are considering innovative ideas.  Higher rates of support are available for groups.  Please go to www.gov.im/agandfishgrantscheme for further information.

0% Green Loan Scheme - Flexible financing options are available to businesses seeking to make their operations more efficient and lowering energy costs this includes:

• lighting/lighting controls
• compressed air systems/controls
• variable speed drives/motors
• heating/heating controls                           
• insulation upgrades
• heat recovery, pipe insulation
• Solar thermal systems.

Contact – energy@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 682367

The department used to hold a register of all agricultural tenancy agreements and leases. Following the introduction of the 'Agricultural Tenancies Bill 2008' there is no longer a requirement to register the tenancy / lease with the department.

If you are entering into an agricultural tenancy or lease we advise that you consult a suitably qualified person.

The 'Agricultural Tenancies Bill 2008' can be found here: http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/daff/consultations/agtenanciesbill.pdf

Farm Text – If you would like to receive important information by text on the following: pest warnings, disease warnings, animal health alerts, notice of meetings & events, important deadline reminders and scheme information then please send your mobile number to: agriculture@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 685844. 

Food Safety Unit – Provides regular Food Hygiene training courses to meet the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2007. Advice is also given on food product labelling. Please contact john.howie@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 685884

Guide to Isle of Man Food & Drink – This guide is updated every couple of years so if you would like to register your name to be included in the next Guide (2015) then please contact - audrey.fowler@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 685856. The Guide can be used to source local produce. 

Land Registry – The Land Registry aims to create and maintain an accurate and up-to-date record of interests in land and property, including details of ownership. More information can be found here or email:  land@registry.gov.im or telephone +44 1624 685249 

National Insurance incentives - In order to reduce the costs to employers of taking on additional employees, an employer can apply to the Assessor for exemption from having to pay the secondary National Insurance Contribution where certain conditions are met. The scheme will operate until 5 April 2015. Further details can be found on the Government website or telephone +44 1624 685400 or email:  incometax@itd.treasury.gov.im

Manx Gas - telephone +44 1624 644444 or email:  info@manxgas.com

Manx Utilities (including Electricity and Water) - for information telephone +44 1624 687687 or email: enquiries@manxutilities.im

Animal Disease control - The department runs many notifiable disease testing programmes. There are also strict controls on livestock imports. For information, or if you suspect a notifiable disease, please contact +44 1624 685844 or email agriculture@gov.im. 

Bees - Importation of bees is prohibited and any imported bee equipment must be new or thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to import. New bee holdings must be notified to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture ('DEFA') within 7 days of the movement of bees or bee equipment onto the holding. Suspicion of Varroa or Foulbrood must be reported to DEFA. For further information click here 

Bee swarms – There are three swarm co-ordinators on the Island. 

Ramsey & the North: Maggie Hughes +44 7624 427023
Peel & the West: Harry Owens +44 7624 494246
South: Gwen Kelly +44 7624 459197

For more details on the current arrangements, please see www.iombeekeepers.com/swarms

BVD Control Strategy – We now have compulsory controls: all calves must be tagged and tested using tags from DEFA. For further information see here or contact +44 1624 685616 or agriculture@gov.im. 

Cattle Passport Centre – You can register births and imports; notify movements and deaths, create a holding list online – please see Online Services or telephone +44 1624 685616 or email agriculture@gov.im. Further information can be found here  

Cattle tags and Emergency Cattle tags – If you wish to order tags then please contact +44 1624 685616 or email agriculture@gov.im  There is a choice of new calf tags, including button and EID – all incorporating the tissue sampling tag for BVD. 

Livestock Export – A downloadable export application form is available on the DEFA website. See here or telephone +44 1624 685844 or email agriculture@gov.im 

Livestock Import – if you are planning to import any farm livestock or horses, an import licence is required. See here or telephone +44 1624 685844 or email agriculture@gov.im.  

• Knockaloe Classroom – Is available for meetings please telephone +44 1624 695701.
• The Food Hub - Is open to the food industry to use for meetings and as a training facility. Please contact alastair.hamilton@gov.im or telephone +44 7624 375515.

• Agri-News - Newsletters are published twice a year – spring and autumn. Please send your email address to audrey.fowler@gov.im to receive your copy. 
• Biodiversity Matters - This newsletter reports on DEFA’s biodiversity work and is issued annually in july.  Please contact aline.thomas@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 695737

Planning permission- Is not required for the use of land which is not designated for development or for agricultural purposes but permission is required for building or engineering operations – for example any new buildings, external alterations to buildings, digging holes or changing levels. Planning advice may be available from Department of Infrastructure via the relevant e-mail address depending on the location of the site – either northplanning@gov.im or southplanning@gov.im and by considering further advice available on the department’s website. The Planning Office may be contacted by telephone on +44 1624 685950.

CCS – Hedgerow code, Cushag code and Heath Burning code . A number of guidance notes have been published in recent years to help farmers and other landowners comply with both statutory requirements and best practice guidelines. 

Cushag- Following recent revisions to the Weeds Act 1957 a guidance note on the control of cushag/ragwort was compiled in conjunction with the Manx NFU, Manx Horse Council and Manx Wildlife Trust. 

Heath Burning- This code outlines the dates between which burning is not permitted and lots of useful advice on the best way to manage heathland. In particular the Code deals with protecting areas of Registered Heath and includes other methods and restrictions for heath and management in addition to burning. Read more. 

For more information please contact +44 1624 687304 or email agriculture@gov.im 

Hedges- This relates to the requirements to adhere to cutting dates for hedges and best practice guidance for good hedge management. 

Plants – Many plants are covered by import and export controls for endangered species, under the Endangered Species Act 2010. Permits may be required for movements to and from other countries, including the UK. Advice can be found by following this link. For further information please contact +44 1624 685835 or email:  richard.selman@gov.im 

Tree Protection, Felling and Health – For all enquiries regarding tree protection and felling licences, and also tree health and diseases (including Dutch elm disease, Phytophthora ramorum and ash dieback), contact the Forestry Amenity and Lands Directorate on +44 1624 801263 or email: forestry@gov.im

• For further information on tree protection, information on the felling of trees and applications forms click here 
• For additional information on Dutch elm disease on the Isle of Man click here

Government property available for rent:

The Isle of Man Food Park is a bespoke food production hub for the Island’s food Sector. DEFA have a number of plots available for development by food production companies. Please contact Colin MageeEstates Shared Services e-mail colin.magee@gov.im Telephone +44 1624  685862 for more information.

For information on food business development issues please contact Andrew Lees Food Business Development Manager e-mail andrew.lees@gov.im telephone +44 1624  695735.

The Department of Economic Development - Owns a limited number of industrial properties which are rented out to businesses. For more information please contact dave.roberts@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 687184 

The Department of Infrastructure - Also manages a number of industrial sites and may from time to time have available units. For more information contact Properties.DOI@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 686610.

Artificial Insemination Service - The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture ('DEFA') provides a 364 day technician service which is accessed by calling the 24 hour answerphone on +44 1624 687340. For a same day service you need to place a call by 10.30am. For contact details on the range of services provided click here.

Liquid Nitrogen - DEFA produces liquid nitrogen for sale to competent operators in the agricultural, medical and industrial fields. Licences to import bovine semen must be obtained from the Department. For contact details on the range of services provided click here.

Fallen Stock – The Department of Infrastructure’s Animal Waste Section can collect fallen stock within 24 hours of notifying DEFA. To notify DEFA of Fallen Stock, please telephone +44 1624 687595. For further information please contact Animal Waste on +44 1624 686810.  

Game Licences  - Licences for shooting game or dealing (selling) in game are required annually from DEFA. Game Order open season dates and application forms can be downloaded. For further information telephone +44 1624 801263 or email:  forestry@gov.im.

Government Laboratory - Provides a testing service for a range of agricultural materials.  In most instances, these services will incur a charge, please contact the Laboratory direct. We are situated at Old Nobles Hospital site at the end of Ballakermeen Road, Douglas. Telephone +44 1624 642250 or email:  Analyst.DEFA@gov.im.

Gun licences  - The Firearms Licensing Department of the Isle of Man Constabulary is responsible for all firearms licensing matters, including the vetting of applications, issue of certificates, and enforcement of firearms legislation. All farmers should be aware of restrictions on: Shooting game, shooting on Sundays, shooting close to roads, shooting wild geese, firearm security, insurance, dogs, night shooting of rabbits. For more information please email: FirearmsEnquiry.dha@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 631378 or click here.

Legal Searches - DEFA is able to provide legal searches in respect of Agricultural tenancies, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ('BSE') burials, trees registered under the Tree Preservation Act 1993, Wildlife Act Designations, Protected Species and Management Agreements under the Wildlife Act 1990, Registered Heath under the Heath Burning and Destruction Act 2003, various Environment Directorate Notices and radioactive substances (caesium levels in soil). A legal search form can be obtained via email: agriculture@gov.im, telephone +44 1624 685835 or visiting the Policy enforcement and Data Searches webpage.

Pest control - Environmental/Public Health Unit – If you have a rodent problem, the Pest Control Section provides a free service for public health pests i.e. rats, mice and cockroaches. DEFA also provides free rodent bait for those that have the necessary accreditation. For more information please contact: John.Howie@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 685884. 

Pest control – Wildlife - licencing control of other wildlife in specific circumstances – advice is available if you have a problem with a bird not covered by the general licences. For more information please contact: richard.selman@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 685740. 

Plastics disposal – Farm plastics such as silage wrap and clean empty containers (not tyres or wood) can be disposed of by prior arrangement for large quantities at the Energy from Waste Plant, Richmond Hill by contacting SITA IOM on +44 1624 695260 or by contacting the Waste Management Unit. The disposal facility that is operated by the Waste Management Unit DoI and DEFA is only available once a year when operationally possible. Please contact the Department of Infrastructure on +44 1624 686531 or telephone +44 1624 685835 for further information. 

Trailers - DEFA has three people-carrying trailers which seat up to 20 people on each trailer and are available for hire. These trailers cannot be used on public roads whilst carrying passengers but can be used on private land provided all the correct documentation is in place. For more information please contact +44 1624 685844 or email Agriculture@gov.im.

Wool Control provides a service to sheep farmers by offering a guaranteed market for their wool. DEFA purchases nearly all wool produced on the Island. A small amount of this is sold locally and the bulk is sold at auction in Bradford, West Yorkshire. DEFA operates this on a break even basis. For more information please contact:  andrew.willoughby@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 695736.

Agriculture, Environmental Conservation & Horticulture – The Isle of Man College in conjunction with the Department of Economic Development run Level 2 and 3 diploma qualifications in Work-Based Agriculture and Work-Based Environmental Conservation starting in October each year. The diplomas are one, two or three year part time courses for agricultural and environmental conservation apprentices.  For more information please contact Isle of Man College +44 1624 648200 or see website www.iomcollege.ac.im 

Horticultural courses – The Isle of Man College now offer full time Practical Horticulture Skills Diploma courses for school leavers. For more information please contact Isle of Man College +44 1624 648200 or see website www.iomcollege.ac.im 

Marketing courses – A subsidised marketing course designed for anyone running a business, including farmers and producers who may be thinking of diversifying their activities or who wish to gain a better understanding of marketing and of the help available to new and established businesses on the Island. These courses are usually held in March each year. For further information please contact – audrey.fowler@gov.im  or telephone +44 1624 685856 

Spraying courses

Due to staffing changes DEFA no longer run or organise any Agricultural courses under the auspices of City and Guilds. 

Anyone wishing to receive agricultural-type training should contact;

Protection of Water - Some farm waste materials such as silage  effluent, waste milk and slurry can, if released into watercourses, seriously damage the environment as well as causing a health risk to the general public. The Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority's 'Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water' is available for download or email: Agriculture@gov.im or telephone +44 1624 695735. 

Watercourses - The Manx Watercourse Management Guide is a free information leaflet, which summarises the rights and responsibilities of riparian landowners, and provides a code of good practice and contact details for further advice and information. It can be downloaded here. Farmers wishing to apply for DEFA consent to remove material from riverbeds can also download a consent form from this page. For telephone enquiries call +44 1624 685857. 

Protected sites for nature conservation - If you are a landowner or manager of land that has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest ('ASSI') then certain activities require the consent of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture ('DEFA') prior to the work commencing. For information about designated sites click here or contact Aline Thomas for advice telephone +44 1624 695737 or email aline.thomas@gov.im. 

Protected species - Lists of protected species can be found in the Wildlife Act 1990 available on the Tynwald website. For advice on managing land with protected species contact +44 1624 695737. 

Wildlife Act - Management Agreements issued under Section 30 of the Wildlife Act 1990, are available for supporting appropriate land management practices on land with semi-natural habitats and native species. For further information please contact Aline Thomas telephone: +44 1624 695737 or email: aline.thomas@gov.im. 

Wildlife Act - Pest control of protected species. The application form for this and for shooting in the Curraghs (Curraghs Acquisition Act) can be found on the information page. For further information telephone +44 1624 685835 or email: richard.selman@gov.im.