Cornish Mutual providing latest news on rural subjects within the Insurance sector The Cornish Mutual Assurance Co. Ltd http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog Wed, 16 May 2012 15:35:00 Wed, 16 May 2012 15:35:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/preparing-north-devon’s-children-to-stay-‘farmsafe’/ A group of school children from North Devon have received lessons in how to stay safe on farms and in the countryside, thanks to an initiative launched by rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual. Youngsters at Clawton Primary School, Holsworthy were treated to two sessions about farm safety, safety around animals and electricity by qualified teacher and independent health and safety expert Jason Cole at the end of last week. South West insurer Cornish Mutual has been working with former PE teacher Jason Cole as part of its 'FarmSafe for Schools' project which was launched earlier this year. 'FarmSafe for Schools' is a free online teaching resource with lesson plans, posters and downloadable worksheets covering six key topics including farm, road and rail safety, how to behave around animals, electricity, hygiene and the Countryside Code. Aimed at children aged between 5 and 11 and developed by educational experts, it is linked to Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE), Geography and Citizenship. Jason has worked for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the Child Safety Education Coalition (CSEC), getting organisations to work together to promote best practice in health and safety. Jason Cole says: "It is important that all children are given the opportunity to learn about food and farming in our beautiful countryside. This project goes some way to provide them with the tools to stay safe when they are out and about. Not only might they go on to choose careers in the countryside or live in rural settings, but we hope they will spend more leisure time there as they grow up appreciating farming and the countryside for all it has to offer. Giving them a set of skills to stay safe is truly something of value for their entire life."   Chris Wright, Headteacher at Clawton Primary School, says: "As a school, we very much welcome this learning opportunity.  The school is based within a rural community and many of the families live and work in an agricultural setting.  All of the children access the beautiful countryside regularly, therefore, the important messages that this very well put together course delivers, are invaluable in raising the awareness of rural safety for us all.  We offer sincere thanks to teacher Tracey Vickery for instigating this initiative for our school, as well as Cornish Mutual."   Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, adds: "When it comes to big issues such as health and safety on farms and in the countryside in Devon, it is really important to reach children at a young age. These really are formative years for youngsters and a time when they can benefit most from what they learn at school and in the classroom. We are delighted to be working with Jason on the 'FarmSafe for Schools' project and proud that Cornish Mutual is supporting such a worthwhile initiative in the county." For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe for Schools' initiative and to download any of the free teaching resources, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafeforschools http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/preparing-north-devon’s-children-to-stay-‘farmsafe’/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/preparing-north-devon’s-children-to-stay-‘farmsafe’/ Wed, 16 May 2012 15:35:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/preparing-cornish-children-to-stay-‘farmsafe’/ A group of school children from Cornwall have received lessons in how to stay safe on farms and in the countryside, thanks to an initiative launched by rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual. Youngsters at Grampound with Creed School, near Truro were treated to two sessions about farm safety, safety around animals and electricity by qualified teacher and independent health and safety expert Jason Cole earlier this week. The pupils from Reception, Years 1, 2 and 3 were also introduced to the campaign mascot and life-sized cow 'Maisie Mootual' (pictured with Jason and the children) as part of the visit.  Truro-based insurer Cornish Mutual has been working with former PE teacher Jason Cole as part of its 'FarmSafe for Schools' project which was launched earlier this year. 'FarmSafe for Schools' is a free online teaching resource with lesson plans, posters and downloadable worksheets covering six key topics including farm, road and rail safety, how to behave around animals, electricity, hygiene and the Countryside Code. Aimed at children aged between 5 and 11 and developed by educational experts, it is linked to Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE), Geography and Citizenship. Jason has worked for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the Child Safety Education Coalition (CSEC), getting organisations to work together to promote best practice in health and safety. Jason Cole says: "It is important that all children are given the opportunity to learn about food and farming in our beautiful countryside. This project goes some way to provide them with the tools to stay safe when they are out and about. Not only might they go on to choose careers in the countryside or live in rural settings, but we hope they will spend more leisure time there as they grow up appreciating farming and the countryside for all it has to offer. Giving them a set of skills to stay safe is truly something of value for their entire life."   Melanie Haddy, Headteacher at Grampound with Creed School, says: "As a school, we felt strongly that the content would be interesting and very useful for our pupils. The majority live in very rural settings and it is vital that they are made aware of the potential dangers around them. We hope they can then start to learn to assess risks for themselves and make sensible choices. "From an enterprise point of view, it is also good for the children to meet and talk to people from the community around them, see the work they do and why they do it. This way they start to build an understanding of the huge range of roles being fulfilled in their community besides the obvious ones! We find that by inviting visitors from outside the classroom, it is more memorable for the children and has a greater impact." Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, adds: "When it comes to big issues such as health and safety on farms and in the countryside in Cornwall, it is really important to reach children at a young age. These really are formative years for youngsters and a time when they can benefit most from what they learn at school and in the classroom. We are delighted to be working with Jason on the 'FarmSafe for Schools' project and proud that Cornish Mutual is supporting such a worthwhile initiative in the county." For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe for Schools' initiative and to download any of the free teaching resources, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafeforschools . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/preparing-cornish-children-to-stay-‘farmsafe’/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/preparing-cornish-children-to-stay-‘farmsafe’/ Mon, 14 May 2012 15:30:00 Verity Dodd http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/the-countryside-code-protect-the-natural-environment/ Our Countryside Code series, which started last month with ' Respect Other People '  is looking at the set of simple principles which can help both members of the public and landowners to get the most out of our beautiful countryside. This month, we look at the second principal of the Countryside Code for the Public, which is 'Protect the Natural Environment'. It's split into two key points - leaving no trace of your visit and keeping dogs under control - and as with all six principles of the Countryside Code it's an easy to follow guide which if adhered to will keep the countryside protected for many years to come. Leave no trace of your visit and take your rubbish home Leaving no trace of your visit to the countryside is essential in allowing others to enjoy their visit too. Protecting the natural environment means taking special care not to damage, destroy or remove natural features including rocks, plants and trees. As well as adding to everybody's enjoyment and making the British countryside unique, they provide homes and food for wildlife and should be left undisturbed. Make sure that when you go home, you take all your rubbish with you. Dropping litter and dumping rubbish are criminal offences, and leaving your litter and leftover food behind not only spoils the natural beauty of the countryside, but it can also be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals. The countryside is the perfect place for a picnic, but not a barbecue or bonfire. Fires can easily get out of hand and can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property. Don't start fires, and be careful with any naked flames or cigarettes. If you see an unattended fire, the best thing to do is report it to the emergency services by calling 999. Although controlled fires are sometimes used to manage vegetation, if you spot a fire but can't see the famer to ask it's better to be safe than sorry and report it. Keep dogs under effective control If you are taking your dog with you to the countryside, it's important to make sure they don't disturb any wildlife, farm animals, horses or other people. The easiest way to do this is by keeping them on a lead, but if you do let them off make sure they are always in your sight,  don't let dogs stray into any area where you don't have a right of access, and only let them go if you are confident they will return on command. Some areas have special rules for dogs, so be on the lookout for any signs that will help guide you. Some places have bans, restrictions, byelaws and controlling orders limiting where dogs can go; for example Open Access land requires dogs to be kept on a lead between 1 March and 31 July to protect ground nesting birds and all year round near farm animals, and in some coastal areas dogs must be kept on the lead during the bird breeding season. If you know you're likely to come across farm animals or horses it's good practice to keep your dog on a lead, even when it's not a legal requirement. As well as protecting the animals, it can protect you and your dog as farmers can shoot a dog which is attacking or chasing animals without being liable to compensate the dog's owner. On the other hand, if cattle or horses are chasing you, it's safer to let your dog off the lead and let them take care of themselves.  You can then concentrate on getting yourself to safety. Finally, clean up after your dog and get rid of its mess responsibly. Also make sure your dog is wormed regularly, to protect the dog, other animals and people. Coming next in our Countryside Code series - Enjoy the Outdoors For more information about the Countryside Code, please visit the Natural England website. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/the-countryside-code-protect-the-natural-environment/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/the-countryside-code-protect-the-natural-environment/ Thu, 10 May 2012 14:22:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/warning-over-spike-in-summer-burglaries/ Home owners across Devon and Cornwall are being warned to keep their property secure this summer, with a potential rise in domestic burglaries and personal theft claims. Rural insurance specialist Cornish Mutual is joining forces with Devon and Cornwall Police to remind people that they could become a victim of crime, as they leave their windows and doors open or unlocked during warmer weather. Latest figures from Cornish Mutual show they handled 16 claims for household theft between May and September last year (2011) costing more than £30,000. Although there were 22 claims in the same period during 2010, there has been a 34 per cent increase in the cost of these claims year-on-year. According to the insurer, the average cost of each claim has rocketed by 83 per cent from £1,049 in 2010 to nearly £2,000 in 2011.     It is thought that the recession, dramatic increases in the price of gold jewellery and growth of personal electronic equipment such as iPads and laptops, has led to a rise in the cost of opportunistic thefts. New statistics from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that during 2011 there were 276,000 domestic theft claims reported in the UK - 6,000 more than during the previous 12 months and a nine-year record high. The firm, which has locally-based Insurance Inspectors across the two counties, is keen to make it clear that homeowners will not be insured or may find their insurance cover is invalid if the intruder gains entry to the property through an open window or door. Philip Wilson, Business Development Manager for Cornish Mutual, says: "Thankfully we live in one of the safest areas in the country, but that doesn't mean that people should be complacent. One thing we are keen to stress is that you could be at risk of finding your insurance invalid if you're burgled and you've left your doors or windows open. You really need to protect those easy-to-grab valuable items which are targeted such as laptops, iPads, cameras, jewellery boxes, mobile phones, games consoles and car keys." Burglaries from domestic properties, where break-ins target car keys only, have risen 20 per cent year-on-year for the last three years and over £1 million worth of stolen cars are recovered every month in the UK*. Philip adds: "We are seriously concerned that many people will also have sentimental personal items, particularly jewellery, that are significantly underinsured and they could find themselves losing out if they need to make an insurance claim for an item or items being stolen. Because of the huge increases in the price of gold, you need to make sure your valuable items are adequately secured and insured." Bob Bunney, Force Crime Reduction Advisor for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary says: "Generally we spend more time outdoors at this time of year and for a thief, it's a great time to strike with easy access. It's all about opportunity - Intruders commonly enter your home by simply opening an unlocked door or window." "Remember to keep your doors and windows locked, even when you are outside in the garden. Such a quick and simple precaution to prevent an intruder from entering your property will reduce the likelihood of crime," says Philip Wilson. Cornish Mutual says that sheds, greenhouses and other outbuildings are also a prime target for thieves - particularly ones with poor or no security measures. Philip comments: "People often store tools and equipment worth several thousand pounds in these and criminals know that. Break-ins often happen overnight and it is the less secure storage that's selected." Cornish Mutual is now urging people to make sure that they have taken out a home buildings and contents insurance policy to protect against theft, check the current value of items and regularly ensure the correct level of cover is adequate for the items they would need to replace, should the worst happen. The company says homeowners should advise their insurer of particularly valuable items and ask for them to be listed on their policy. They should take photographs and keep original receipts, guarantees, valuations and certificates of purchase in a safe place. For more crime prevention advice visit www.devon-cornwall.police.uk or www.thecrimepreventionwebsite.com . Cornish Mutual also provides common-sense crime advice and practical measures which can be found by visiting www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/warning-over-spike-in-summer-burglaries/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/warning-over-spike-in-summer-burglaries/ Wed, 09 May 2012 08:23:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/celebration-of-cornish-food-and-drink-coming-up-in-truro/ Truro's Lemon Quay is preparing to host a celebration of food and drink in Cornwall this month. The event, organised in conjunction with Truro Farmers' Market, will allow consumers to enjoy the food on offer, but also see the 60 producers speaking with visitors about what they are selling and the techniques used to make the items, reported thisiscornwall.co.uk. It is being billed as one of the largest farmers' markets to take place in the region and will see crafts as well as produce take centre-stage. Deli Farm Charcuterie, Cornish Cuisine, Cornish Sea Salt and St Ives Brewery are among the names due to appear. Neil Scott, Totally Truro business improvement district manager, said: "It's great to see the market not only in the heart of Truro but also in the heart of the major community events such as the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations." The farmers' market takes place on Friday May 11th and Saturday May 12th, but just days after that Lemon Quay will be in the spotlight once more when the Cornwall Business Fair opens at the venue. According to businesscornwall.co.uk, former rugby union star Phil Vickery - who grew up in the South West - will be on hand to open this year's edition of the business event on May 16th. The occasion forms part of Cornwall Business Week and is being co-hosted by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce alongside start-up support organisation Outset Cornwall. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/celebration-of-cornish-food-and-drink-coming-up-in-truro/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/celebration-of-cornish-food-and-drink-coming-up-in-truro/ Tue, 08 May 2012 13:58:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/increasing-costs-trigger-cover-concerns/ Significant increases in commodity prices and the rising cost of fuel, stock, feed and machinery has triggered concerns that some farmers in the Westcountry may not be adequately insured. South West rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual says the issue is 'serious' for the region's agricultural industry and is urging farms to review their insurance cover more regularly or risk becoming financially worse-off should they need to make a claim. The insurer, which has around 24,000 Members across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, is warning that the 'sum insured' should be up-to-date and accurate, because of spiralling markets and a fluctuation of stock and crop values on the farm. Philip Wilson, Business Development Manager for Cornish Mutual, explains: "Most farmers usually look at their policies on a yearly basis, but because the cost of commodities such as red diesel, domestic fuel, oil, grain, chemicals, fertilisers and livestock are changing all the time, they need to take account of this and review them more often. "Prices have soared at an unparalleled rate recently and farmers could find the actual value of their stocks and premises is significantly higher than the figure insured - checking cover only annually is no longer enough. If you make a mistake, it could have serious financial consequences." Philip adds, "We're also seeing increasing investment in new machinery and buildings on the region's farms and if farmers have bought equipment, perhaps a vehicle or piece of expensive kit recently, it's important they speak to their insurer to make sure they're covered. If they don't, they could find they are significantly underinsured when it's too late." Andrew Bray (pictured) a farmer from The Lizard in Cornwall, recently invested in a new state-of-the-art dairy unit and turned to Cornish Mutual for help. He says, "I wanted to make sure that we had the right level of insurance for the building when it was handed over to us. It was important to get advice from the beginning because it was a significant investment we were making." The new 33,000 square foot dairy complex took five months to build and includes computers, housing, feeding and handling facilities, calving pens and a viewing platform, as well as a milking parlour that can stand 28 cows at a time. He adds, "As well as making sure the building had the right sum insured, the policy gave us the peace of mind that should the very worst happen, then we would be covered." Local Cornish Mutual Inspector Roger Hawkings, says, "Andrew did exactly the right thing - he made sure that he was properly insured under their policy for the new building and thought about it at an early stage." Cornish Mutual, which is based in Truro, has a team of locally-based insurance Inspectors across the South West who can provide professional expert advice. They can visit and work with farmers to review their needs and check that their sums insured are adequate. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/increasing-costs-trigger-cover-concerns/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/increasing-costs-trigger-cover-concerns/ Tue, 08 May 2012 13:27:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/matt-baker-promotes-young-farmers/ TV presenter Matt Baker has pledged to do all he can to raise the profile of young farmers, fwi.co.uk reports. Baker, who presents BBC's Countryfile, said that with the station's impartiality guidelines, it would be difficult to support one group over others. Despite this, however, he still wants to promote young farmers and make the British public more aware of the work they are doing. The Strictly Come Dancing runner-up, who is president of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, said he not only wants to raise young farmers' profiles in the wider world, but also encourage more youngsters to consider farming as a career. The 34-year old told fwi.co.uk : "I know that with Countryfile we get enormous viewing figures up to nine million and I think there's definitely more scope [to promote young farmers]. "I think we can drop in the phrase young farmers a little bit more. And I know it's very difficult with the BBC... because of organisations and showing bias, but we could do that a little bit more, I think." Baker added that farmers increasingly have to be adaptable to issues going on around the world, so youngsters are the ones who are going to drive the industry forward. His comments were echoed by others at the Young Farmers AGM in Torquay, who said that the future was bright for farmers, provided they could learn a widening knowledge and skills base. With Common Agricultural Policy changes, volatile currency markets, the potentially rapid spread of diseases and 24-hour rolling news coverage, farmers should be constantly researching, Wales Young Farmers Clubs rural affairs vice chairman Jonny Williams explained. Provided young farmers can get their heads around this, the future is "bright", treehugger.com reports. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/matt-baker-promotes-young-farmers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/matt-baker-promotes-young-farmers/ Fri, 04 May 2012 13:49:00 Mike Donovan http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/a-pro-active-way-to-lock-your-livestock-trailer/ Sadly farm trailer theft is once again on the increase, and Ifor Williams is a popular brand for thieves as there is always a ready market for them. On many farms, prevention is quite difficult. While painting your postcode on the trailer roof might help recovery, stopping theft in the first place is far better. Popular hitches are fitted with locks which most criminals, and others, know are not strong, and can be broken with a hammer and small chisel. Once broken, the trailer hitch can be used as normal, and there is little visible evidence of the damage. Farmers want the thieves to walk past their trailer and find something easier, and the lock which we feature here does exactly that. It's obvious to everyone, and the steel is heavy and not easy to cut. The one-off design means the thief is in unfamiliar territory, and hasn't done the job before. The ball hitch on the bracket provides a very visible deterrent, and says there is no way the trailer is going to be hitched up without the heavy padlock being broached or the steel cut through. Being homemade, from the owner's point of view, the lock is real value for money, as the steel, and the ball hitch, are both likely to be already available in the workshop, and the only component needed is the padlock. Components can always be picked up in the local scrapyardpy. Here is a pro-active way of preventing crime which has big benefits for farmers in many parts of the country. It will always be very difficult to stop the determined thief, but livestock trailers are a long way from gold ingots or mountains of cash or even desirable motor cars. Trailers have a limited value and market. Practical Farm Ideas magazine features 'Made it Myself' ideas from farmers across the UK and beyond and has many other farm security ideas. Yearly subscription is £15.40. For more information visit www.farmideas.co.uk , email editor@farmideas.co.uk or call 01994 240978.   Mike Donovan is the editor of Practical Farm Ideas magazine, which is published four times a year. It has regular features including 'Made it Myself' with 40 workshop projects, 'Farm World' editorial from the UK and overseas and 'Financial Focus' with important tax tips, money management and diversification. Mike started the magazine in 1992 when he was a dairy and beef farmer to share cost-cutting ideas. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/a-pro-active-way-to-lock-your-livestock-trailer/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/a-pro-active-way-to-lock-your-livestock-trailer/ Fri, 04 May 2012 12:01:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/dairy-sales-report-continued-rise/ The retail value of dairy products has risen for the seventh consecutive year, stdavids-farmvets.co.uk reports. Addressing delegates at the AHDB Outlook Conference in London, Giles Quick from Kantar Worldpanel explained that annual spend on dairy products rose by more than 4 per cent over the past seven years. The industry is now thought to be worth around £10.12 billion, which equates to 12.4 per cent of all spending on food and drink. The news is positive for dairy farmers, as this rise is well above the average grocery price inflation, which over the same period was around 5.5 per cent. These rises are thought to be from consumers happily spending more on expensive, added value products, as opposed to simply buying core products such as milk, cheese and butter in greater volumes. In fact, Quick explained, sales on core products may have declined through heavy discounting by supermarkets in order to remain competitive. "We've seen a big switch from branded to own label," he told fwi.co.uk , "with people buying the same sort of stuff but cheaper." Research also showed that consumers buy dairy products around 110 times a year and consume dairy over 1,000 times. 36 per cent of all meals were thought to contain at least one dairy product. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/dairy-sales-report-continued-rise/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/may/dairy-sales-report-continued-rise/ Fri, 04 May 2012 11:48:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/only-uk,-sweden-and-luxembourg-ready-for-sow-stall-ban/ The British pig industry has warned that many EU producers won't have put plans in place to cope with the impending partial ban on sow stalls. Supporting the sentiment, Compassion for World Farming has highlighted than eleven nations are unprepared for the new legislation, when it comes into force on 1 January 2013, agra-net.com writes. Directive 2008/120/EC mandates that sows should be placed in 'welfare-friendly' pens, rather than individual stalls. Thus far, just Luxembourg, Sweden and the UK are fully compliant. Lithuania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany, Estonia and Denmark are expected to be ready in time. The remaining member states, however, are said to be 'in disarray'. Belgium, France and Portugal have failed to provide any detailed information on their progress, while Poland has been found most lacking - over 2,000 Polish farms will not be compliant. Peter Stevenson, chief policy advisor at Compassion explained his concerns to meatinfo.co.uk : "This should set alarm bells ringing at the Commission and the 17 member states that are not going to comply with the ban. They need to get hold of the situation very quickly to stop this important step for animal welfare becoming a farce. "It's unacceptable for so many countries to be behind schedule when they have known for a long time that these rules would be coming into force on 1 January. They need to take action now, both for the welfare of the millions of pigs and to create a fairer market for UK farmers." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/only-uk,-sweden-and-luxembourg-ready-for-sow-stall-ban/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/only-uk,-sweden-and-luxembourg-ready-for-sow-stall-ban/ Fri, 27 April 2012 16:14:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/'useful'-slurry-could-cut-fertiliser-bills/ Farmers in Cornwall have been urged to 'make the most of their slurry', thisiscornwall.co.uk reports. The advice was given by ecologist Dr Jan Dinsdale at a meeting between local farmers and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Wild Penwith Project. Dr Dinsdale said that the large amounts of slurry produced by dairy farms could and should be used as a cheap fertiliser, rather than simply being wasted. "[Slurry] is a very useful source of nutrients that can help farmers save on their fertiliser bills," he said. "Both farm businesses and wildlife stand to benefit from more effective use of slurry on local farms." The day, led by John Morgan - who works with Farm Advice Service - included discussions on testing the pH levels of soil; a practice which is very important given the acidic Cornish earth. It also featured a walk around Carne Farm - where the talk took place - and a demonstration of a slurry-spreading machine, according to cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk . Mr Morgan echoed Dr Dinsdale's advice: "With good, targeted applications of slurry and fertiliser it is possible to grow more of our year-round stock feed requirements on the farm, rather than buying in feed. This makes good business sense." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/'useful'-slurry-could-cut-fertiliser-bills/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/'useful'-slurry-could-cut-fertiliser-bills/ Fri, 27 April 2012 08:31:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/badger-cull-decision-imminent/ Farmers and campaigners are awaiting the results of a judicial review on whether a badger cull to prevent bovine TB is allowed to go ahead, meatinfo.co.uk reports. Farmers and DEFRA are expected to want the cull to go ahead, with the latter planning two pilot culls this autumn in Somerset and West Gloucestershire. Many farmers are also thought to have signed up to the scheme and have been advised to speak to members of their local community in order to get the public on board with the cause. The Badger Trust has called for a judicial review to determine whether the "DIY" farmer-led cull is legal. It is hoping the review will allow them to press on with legal proceedings and put the issue in front of a court to determine whether it is allowed to go ahead. Speaking to fwi.co.uk of its concerns, Badger Trust vice chairman Pat Hayden explained: "The Badger Trust and a majority of the public consider that the cull poses serious risks to cattle and badgers. "It is astonishing DEFRA has given the green light to a badger cull. The Badger Trust will exhaust all peaceful, legal avenues of challenge to prevent this wrong-headed cull from going ahead." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/badger-cull-decision-imminent/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/badger-cull-decision-imminent/ Fri, 27 April 2012 08:25:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/south-west-officially-in-drought/ All south western counties have been officially declared as drought areas following exceptionally low rainfall over the last two years. Despite the recent spells of heavy rain, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset are amongst 17 counties which have recently been named as drought zones by The Environment Agency. There are even fears that the problem could last beyond the turn of the year. Trevor Bishop, who is head of water resources at the Environment Agency has urged those residing in drought areas to use water as sparingly as possible. Speaking to The Press Association, he said: "A longer term drought, lasting until Christmas and perhaps beyond, now looks more likely. While we've had some welcome rain recently, the problem has not gone away, and we would urge everyone - right across the country - to use water wisely now, which will help to prevent more serious impacts next year." The Environment Agency is hoping that by asking consumers to be frugal with water, they will not have to impose limits on commercial extractors, such as farmers. According to thisiscornwall.co.uk , rainfall levels since October 2010 are at their lowest in almost 90 years. Many counties in the Midlands, including Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire, have also been declared as official drought zones. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/south-west-officially-in-drought/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/south-west-officially-in-drought/ Fri, 27 April 2012 08:23:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/overseas-buyers-helping-to-push-up-farmland-prices-(1)/ The cost of farmland in the South West is growing fast and the trend is being boosted by overseas investment, it has been claimed. James Baker, a property expert from Strutt & Parker in Exeter, pointed out that the price of land has risen to £7,000 per acre in the past five years, with a recent report from Knight Frank predicting it could reach £10,000 per acre by 2015, according to thisiscornwall.co.uk . In his opinion, the rocketing price of farmland is partly down to overseas buyers, who would otherwise pay much more for such property. Mr Baker added: "Commercial farmers are relocating from other parts of the UK. We are constantly speaking to farmers who have sold out elsewhere and who are looking for 300-plus acre commercial farms in our area." If Knight Frank's predictions regarding the value of farmland become a reality, it would mean that prices will have quadrupled from 1995 to 2015. Ft.com reported that farmland is currently an attractive choice for investors, outperforming central London housing since 2000, according to Knight Frank's head of farms Clive Hopkins. He labelled such property a "safe asset" and pointed out that it is possible to gain an income from it as well as treat the land as a tradable asset. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/overseas-buyers-helping-to-push-up-farmland-prices-(1)/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/overseas-buyers-helping-to-push-up-farmland-prices-(1)/ Fri, 27 April 2012 08:17:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/young-farmers-learn-top-tips-for-safety/ Devon's young farmers have been learning about the dangers of working on a farm and how they can stay safe, during a series of workshops held at Bicton College recently.  The practical health and safety sessions, which took place on Wednesday (18 April), were supported by rural insurance company Cornish Mutual, as part of its 'FarmSafe' campaign. A series of five interactive workshops ran throughout the day, covering the topics of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use, livestock handling, working at heights, chainsaw use and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health).  Cornish Mutual, which has thousands of Members across Devon, has sponsored the Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs for a number of years, helping to provide skills training and promote recruitment - their working partnership goes back over 60 years. The firm launched the 'FarmSafe' initiative earlier this year to raise awareness of health and safety issues and reduce the number of deaths and injuries on farms in the South West. Cornish Mutual's local Inspector in Devon Nick Wales (pictured with safety instructor Matthew Sparshott, Chairman of Devon Young Farmers Nick Harding, and young farmer Nathan Gillard) says: "Agriculture has the worst record for deaths and serious injuries compared to all other industries in the UK, so we can't stress strongly enough how important it is to be aware of health and safety on the farm. The workshops were a great way of introducing the subject to Devon's young farmers, covering all the basics in an informative, engaging way - which could one day end up saving a life." The Devon Federation of Young Farmers has 38 clubs across the county, with more than 1,400 members. Each club is joined together by six groups - North Devon, Tarka, Exe Valley, East Devon, Haldon and South Dartmoor. The groups organise a number of events each year including county sports and competitions, training, foreign exchanges, entertainment evenings and balls.  Nick Creasy, County Organiser for Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs adds: "We are very grateful to Cornish Mutual for funding the workshops and helping to raise awareness of the very serious issue of health and safety on the farm. I'd also like to thank Bicton College and the Health and Safety Executive for helping us to run the workshops and teaching both YFC members and local farmers about the dangers of farm work." As well as sponsoring Devon Young Farmers, Cornish Mutual is also involved with Young Farmers across Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall. For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe' initiative, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/young-farmers-learn-top-tips-for-safety/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/young-farmers-learn-top-tips-for-safety/ Thu, 26 April 2012 14:22:00 Verity Dodd http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-countryside-code-respect-other-people-(1)/ As a rural insurer, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the countryside we live and work in, and our FarmSafe for Schools initiative promotes how we can all do this safely.  Alongside FarmSafe for Schools, for the next six months, we will be looking at the different sections of the Countryside Code on our blog. The Countryside Code is a series of simple principles designed to help both landowners and visitors to the countryside, all following the mantra of Respect, Protect, Enjoy. This month, we look at the Countryside Code for the Public, and part one of this is 'Respect Other People'. The first principal of the Countryside Code for members of the public is simply 'respect other people'. This is split into two key points - consideration of local people and others enjoying the countryside, and leaving gates and property as you find them and following paths. Consider the local community and others enjoying the countryside There are several simple steps you can take to ensure your visit to the countryside doesn't upset or inconvenience others. For example, if you are driving make sure your parking spot isn't blocking any gateways, driveways or other paths. If you encounter walkers, horses or farm animals while driving or cycling, slow down or stop for them to pass and make sure you give them plenty of room. If you're cycling on a bridleway, be aware that by law you must give way to walkers and horse riders. Bear in mind that there are people at work in the countryside as well as fellow visitors, so be as cooperative as you can to help them continue to go about their daily activities. For example, try to keep out of the way when farm animals are being moved, and follow the directions and instructions of the farmer. Countryside roads are often narrow, winding lanes, where busy traffic can cause a real problem. If at all possible, leave your car at home and walk, cycle, take public transport or lift-share. If you do have to drive, go slowly and be considerate of other road users and wildlife. Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths Although leaving gates shut so animals can't escape their fields seems like the most sensible thing to do, sometimes the farmer may intentionally leave gates open so their animals can move between fields to access food and water. For this reason, you should always make sure you leave gates as you find them, and if you're in a large group make sure the message gets passed back to the last person so they know what to do. Steer clear of any machinery or farm animals you come across as you could risk putting yourself or others in danger. Even if you see an animal that looks like it is in distress, try and alert the farmer rather than getting involved yourself. Also take care not to disturb any ruins or historic sites you come across. When exploring the countryside, follow paths unless you know wider access is allowed, such as on open country or registered common land. Use gates, stiles or gaps in field boundaries if you can, as climbing over walls, hedges and fences can cause damage and potentially increase the risk of farm animals escaping. If you come across a sign you think is incorrect or misleading, such as a 'Private - No Entry' sign on a public path, contact the local authority who can look into it. Coming next in our Countryside Code series - Protect the Natural Environment . For more information about the Countryside Code, please visit the Natural England website . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-countryside-code-respect-other-people-(1)/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-countryside-code-respect-other-people-(1)/ Thu, 19 April 2012 09:36:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/mutual-companies-trusted-in-south-west/ New consumer research reveals people in the South West are far more likely to trust a financial mutual than any other type of financial services provider. In the Westcountry, financial mutuals received a 'Net Trust Score' of +29% compared to financial plcs which registered -11%, when ranked on a trust scale of 1-10, according to statistics released by The Association of Financial Mutuals (AFM) today. The news is being welcomed by South West-based rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual, which has around 24,000 Members in communities across the region (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset). Commenting on the findings, Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, said: "This certainly adds weight to the view that more people in the South West trust mutuals with their money than shareholder-owned companies, who many people lost confidence in during the financial crisis. "While other insurance companies take a different approach, Cornish Mutual is very proud to retain its mutual status which it has held for over 100 years. It means the company is owned by its Members and solely exists to provide them with an excellent local service and fair claims process, not to pay quick returns or dividends to shareholders." He added: "We pride ourselves on building long-term relationships with Members by reinvesting our profits so we can offer our Members more competitive premiums and a local personal service. Mutuality is one of Cornish Mutual's major attributes and something that very few insurers can boast as a credential." The Association of Financial Mutuals is today launching a new consumer website called 'Owned By You' ( www.ownedbyyou.org ) encouraging people to take a more active role in organisations that they own and to provide clearer information about financial mutuals, explaining the fundamental differences with shareholder-owned organisations and the benefits to their customers that result.  The site is aimed at both the 20 million members who own a stake in mutuals in the UK, but also at consumers who have not necessarily understood that mutuals mean the organisation is owned by, and run for, the benefit of its customers.  Martin Shaw, Chief Executive of the Association of Financial Mutuals (AFM), commented: "The financial crisis meant many people lost confidence in large parts of the financial services industry and this is proving very slow to return.  The Prime Minister said recently that we need a better model for business, to get people more engaged - our research shows that we have a solution, in the mutual organisations which people so clearly trust. "At a time where the public's perceptions of financial services remain woefully low, we hope that the new website, 'Owned By You', will help people gain more of the knowledge and tools they need to become more engaged in the way organisations they own are run.  We expect that society as a whole is better when the mutual sector is stronger." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/mutual-companies-trusted-in-south-west/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/mutual-companies-trusted-in-south-west/ Wed, 18 April 2012 15:10:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/get-trained-and-wear-a-helmet-for-atvs/ Agricultural workers in the South West should have proper training and wear a helmet before using quad bikes on farms and roads or risk being prosecuted, warns rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual. The insurer, which has Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, is highlighting the issue as part of its 'FarmSafe' campaign in a bid to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries from operating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). There is a legal requirement for employers to provide adequate training in the safe use of ATVs and it is now mandatory to wear appropriate safety helmets, with chinstraps and eye protection, when riding a quad bike. Cornish Mutual is also reminding farmers that it is illegal for 16-year olds with a valid tractor licence to drive either an ATV or a handler on the public highway until they reach the age of 17 and have a full licence. To drive a quad bike on a public road in the UK requires a B1 licence, as well as tax, insurance and registration. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on average, two people die and more than a thousand serious injuries happen as a result of quad bike accidents every year. Cornish Mutual has handled a number of claims around ATVs in recent years and there have been some high-profile deaths and accidents in the UK involving quad bikes, young children and farm workers. Major causes include a lack of proper training, inexperience, inadequate protective clothing, excessive speed, carrying passengers, the towing of excessive loads and unsafe or unbalanced loads. Philip Wilson, business development manager for Cornish Mutual says, "Safety is a really big issue with quad bikes and they are potentially lethal if they are not driven in the right way. They offer very little protection, so wearing a helmet is really important - helmets can prevent deaths or serious injury and are quite literally life-savers. Most accidents are the result of the vehicle actually overturning, landing on top of and crushing the driver. This can happen so quickly and easily if people are not careful." He adds, "It's all about education, maintenance and taking simple precautions - ATVs have very different handling techniques and characteristics to other types of vehicles, so proper training in how they are operated is vital to ensure safety at all times. "Passengers should only be carried on ATVs that are designed to carry passengers, and only when it is safe to do so. For many work activities, it would be inappropriate to carry a passenger, even when the machine is designed to carry one, because the passenger affects the performance of the machine, the rider's ability to control the machine (particularly on slopes) and the rider's ability to work."  Cornish Mutual has now issued some guidelines for operating ATVs which include always wearing head protection, checking for the CE mark, avoid carrying passengers unless the machine is designed for this and complete pre-ride checks including tyre pressure, brakes and throttle. The firm also says manufacturer guidelines for weight, towing capacity and drawbar loading limits must always be observed. For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe' campaign, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/get-trained-and-wear-a-helmet-for-atvs/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/get-trained-and-wear-a-helmet-for-atvs/ Wed, 18 April 2012 12:03:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/devon-born-student-named-agricultural-student-of-the-year/ A young student from West Devon has won a prestigious award due to his natural ability in the agricultural sector. This Is North Devon reports that James Miller, from Hatherleigh, managed to fend off three other finalists to be named Farmers Guardian Agricultural Student of the Year 2012. Miller, currently a second year student at the Royal Agriculture College (RAC) in Cirencester, managed to beat runner-up Laura Burnett from Aberdeen, Joseph Williams from Shropshire and fellow RAC student Tom Coate, cites Farmers Guardian. As a result of his win, Miller has been awarded a 12-month placement in either Australia or Canada in order to continue with his fledging career in the agriculture industry. Miller commented on his win: "I was very shocked to win this competition, especially with the high quality of finalists. I was pleased with getting shortlisted, let alone getting into the final and winning. It has changed my career prospects and improved my future in the industry." Farmers Guardian features editor Danusia Osiowy, who was also one of the judges of the competition, spoke highly of Miller and his triumph: "James has grappled with various challenges to date and turned them into positive experiences. I have no doubt the opportunity to undertake an international work placement will be crucial in the next chapter of his career." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/devon-born-student-named-agricultural-student-of-the-year/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/devon-born-student-named-agricultural-student-of-the-year/ Tue, 17 April 2012 15:15:00 Philip Wilson http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-dangers-of-working-with-electricity-on-farms/ In the second of our blog series on health and safety, Philip Wilson looks at the dangers of working with electricity on farms… Statistics tell us that contact with electricity continues to be one of the main causes of death to farmers and agricultural contractors in the UK and that nearly two thirds of these fatalities involve overhead power lines (OHPLs), according to the Health and Safety Executive. In Cornwall, there were two related fatalities last year and the HSE is now highlighting the issue when undertaking their inspections, so the subject is very topical. In the UK, overhead lines carry voltages ranging from 230 (domestic voltage) to 400,000 volts and even 230 volts can produce 10,000 times more current than is needed to kill someone. Before I tackle some of the main things you can do to reduce the risk of death or injury from electricity, it's worth highlighting that there is a specific legal duty on you under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to take the right precautions. The law clearly states that electrical equipment must be safe and properly maintained and that isolating the supply to equipment you are working on is recommended. The HSE says it's extremely unlikely that working on live systems will be justified, even if carried out by a competent person. We recently had a presentation given to us by Dave Shepherd from Safety Cornwall during the farm safety day at Duchy College Stoke Climsland. I think everyone who listened to what Dave had to say and got involved in the practical demonstrations was shocked at just how easily an accident can happen. I also met with Ian Davey, a farmer and Cornish Mutual Member from South East Cornwall who was electrocuted with 11,000 volts when his trailer tipped up and touched an OHPL. He was very lucky considering he broke his arm and dislocated his shoulder - he admits it could have been a lot worse. Dave Shepherd gave some excellent advice to the groups that attended and I thought it would be a good idea to share this in the blog. Firstly and perhaps most obviously, avoid contact with power lines by keeping tall machinery or long equipment, such as combines, sprayer booms, handlers, tipper vehicles, ladders and irrigation pipes, away from them at all times. Electricity can jump gaps and you don't even have to touch the line to get a shock. Getting close can cause a flashover that may kill or seriously harm. Keep a safe clearance distance if you are building or stacking items near power lines, never work on top of farm machinery if you're under or near power lines and don't place ladders near OHPLs. The HSE has different minimum ground clearance distances, depending on the voltage - these range from 5.2 to 7 metres, so check carefully first before doing any work. It's always a good idea to have a map of the OHPLs that run across your farmland, or indeed any land which you may be leasing - you can get copies of these from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) i.e. Western Power Distribution (WPD). Make a note of where they run and how high they are, so you can plan to work around them. The HSE is now 'strongly advocating' to farmers that when undertaking a field risk assessment prior to starting work, you obtain an accurate measurement of the height of power lines in any fields where high-reach work equipment is to be used or operated. Make sure that contractors and workers also have copies and keep the DNO's contact details in your vehicles or with the equipment you're using. Some other general pointers around electricity also include not assuming that electrical equipment is dead, even if the wires have fallen down or they appear broken. The same principle applies with wires on wooden poles - lots of people think these are just telephone wires and that's not always the case. Things such as trees, string, ropes, suspension lines and water can all conduct electricity and wellington boots, rubber-soled shoes and gloves do not protect you. Electricity can also bypass wood, plastic and rubber and still cause lethal shocks. If you're involved in excavation work on the farm, remember to keep well away from underground services, including cables. It is a legal requirement to check for underground power cables before you start any excavation work (as part of your risk assessment) and it's always a good idea to contact the utility companies before you start work to establish where they're located - and get someone who is experienced to help you. If the worst happens and someone does accidentally make contact with an overhead or underground power line, disconnect the power source. If you can't do that, don't touch the person except with non-conducting items - never anything metallic. Make contact with the DNO and get them to disconnect the power supply straight away. To prepare for this possible emergency, put the WPD number in your mobile phone now - 0800 365 900.  Do not attempt to dismount your vehicle until you have assurance from WPD that the supply has been isolated.  If you cannot contact WPD and if, as a last resort, you have to leave your vehicle, use the safe method of exit; with your feet together, stand on the step facing outwards and then jump away from the vehicle as far as possible before 'bunny hopping' away from the vehicle. Keep clear of the vehicle and warn others who may be nearby. Don't touch any vehicle or machinery attached to it until the DNO has confirmed the power is switched off. Remember, the power can be switched back on at any time, without warning. Finally, make sure you and your farm workers receive adequate first aid training - you really never know when you might need it and it could mean the difference between life and death. We have only scratched the surface in this blog entry and the HSE has a whole wealth of information on its website with plenty of downloadable guides. This link should provide you with everything you need when it comes to OHPLs and working safely around electricity http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg389.pdf .  For more information about our 'FarmSafe' campaign, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe      http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-dangers-of-working-with-electricity-on-farms/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-dangers-of-working-with-electricity-on-farms/ Fri, 13 April 2012 11:47:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/calls-for-calm-over-new-potato-blight/ Farmers have been urged not to worry about a potato blight that has been found in the UK, cerosmedia.com reports. New blight strain 33_A2 (more commonly known as Green 33) has been witnessed in the UK after coming over from farms in the Netherlands, where it accounts for around 20 per cent of the blight population. It has been confirmed that Green 33 was present in the UK and one study found it to be resistant to the blight spray active ingredient fluazinam. Despite this, farmers have been told not to worry about the blight as all examples of it came from just one farm and full confirmation of its resistance to fluazinam has not been officially given. Experts have suggested that instead of worrying about the blight or changing their spraying habits, farmers should instead stick to best practice and keep vigilant. Speaking to fwi.co.uk of what they know so far, Dr David Cooke of the James Hutton Institute explained: "Two isolates were identified and are being tested. They came from the same outbreak in a single field, right at the end of the season. We're awaiting confirmation on its status. "We're in a good position to monitor populations carefully and stick to best practice when it comes to spray programmes. We also know that these new strains tend to be aggressive and that populations can change rapidly. So vigilance is essential and growers need access to all the information that we have." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/calls-for-calm-over-new-potato-blight/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/calls-for-calm-over-new-potato-blight/ Fri, 13 April 2012 11:38:00 Safety Cornwall http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-uk-is-a-safe-place-to-work-let's-keep-it-that-way/ In spite of the bad press, health and safety has made the UK one of the safest places in the world to work. This is something to be proud of and is due to many factors; the experience and good practice of the majority of our companies, well written legislation, good sources of advice both from industry, manufacturers, insurance providers, enforcing authorities - and sheer luck that those working unsafely managed to get away with it. However, even though the UK has a good record compared to the rest of the world, we've still got a way to go. In 2010/11, industry managed to kill 171 people - not including the approximately 12,000 occupational cancer deaths and the 134,000 employer reported serious injuries. That would suggest that there are at least 12,171 families and 134,000 workers out there wishing that health and safety had got in the way, that the employer had spent the time to do the risk assessment, fix the guard, provide some training and carry out the other important health and safety tasks which are all part of doing the job properly and safely. We often hear the myth of how health and safety gets in the way of our everyday lives, taking hours of paperwork, and mountains of legislation. There is also the chance of being sued or - even worse - prosecuted, but only if we break the law and put people at risk. If we're honest though, how many people would drive too fast past a school if it wasn't for the speed camera or policeman waiting around the corner?  Believe it or not, managing health and safety is easier than dealing with much of the other red tape that's forced on us. While it's true that that health and safety does take some time, thought and organisation and we only ever hear about it if something goes wrong, someone gets hurt or killed.   What we don't hear is that Fred, John, Liz or Jane did a good days work, earned a wage, made a couple of bob for the boss, went home safely and had a nice quiet evening with the family.  Surely this is the reason why we should all take health & safety seriously. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-uk-is-a-safe-place-to-work-let's-keep-it-that-way/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/the-uk-is-a-safe-place-to-work-let's-keep-it-that-way/ Thu, 05 April 2012 10:12:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/devon’s-young-farmers-get-safety-lesson/ The sessions are being supported by rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual as a part of its 'FarmSafe' initiative. They are being jointly organised by the Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (YFCs), Bicton College and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The event, involving five practical and interactive workshops, will take place on Wednesday 18 April between 10am and 4pm at Bicton College. The day is open to local farmers and students at Bicton College, as well as members of Devon's YFCs. The main topics, each given their own title, include: • Rolling in the deep (the safe use of ATVs otherwise known as quad bikes) • Has your cow got a crush on you (how to handle livestock) • The chainsaw massacre (the safe use of chainsaws) • One strap is crap (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations) • And farmers on the roof (working at heights) Cornish Mutual, which has a team of locally-based Inspectors across Devon, has provided sponsorship of the Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs for a number of years, helping to provide skills training and promote recruitment. The rural insurance firm launched the 'FarmSafe' campaign earlier this year to raise awareness of health and safety issues in agriculture - which, according to the HSE, has the worst record of any industry in the UK for recorded deaths and serious injuries. The latest figures from the HSE show that there were more deaths in the agricultural industry in the South West than in any other area of England, with six farm workers and two members of the public suffering fatal injuries in 2010/2011 Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual says: "Young Farmers Clubs are an integral part of the rural community in Devon, and their members are the future of the farming industry, which is why we are delighted to be supporting them once again this year. "As a local rural insurer in the South West, reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on Devon's farms is the number one priority for us. We're thrilled that Devon's Young Farmers Clubs are supporting our 'FarmSafe' initiative by organising these health and safety workshops, and I would urge any local young farmers to sign up for a place." The Devon Federation of Young Farmers has 38 clubs across the county, with more than 1,400 members. Each club is joined together by six groups - North Devon, Tarka, Exe Valley, East Devon, Haldon and South Dartmoor. The groups organise a number of events each year including county sports and competitions, training, foreign exchanges, entertainment evenings and balls.  Nick Creasy, county organiser for Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs adds: "Devon's Young Farmers rely on the consistent backing of companies like Cornish Mutual, who have been supporting us for over 60 years. Without their help we wouldn't be able to run workshops like this, which will cover the potentially life-saving essential basics of health and safety on the farm." Limited spaces are still available for the health and safety workshops at Bicton College on Wednesday 18 April. To sign up for the workshops, contact Nick Creasy on 01392 272189 or email nick@devonyfc.co.uk . As well as sponsoring Devon Young Farmers, Cornish Mutual is also involved with Young Farmers across Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall. For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe' initiative visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/devon’s-young-farmers-get-safety-lesson/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/devon’s-young-farmers-get-safety-lesson/ Thu, 05 April 2012 09:47:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/rural-and-farming-networks-launched-by-government/ The coalition Government has launched three Rural and Farming Networks, with one of these representing parts of South West England. According to the Farmers Guardian, the idea of the initiative is to bring together people from rural communities to offer feedback on existing and future policies. One of the three groups announced was the Wessex Rural and Farming Network; this covers Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire. In a statement reported by the Farminguk.com, Environment Minister Richard Benyon suggested the networks give rural businesses and residents a "voice". He added: "Great business ideas should never be held back by the challenges of a rural location. These Rural and Farming Networks are making us aware of the problems that local businesses face so that we can tackle them and provide the right opportunity for businesses to grow." The other two networks launched by the Government this week were the Cumbria & North Lancashire Farming, Food & Rural Group and the Cheshire, South & West Lancashire, Merseyside & Manchester Land Use Farming & Rural Group. At the beginning of the year, 14 networks around the country were announced with the intention of making policies more rural-friendly. Representatives from the groups are expected to meet in the next few months. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/rural-and-farming-networks-launched-by-government/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/rural-and-farming-networks-launched-by-government/ Tue, 03 April 2012 15:05:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/monitoring-grass-key-for-high-sheep-milk-yield/ Farmers have been urged to regularly monitor their grass to ensure peak milk yield for their lambs, stackyard.com reports. The recent bout of warm dry weather could lead many farmers to wrongly assume their lambs are thriving. However, poor grass conditions could impact negatively on the ewe's milk and cause undernourishment. Farmers are being advised to look at the type of grass and ensure it provides just the right level of nutrients. Fresh spring grass, for example, can sometimes provide more nitrogen than an ewe's rumen can handle. This means that farmers should be careful in allowing their flock to feed on it, regardless of how little there is. Instead, farmers should allow their lambs to feed on grass that is at least 4cm in height as that is a simple but effective guarantee the grass is of a good enough quality. Furthermore, farmers have also been advised to consider bringing their lambs off supplementary feeds slower while the warm weather holds out. Whilst doing this, they may find it easier to regularly monitor the grass in order to ensure it doesn't fall to dangerous levels. In this case, soya supplements can be used to provide the sheep with protein and ensure a high milk yield. "Measure often and measure carefully," was the advice offered by SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) sheep specialist John Vipond, who told fwi.co.uk : "Until grass reaches 4cm in height ewes will need supplementary feed. Once it has reached that level they should be OK." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/monitoring-grass-key-for-high-sheep-milk-yield/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/monitoring-grass-key-for-high-sheep-milk-yield/ Tue, 03 April 2012 14:10:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/scientists-create-aphid-resistant-wheat/ Scientists in Hertfordshire have created a GM wheat crop that can repel aphids, telegraph.co.uk reports. As part of a £1 million project to genetically manipulate wheat to make a higher yield, scientists from Rothamstead Research have created a crop that emits chemicals to ward off aphids. The chemical in question, known as (E)-beta-farnesene, is naturally produced in peppermint and is used by aphids to warn others of imminent danger. Scientists removed the chemical from peppermint, added it to the wheat and manipulated it so that the wheat released it in quantities that would scare off aphids and send them elsewhere. Whilst the current research was something of a success, the research was undertaken for proof of principle, with scientists looking to make it commercially viable to sell to farmers in due course. If successful, the new wheat could offer higher yields on Britain's 15 million tonnes of wheat harvested every year, at a value to the economy of around £1.2 billion. Explaining their results, director of Rothamstead Research professor Maurice Moloney explained: "Generally GM has been used in a mode whereby you have got to kill something. "In this case what we are really doing is putting a no-parking zone on the leaf of the plant saying 'don't come here'." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/scientists-create-aphid-resistant-wheat/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/april/scientists-create-aphid-resistant-wheat/ Mon, 02 April 2012 16:02:00 Classic Cottages http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/preparing-to-let-a-holiday-home-for-the-first-time/ If you own a property in the South West and are considering letting it as a holiday home this year, or if you're thinking about buying a property to let, there are a few things you should consider to make sure your first year of letting runs as smoothly as possible. Anthony Skitt from specialist Westcountry holiday lettings company Classic Cottages has some top tips to help you prepare for the lettings season…. Choosing the right property If you're looking for a property to let as a holiday home, the first thing you should consider is what people want from a holiday. Luckily, what holidaymakers are looking for is likely to be what you'd want from a holiday yourself, so you just need to be realistic and ask yourself - would this be a desirable holiday property for me and my family? The one thing we would always say is a key requirement is the ability to capture a lead image of your property, so you have something which will really grab people's attention and make your property stand out. Tax benefits If you market your property as a holiday let, rather than long-term accommodation, the Inland Revenue will regard this as a business, providing the property is available for letting for 30 weeks of the year and actually let for at least 15 weeks. The tax advantages of this include significant reductions on your potential Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability, more favourable allowances on your capital expenditure and avoiding some income tax by investing in a pension plan. The vast majority of holiday lettings fall under the VAT threshold, which means you probably won't have to pay any VAT on your income. Hidden costs of holiday lettings A specialist holiday lettings agency will be able to advise you on what occupancy levels you can expect and how much income your property is likely to generate. You then need to consider all the costs involved with letting. If you let your home through an agency, you can expect them to charge around 20 per cent + VAT of your income and in the vast majority of cases have an additional administration charge of around £20 per booking. They will support you by marketing your property and handing all of the administration, which can be a massive help if you are new to holiday lettings. If you live near your property you may want to manage the housekeeping yourself, but if you choose to employ someone to handle the cleaning, maintenance and changeovers then you should budget a further 20 per cent of your income for that. To maximise the appeal of your property, it's also worth investing in the best fixtures and fittings you can afford. Other costs to consider include relevant insurance policies and completing the appropriate health and safety and risk assessments. Health and safety and risk assessments It is a legal requirement to carry out a risk assessment for your property, and which will help protect your guests and staff. Once you've identified any serious hazards which may cause harm, the risk can usually be reduced with simple, straightforward measures. If you're not familiar with carrying out risk assessments, there are companies which can do this on your behalf, and you can get further advice from Visit Britain's Pink Booklet on Legislation for Tourist Accommodation at www.accommodationknowhow.co.uk . Owners should also be aware of the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations 1988, which state that all manufactured upholstered furniture has to pass certain tests of fire resistance. Furniture made before 1950 is exempt, and any furniture bought since March 1990 should have been made to meet the regulations. Insurance You'll also need a specific holiday home insurance policy, not just standard home and contents. Cornish Mutual has a package which covers all the essentials - home and contents, loss of rent, employers' liability and public liability.  For more advice about letting out your property, and Cornish Mutual's holiday cottage home insurance cover, click here . To find out more about Classic Cottages and how they can help you market your holiday property, visit  www.classic.co.uk/holiday-lets/cottage-holiday-letting-agents.html   Anthony Skitt took over the role of Managing Director at Classic Cottages in January 2011, where he is responsible for leading the staff and senior management team, as well as the financial management and profitability of the business. Anthony has specialist experience in sales and marketing, wholesale distribution and multi-site retail and has held board level posts at a number of private and public companies. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/preparing-to-let-a-holiday-home-for-the-first-time/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/preparing-to-let-a-holiday-home-for-the-first-time/ Fri, 30 March 2012 11:55:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/schmallenberg-trade-restrictions-disproportionate/ The European Commission has suggested that any plans to create trade restrictions or additional certification requests for livestock as a result of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) are "disproportionate". It also believes they would be "scientifically unjustified", despite SBV having infiltrated some seven countries so far. In the UK and Europe alone, some 2,622 cases have already been confirmed, according to farmersguardian.com. Germany has seen the most cases arise in its livestock, with France, Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands following closely behind. The virus is transferred to livestock via infected midges and can cause severe harm to an animal's health. However the commission remains resolute that placing restrictions on livestock trade would be unjust. In fact, farmingnewsdaily.co.uk revealed: "The EU remains united and strong on this issue and further steps are being undertaken by the Member States to keep the situation under constant assessment." The states are also keen to "fill the knowledge gaps" using "targeted" scientific analysis of the disease. The EU will co-finance this, the report confirmed; although it is not known who would represent the other co-funder. Part of the commission's argument is that data captured so far shows no reason to deal with SBV any differently to how similar viruses - such as the Akabane virus - were in the past. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/schmallenberg-trade-restrictions-disproportionate/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/schmallenberg-trade-restrictions-disproportionate/ Wed, 28 March 2012 13:08:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/a-national-drought-management-group-has-been-created,-in-a-bid-to-help-tackle-the-counter-effects-of-long-term-dry-weather-in-britain/ A national drought management group has been created, in a bid to help tackle the counter-effects of long-term dry weather in Britain. The group could help put in place more effective measures for responding to drought, which could benefit those depending on the UK's land for their living - such as farmers or food producers. Paul Leinster, the CEO of the Environment Agency and chair of the group, said he plans to create a "single, coherent cross-sector team able to manage coordinated delivery of drought management activities." To achieve this, members of Natural England, Britain's water companies and members of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) will be involved. This wide representation of experts was welcomed by the executive secretary of the UK Irrigation Authority, Melvyn Kay. He explained on Fwi.co.uk that now, the group needs to look at drought-tackling initiatives that could take presidence in the next water bill. "The two main issues are on-farm storage and the formation of water abstractor groups, both of which are in fact the subject of ongoing research at Cranfield University, funded by DEFRA," Kay revealed. It may come as no surprise that th group has been formed, as it was recently confirmed in the latest Drought Management Briefing from the Environment Agency that already, England's South East region and East Anglia are officially "in drought". The briefing, cited by environment-agency.gov.uk , said that droughts are now expected in the South West, Yorkshire and the Midlands. Source: Vertical Leap   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/a-national-drought-management-group-has-been-created,-in-a-bid-to-help-tackle-the-counter-effects-of-long-term-dry-weather-in-britain/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/a-national-drought-management-group-has-been-created,-in-a-bid-to-help-tackle-the-counter-effects-of-long-term-dry-weather-in-britain/ Wed, 28 March 2012 13:03:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/mcdonald's-pledges-£1-million-into-farm-sustainability-scheme/ Fast-food chain McDonald's has promised to deliver £1 million worth of investment to British and Irish farming in a bid to create a greener supply chain, reports Business Green. The investment, a scheme named Farm Forward, will contain three tiers in order to help McDonald's source more of its food locally, as well as reduce the "carbon footprint" of suppliers. Furthermore, Farm Forward will help create "work and training opportunities" for young farmers, according to The Guardian, while also funding research and development in the sector. A key motion of the project is the testing of a new carbon calculator, which will be trialled by 200 livestock farmers, and depending on the results, could be rolled out to beef farmers as soon as next year. Caroline Spelman, Environment Secretary, believes McDonald's investment will be seen as a major boost to sustainable farming. She commented: "With rising global demand for food, there are more opportunities than ever for British farmers and it is vital they are fully equipped to make the most of them in a sustainable way. "I applaud the support Farm Forward is offering students interested in becoming farmers and the contribution this will make to securing the future of the farming industry," she added. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/mcdonald's-pledges-£1-million-into-farm-sustainability-scheme/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/mcdonald's-pledges-£1-million-into-farm-sustainability-scheme/ Wed, 28 March 2012 11:54:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/dairy-farmer-extremely-upset-after-pit-bull-attacks-her-cows/ The owner of Britain's smallest dairy farm has described her anguish after three of her cows were attacked by pit bull terriers last week. Karen Wall, who runs Trenow Cove Dairy in Perranuthnoe, has claimed that the Whitebred Shorthorn heifers remain extremely shaken by the incident - which she has described as a scene of "carnage" with "blood everywhere." All three of the rare breed cows were bitten by two pit bull terriers on March 20th and each required medical attention as a result of the attack. Luckily, Mrs Wall's husband was on hand to shoot one of the dogs dead before any further damage was done. The other dog managed to escape.  In an interview with The Farmers Guardian, Mrs Wall claimed it was lucky that her cows weren't killed by the dogs. Describing one of her cow's injuries, she claimed: "There was a flap of flesh about the size of an envelope dangling down towards the ground and the dog was chewing and eating it. The cow was in absolute agony. The dog was lunging and if he hadn't shot it, our cows could easily have been killed." Unfortunately, Mrs Wall and her husband are financially suffering as a result of the attack. The cows have been yielding far less milk ever since the incident. In a separate interview with thisiscornwall.co.uk , Karen shared her fears that the other dog remains on the loose.  "That dog has now had a taste for blood, it's only a matter of time before another attack happens, possibly to a child next time," she said.  Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/dairy-farmer-extremely-upset-after-pit-bull-attacks-her-cows/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/dairy-farmer-extremely-upset-after-pit-bull-attacks-her-cows/ Wed, 28 March 2012 11:49:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/group-urges-rethink-on-badger-culling/ A Conservative Think Tank is calling for the government to reverse its plans to trial badger culling and follow Wales' example, Farmer's Weekly reports. Following the announcement last week that a badger cull will go ahead in Somerset, the Bow Group is urging the government to rethink its decision - especially as the Welsh government has abandoned its plans to use the cull in a bid to wipe out bovine tuberculosis. In a paper released yesterday (March 26th), the Bow Group claims that a nationwide cull could prove more costly and impractical than the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) realises. It believes that DEFRA should instead concentrate on the administration of vaccines. It also questions whether eradicating large numbers of the animal would actually be worthwhile. The paper highlights inefficiencies in recent culling pilot initiatives, the negative effects on ecosystems - potentially leading to local extinction - and the huge opposition to the idea. Figures show 81 per cent of people disagree with culling. It also emphasised the effectiveness of vaccines, with a 74 per cent success rate in tests; claiming that vaccines combined with biosecurity improvements by landowners are the best ways to "minimise bovine TB spread and cost to the taxpayer". Lord John Krebs - who contributed to the paper - along with animal rights supporter and Queen guitarist, Brian May, told Farmers Guardian: "The best informed independent scientific experts agree that culling on a large, long-term, scale will yield modest benefits and that it is likely to make things worse before they get better. "It will also make this worse for farmers bordering on the cull areas." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/group-urges-rethink-on-badger-culling/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/group-urges-rethink-on-badger-culling/ Wed, 28 March 2012 11:14:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/canadian-mounties-return-to-devon-for-first-time-in-12-years/ This year's Devon County Show will see the return of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, some twelve years after their last performance here. The event takes place from May 17th to 19th at Westpoint in Exeter and is widely viewed as the "curtain raiser" for the agricultural showing season in the south west of England, according to the Western Morning News. As well as the return of the mounties, there will be a range of thoroughbred horses on show. The occasion is also a showpiece event for crafters and food producers in the region. Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been performing their Musical Ride Tour for about 125 years now and are only scheduled to do one other show in the UK this year - at the Royal Windsor Horse Show the previous weekend. The group have fans all over the world but are naturally most fondly regarded in their native Canada. Sachem.ca columnist Joan Miller this month claimed that they are one of the nation's best assets, noting how Mounties provoke memories of old movies in which the mounted police force "always got their man". She pointed out how some parts of their image have endured since the group was first formed in the 19th century; for example, the Red Serge jackets they still wear today. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/canadian-mounties-return-to-devon-for-first-time-in-12-years/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/canadian-mounties-return-to-devon-for-first-time-in-12-years/ Fri, 23 March 2012 12:54:00 Follett Stock Solicitors http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/hold-fire-on-recruitment!-big-knock-to-employee’s-rights-coming-…/ If you employ staff to work on your farm or for your business, you may have heard that the government has confirmed its intention to alter the qualifying period for unfair dismissal cases from one year to two years from 6 April this year, by laying before Parliament the draft law to bring this into effect. If approved, this would mean that fewer employees would be able to sue their employer for unfair dismissal if they are sacked from their job. This is because they would need to have worked for the employer for over 2 years before they have that protection. Verity Slater, Associate Partner at Follett Stock Solicitors , gives the following advice for both employers and employees. Unfair dismissal is the most common case brought by employees against employers - in the last Tribunal Statistics it made up 39% of all cases disposed of, with an average award of compensation of just short of £9,000. The maximum compensation is £72,300. This news has therefore been welcomed by employers in the region, who feel that the law may finally be swinging back in their favour. The change will comprise part of the government's wide-ranging initiative to improve business confidence and boost economic growth. This will mean that employers have a longer period to work with an employee to see if they can meet their standards and fit in with the organisation. If things don't work out initially or standards slip after a period, it will be easier and less risky for employers to make the decision to let staff go. This is obviously a worry for employees however. In this time of recession people are clearly keen to keep hold of their jobs, as they don't know what other opportunities are out there. So how will this affect those already in employment? Those who are working before that date will retain the current one-year qualifying period. Those who start after 6 April will have the new two-year qualifying period. Employers should be thinking about this now. Clearly there is an argument for businesses to delay any start date for new recruits until after 6 April, if work demands will allow this.  Employers should actively consider this for posts they are filling in the next few months as it would be to their advantage. Employers should be aware, however, that this change only affects the qualifying period for unfair dismissal and there is still a myriad of employment rights that employees have that need to be adhered to, many of which kick in from day one of the person's employment. Maybe employers shouldn't celebrate quite yet… If you require any further information about unfair dismissals, please contact Verity Slater of Follett Stock either by email at verity.slater@follettstock.co.uk , or by telephone on 01872 241700. Verity Slater is an Associate Partner and Head of the Employment Team at Follett Stock. She has built up the team in both size and reputation since returning to Cornwall and joining the firm in 2002  - she hails from Falmouth. Verity advises large and small Employers on all aspects of employment law and has a particular speciality and interest in agricultural and family businesses. Client comments include ""Down to earth and understood our company very quickly - easy to implement changes".   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/hold-fire-on-recruitment!-big-knock-to-employee’s-rights-coming-…/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/hold-fire-on-recruitment!-big-knock-to-employee’s-rights-coming-…/ Fri, 23 March 2012 11:15:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/gross-written-premiums-increase-to-£176m/ South West rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual has seen an increase in its gross written premiums of 7 per cent to £17.6 million during its last financial reporting period, it has been announced today. Ahead of the company's Annual General Meeting (AGM) later this month (Thursday 29 March), the insurer says the income and costs during 2010/11 were both 'favourable' against targets set for the business at the beginning of their financial year. Cornish Mutual's Financial Statement for the year end 30 September 2011 shows that gross written premiums increased by 7 per cent to £17,612,588 (2010: £16,463,355) with a technical surplus of £5,049 (2010: £291,570). Profit-after-tax is listed as £336,221 (2010: £2,040,537). Headlines: • Gross written premiums increased by 7% to £17.6m (2010: £16.46m) • Gains on investments reduced by £1.59m to £732,000 (2010: £2.33m) • Ratio of operating expense to gross written premiums increased to 22% from 20% • Profit after tax of £336,221 (2010: £2,040,537). The adverse market conditions at the end of September 2011 left Cornish Mutual with unrealised losses of £551,927 (2010: £625,202) on its investment portfolio which contributed the majority of the reduction in investment returns. 2011 saw Cornish Mutual complete the second year of its reinsurance contract with Ecclesiastical. The reduced volatility in technical profit gained through the arrangement is one pillar of a strategy to see the business grow through the development of its services and products.  Ian Pawley, Cornish Mutual's chairman is expected to address the AGM being held at Sandy Park Conference and Banqueting Centre in Exeter at 10.30am on Thursday 29 March. Ahead of the event, Mr Pawley said: "During a period of unparalleled uncertainty in the financial markets and elsewhere, the Board has continued to develop the company, focusing its efforts on services to Members. The financial results show that the company is growing, recruiting new Members, as well as ensuring our existing Members remain satisfied with our offering. "2011 has been a busy year with investment in new systems and an increase in headcount to gain the requisite skills and knowledge to develop our business." At the AGM, seven existing board members, Leslie Baker, Gerald Blewett, Peter Beaumont, Chris Down, Jilly Greed, Michael Grigg and Ian Pawley will be standing for re-election. This takes place every three years, until they have each served nine years. Thereafter, they will need to seek re-election annually. As Cornish Mutual is a mutual organisation all its 24,000 Members from across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset have a right to attend the AGM and EGM or vote by proxy.  Ian Pawley added: "The company will continue to focus on the agricultural and rural sector, supporting Members' interests directly via the principal and one day agricultural shows, support for the YFC organisations in the four counties, and by charitable donations to bodies associated with the rural sector. "There are considerable challenges on the horizon both from a regulatory perspective and the local marketplace which remains exceedingly competitive. However, our intention is that we will continue to be a business which is totally focused on providing a first-class service to our Members." There will also be an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) following the AGM to amend the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Cornish Mutual to reduce the amount of paperwork the Company sends each year. In future years, Cornish Mutual intends to make some documentation available online and only provide hard copies of accounts on request. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/gross-written-premiums-increase-to-£176m/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/gross-written-premiums-increase-to-£176m/ Thu, 22 March 2012 14:16:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/npa-suggests-rule-change-will-benefit-pig-farmers/ Pig farmers in the UK could benefit from a change in European Union (EU) regulations relating to sow stalls, a senior representative from the National Pig Association (NPA) has claimed. According to Farmers Weekly, director Stewart Houston told guests at a British Breakfast for MEPs in Brussels that UK farmers could be in for an increase in profitability as other nations struggle to comply with a ban on sow stalls. In his opinion, there has been an oversupply of pork products in recent years, but fewer than ten EU member states look ready for the rule change, so compliant supplies may be cut dramatically when the legislation comes in next January. Mr Houston stressed the importance of retailers only sourcing compliant meat, saying: "For the first time we are confident UK retailers will comply and run with us on this. They have all got a reputation at stake and retailers - and also branded products - know that they can be named and shamed if they are not compliant." ThePigSite.com reported that the European Commission (EC) is ready to launch infringement proceedings against any pig farms that do not comply with the new regulations, although a representative from the EC's health and consumer department highlighted the complexity of such procedures. Laurence Bonafos suggested that it could take up to two years for infringement cases to go through, but stressed that the organisation will be doing all it can to make sure countries comply. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/npa-suggests-rule-change-will-benefit-pig-farmers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/npa-suggests-rule-change-will-benefit-pig-farmers/ Thu, 22 March 2012 12:43:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/local-farmer-pleads-for-care-when-walking-dogs-on-farmland/ A Cornish farmer has pleaded with dog owners to be more careful when walking on farmland. Tim Kendall, who runs a farm in Portmellon with his wife Sally, is becoming increasingly wary of dogs attacking his sheep following a number of incidents in the past year. Kendall had eight of his sheep mauled by a stray dog in the last year alone and has heard similar stories of sheep worrying from nearby farmers. In an interview with The Farmers Guardian, he claimed that dog owners in the region weren't aware of the consequences of their pet attacking a sheep. He said: "We've put signs up showing a picture of a mauled sheep, and are asking people to keep their dogs on a lead while on farmland, but some people don't seem to accept their dogs could do that sort of thing. "It seems to be an ongoing problem. Often what happens is someone takes a dog for a walk, lets it off the lead and within seconds it is out of sight and possibly chasing sheep." The Scotsman recently released statistics confirming that sheep worrying is becoming an increasingly common issue in the UK.  The figures, based on information supplied by 31 local police forces, suggest that there was an average of 22 sheep worrying cases per region in 2011.  Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/local-farmer-pleads-for-care-when-walking-dogs-on-farmland/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/local-farmer-pleads-for-care-when-walking-dogs-on-farmland/ Tue, 20 March 2012 16:53:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/crude-constructions-lead-to-poor-cattle-growth-rates/ A "crude" approach to building design can often lead to unsatisfactory growth rates and encourage disease in cattle, an Aberdeen University researcher has claimed. Speaking to the Farmer's Guardian, Jamie Robertson was critical of the conditions of livestock buildings on farms. He said that whilst they play an invaluable role in a stock's health, more than half of them are not fit for purpose. Ventilation was cited as the main reason for stock getting ill so quickly. Too much can lead to chilled cattle and poor growth rates, whilst too little can bring on respiratory diseases. "We have a difficult situation in this country due to our windy and wet climate - it often leads to a crude approach to building design," explained Mr Robertson. "In windy areas, people tend not to have any ventilation, and in other areas they leave big gaps above gates, for example, which increases the wind speed through the building and allows ingress of water." Getting the right amount of ventilation into a livestock building has long been a delicate task for the farming community. This is further complicated by the different kinds of conditions that livestock thrive in. DairyCo.org.uk says for example, that the ideal humidity level for dairy livestock buildings is around 70 per cent. This can, however, rise to 85 per cent in winter. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/crude-constructions-lead-to-poor-cattle-growth-rates/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/crude-constructions-lead-to-poor-cattle-growth-rates/ Mon, 19 March 2012 12:00:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/south-west-set-to-avoid-hosepipe-ban/ Representatives from South West Water remain confident that they will not have to enforce a hosepipe ban, despite growing fears of drought in other parts of the UK. According to The Press Association, seven water companies across Southern and Eastern England will enforce a hosepipe ban from April 5 in order to help deal with the drought in these areas. The Environment Agency has warned that drought is likely to spread as far west as the Hampshire-Wiltshire border - but not as far as Somerset, Dorset, Devon or Cornwall. It appears unlikely that any other water companies will be forced to introduce a similar ban in the near future. This will be a huge relief to farmers in the South West, who often rely on hosepipes for many daily tasks on their farms. In a statement released to piratefm.co.uk , South West Water declared that reservoirs in the region were 84 per cent full, whilst quite a few remained completely unaffected by the recent lack of rainfall. Spokeswoman Alison Butts added: "We're confident that this will be our sixteenth summer without water restrictions. We've upgraded our distribution network and we're using less water in our own treatment processes. Together with our customers using less water themselves, have all contributed to our good position [sic]." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/south-west-set-to-avoid-hosepipe-ban/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/south-west-set-to-avoid-hosepipe-ban/ Mon, 19 March 2012 11:55:00 Foot Anstey Solicitors http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/an-inspector-calls/ Following on from our awareness-raising initiative "FarmSafe", we have asked Nigel Lyons, Partner and Head of Regulatory Law at Foot Anstey Solicitors to give a practical guide to what you should do in the event of there being a worst case scenario and a fatality, serious injury or accident occurs on your farm. Should there be an accident which results in the Police or a Government Agency (such as HSE, EA or Trading Standards) carrying out an investigation, then you will be asked to attend a formal interview.  There can be any number of situations that could cause the Police or a Government Inspector to start a criminal investigation.  Such investigations can result in sanctions which could range from a simple reprimand through to a substantial financial penalty or lengthy term of imprisonment.  The Police, in the event of a death occurring will start a manslaughter investigation.  They could choose to arrest you to compel you to participate in a formal tape recorded interview under caution.  Unlike the Police, other Government Agencies do not have a power of arrest unless it is a multi-agency investigation. If you are arrested by the Police you are entitled to free and independent legal advice.  If you do not know a solicitor you could ask for the local duty solicitor.  At Foot Anstey solicitors we have an emergency 24 hour advice service to assist with urgent requests for legal advice.  Likewise, if you are asked to attend an interview by a Government Agency then you should also always consult a solicitor.  If you are not under arrest you should contact Cornish Mutual, who will assist you to find a specialist firm if you do not have a solicitor of your own.  In any emergency investigation you should remain calm and indicate that you are willing to co-operate but that you do want to take legal advice.  Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) your solicitor will then request disclosure of the evidence. In some situations it will be appropriate to answer questions and in others it will not. If you find it difficult to speak in an interview situation you may want to make a written statement in response to the allegations made thereby setting out your defence. The consequences of adopting the incorrect approach could be disastrous. Therefore, it is always worth taking expert advice at the earliest opportunity. The choices that you make before or at interview are likely to have a significant impact on the overall progression of the case. Indeed, whether there is a decision to prosecute or not. Forewarned is forearmed.  Hopefully, you will not need to act on this advice.   Nigel Lyons leads the advocacy team and specialises in all types of contentious criminal advocacy including Coroner Inquests, Courts Martial, Trading Standards and Health and Safety work. He is a Higher Courts (Criminal Proceedings) Advocate, able to appear at any level in our Criminal Courts System and is also a Court and Police Station Duty Solicitor for Plymouth.     http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/an-inspector-calls/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/an-inspector-calls/ Fri, 16 March 2012 11:59:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/mp-urges-government-to-table-groceries-code-adjudicator-bill/ The Government has been asked to confirm that the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill will be discussed soon. In comments reported by South West Farmer, Cornwall MP Andrew George claimed that the legislation has cross-party support, despite opposition from a number of supermarkets in the country. He said: "It is time for the government to confirm that the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill will be put before Parliament in the next session, if not before. The progress of this campaign has been met with constant opposition from some large supermarkets." Mr George suggested there are no "excuses" for further delay to the Bill, which has been in the draft stage since last year and would see the creation of an industry watchdog that would act as an arbitrator in retailer-supplier disputes, as well as investigate potential breaches of the Grocery Suppliers Code of Practice. The Grocer columnist Tom Hind showed his support for the Bill by noting that it would enable the government to step in when market relationships have soured and encourage retailers to trade more responsibly. However, he accepted that there are limits to state intervention and concluded that it is up to the companies involved to establish a deeper relationships - all the while focusing on sustainable practices, rather than short-term profits. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/mp-urges-government-to-table-groceries-code-adjudicator-bill/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/mp-urges-government-to-table-groceries-code-adjudicator-bill/ Thu, 15 March 2012 15:21:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/easter-hols-spark-safety-warning-for-children/ Children in the Westcountry are being reminded about the potential dangers of farm animals and playing in the countryside ahead of the Easter school holidays. As part of its 'FarmSafe for Schools' project, rural insurer Cornish Mutual has produced a new set of guidelines* for youngsters to avoid the risk of death or physical injury whilst spending time outdoors or near animals. An average of four children a year are killed in Britain whilst taking part in agricultural activities and in the past ten years, 45 children have died on farms and another 400 have been seriously injured, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Cornish Mutual, which has a team of locally-based Inspectors across the Westcountry and around 24,000 Members in the South West, has created the simple messages to form part of a teaching resource pack aimed at local primary schools. With the weather conditions improving due to the start of spring and the clocks going forward at the end of this month, many children will spend more time outdoors. The company is now urging parents and guardians to keep a closer eye on youngsters and supervise them wherever possible. Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, says: "I think it's widely believed that those children who grow up in the countryside and on farms understand the risks, but that's not always the case. In fact, the statistics show that when it comes to fatalities most involve farming family members. Children can be killed or seriously injured by incidents that may not necessarily cause serious harm to adults, so it's about being aware of this. By following basic safety guidelines and properly supervising children, many of these risks can be dramatically lowered." The practical advice, aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 11, includes a reminder about the content of the 'Countryside Code' and what to do in an emergency. There is also information about good hygiene and how to reduce the risk of being infected by naturally-occurring diseases carried by farm animals, such as E.coli. Vicci Gillam, teacher at Crowan Primary School in Camborne, Cornwall adds: "Being a rural school, keeping our children safe in the Cornish farming countryside is very important to us, as this is a very real danger that they will encounter on a regular basis. The 'FarmSafe' project is an excellent way to make learning about this important issue fun and interesting for our students. The 'FarmSafe' website provides realistic and interesting activities that help the children to learn about the dangers of rural Cornwall." Rob Pearce, Principal Inspector of Agriculture for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), says: "Farms are ultimately workplaces not playgrounds, but they are great learning environments for children and it's important that this is encouraged in a safe and responsible way through initiatives like this." There have been a number of incidents where people have been injured or killed by cows trampling, crushing and charging while trying to protect their new-born calves in recent years. Many farms and parts of the countryside have public rights of way across them. Cornish Mutual is offering guidance for children who might cross fields or other farm areas where animals are kept. Alan Goddard adds: "The best advice is to steer clear of cattle. We know that cows can be potentially aggressive or unpredictable during spring and members of the public, including children, can be harmed particularly if the animal feels that it is being threatened. Approach animals from the front, move slowly and quietly keeping dogs under close control, keep calm and do not panic or make sudden movements." Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe for Schools' initiative is a free online teaching resource which includes downloadable lesson plans, worksheets, teaching notes, activities, presentations and posters that can be used in the classroom. Linked to Key Stage 1 and 2 of the primary school curriculum, the project has been developed by education experts and health and safety consultants. Over 1,300 primary schools across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset have been approached to take part in the project and there is still time to get involved. Each school has received information on how to access the teaching materials and a poster to display in the classroom. For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'FarmSafe for Schools' initiative and to download any of the free teaching resources, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafeforschools http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/easter-hols-spark-safety-warning-for-children/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/easter-hols-spark-safety-warning-for-children/ Thu, 15 March 2012 15:10:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/closing-animal-labs-could-leave-farms-vulnerable,-warns-efra/ Plans to cut back on animal testing could leave British farms vulnerable to more outbreaks like the Schmallenberg Virus, it is feared. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has warned farming minister Jim Paice that closing Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) sites will make it harder to diagnose harmful animal diseases. In a statement released to parliament.uk, EFRA chair Anne McIntosh explained why the group were so worried about the possible closure of AHVLA sites. She said: "We received worrying expert evidence that the transport of animal samples to distant laboratories, following the closure of AHVLA sites, will lead to a deterioration in samples with an associated risk of failing to diagnose animal disease. In addition, there is a risk that the Agency will lose key specialist skills." The closures could be detrimental to farmers in the South West and all over the UK, especially if their livestock becomes infected with an unidentified disease. EFRA reportedly believe that not enough research has been completed into the impact of closing animal laboratories.  The Yorkshire Post report that many animal health experts concur with the views of EFRA. The British Veterinary Association is amongst the firms calling for the Government to reconsider the closure of AHVLA sites. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/closing-animal-labs-could-leave-farms-vulnerable,-warns-efra/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/closing-animal-labs-could-leave-farms-vulnerable,-warns-efra/ Wed, 14 March 2012 10:32:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/dorset-farmer-and-somerset-trainer-ready-for-cheltenham/ The romance of annual horse-racing extravaganza Cheltenham Festival never ceases to amaze and this year is no exception, with seemingly down-and-out horse Hunt Ball hotly tipped to perform, reports This Is Somerset. Anthony Knott, a dairy farmer from Dorset, bought the horse and transformed him from a "seemingly 'rubbishy' no-hoper into the classy winner of six races in three months". Knott, who himself lived the dream by riding his first winner four years ago (after 28 failed attempts), will be hoping for a performance by Hunt Ball in today's Pulteney Land Investments Novices Handicap Chase. The horse appears to be in safe hands with Somerset trainer Keiran Burke, who was a Cheltenham Festival winner just last year. He himself rode a 25-1 win on Holmwood Legend and came second with Sparky May, just behind the widely popular Quevega. According to Paddy Power, Hunt Ball has a solid chance in today's race, pricing in at 8/1. Knott hailed the impact that Burke has had on Hunt Ball: "I have to take my hat off to [Keiran]. He and his staff have put in all the hard work. "It's a fantastic thing to think we now have a good chance to take on the big boys like Nicky Henderson. The horse is on fire, all we need is a bit of luck," he added. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/dorset-farmer-and-somerset-trainer-ready-for-cheltenham/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/dorset-farmer-and-somerset-trainer-ready-for-cheltenham/ Tue, 13 March 2012 18:03:00 Philip Wilson http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/health-and-safety-requirements-for-farmers-and-landowners/ In the first of a new series of blogs as part of our 'FarmSafe' initiative, we take a general look at the health and safety requirements for farmers and landowners and some of the most important considerations they must take when it comes to employing staff….. Firstly, it's worth remembering that the two main pieces of legislation around health and safety in the workplace can be found in The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - both set out the duties for employers and individuals. Farmers and landowners, like all employers, must ensure as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees. As well as the regulations above, there are also specific provisions contained in other health and safety legislation such as:  •The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 - under these employers need to make sure that they have adequate first aid arrangements and procedures in place to follow in the event of an emergency. •The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) - employers have a responsibility to report any incident that happens in the workplace involving injury, disease or a dangerous occurrence. •The Working at Height Regulations 2005 - make it essential that any work at height is carefully planned, supervised and carried out by people who are competent to do the job. •The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 - apply to any equipment, including machinery that is used for work and means that equipment must be suitable for the task, properly maintained with dangerous parts safeguarded. •The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - require workers to avoid undertaking hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable, assess and take action to reduce these risks. •The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 - include measures that need to be taken to reduce the risk of hearing damage by exposure to loud noise and, •The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 - make similar provisions for avoiding risks to health from exposure to vibration. •The Prevention of Accidents to Children in Agriculture Regulations 1998 - these include duties to prevent injuries to children on farms, including the prohibition on children under 13 years old riding on or driving tractors or farm machinery. As well as complying with these provisions, agricultural employers should also consult with their employees on all aspects of health and safety and make sure that they communicate with their workforce, checking that they understand their own responsibilities around their own health and safety and that of their colleagues. Carry out regular, proper and adequate risk assessments and identify and take steps to eliminate risk as far as possible. Have a written health and safety policy where more than five people are employed and provide adequate information, instruction, training and supervision, particularly in areas such as spraying pesticides and operating work equipment. Finally, it is really important to remember that all the provisions under health and safety laws don't just relate to those people you consider being employees. You also have duties towards independent contractors, temporary workers and agency personnel. If you are not quite sure about what is required of you and what measures you need to take, you can get more information from the Health and Safety Executive's website at www.hse.gov.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/health-and-safety-requirements-for-farmers-and-landowners/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/march/health-and-safety-requirements-for-farmers-and-landowners/ Fri, 09 March 2012 12:44:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/schmallenberg-virus-spreads-to-devon/ The Schmallenberg Virus has spread to Devon, reports have confirmed. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has recently revealed that two new cases of the deadly virus have been identified in Devon farms. This has brought the total amount of reported cases in the UK up to at least 121. The virus is typically spread by mosquitoes, midges and ticks. It seemingly causes sheep to give birth to deformed lambs or become seriously ill. Farms which have reported the disease are typically losing around 10 per cent of their flock because of it. According to fwi.co.uk , at least one farm in Cornwall, another in Somerset and a further three in Dorset have had sheep affected by the disease. The disease has also been affecting some of Britain's cows; although the only reported cases of this have come from the East of the country. Malcolm Bennett, who is a professor of veterinary pathology, has claimed that it will be a while before the full extent of the disease is discovered. He told Mail Online: "The main effect in sheep is on unborn lambs, so only now, as we enter the peak period for lambing, are we beginning to see the extent and severity of the disease." It is thought that the Schmallenberg virus presents no health risks to humans - even if they eat one of the animals affected by the disease. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/schmallenberg-virus-spreads-to-devon/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/schmallenberg-virus-spreads-to-devon/ Thu, 08 March 2012 14:26:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/cornish-mutual-is-proud-to-sponsor-cornwall-food-drink-festival/ Cornish Mutual is pleased to announce that it will be the title sponsor of Cornwall Food and Drink's annual celebration of Cornish food and drink on Lemon Quay, Truro this September.  The event, which runs from 28-30 September 2012 is now firmly established as one of the nation's favourite food festivals, attracting in excess of 40,000 visitors in 2011. With around 60 exhibitors, a packed timetable of chef demos, foodie talks, fun for kids in the Funky Food Zone and lots more, there is something for everyone over the three action-filled days.  Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, says: "The Cornwall Food & Drink Festival is a fantastic event which showcases the very best that Cornwall has to offer. Cornwall's producers, suppliers and retailers are a really significant part of the Duchy's economy and it's important that we help to promote them. As a mutual organisation at the heart of the rural community for over 100 years, we are delighted and proud to be supporting this event, which fits so well with our own brand and community ethos." Cornish Mutual, based in Truro, employs more than 80 members of staff. The company provides a range of insurance products for farmers, small businesses, such as food and drink producers and people in the rural communities of the South West. Around two thirds of Cornwall's farmers are Cornish Mutual Members and the company is a keen supporter of Cornwall Food & Drink Festival. Ruth Huxley, director of Cornwall Food & Drink, comments: "We greatly value the support from Cornish Mutual, which plays such an important role in this event and we would like to extend a huge thank you for all their support. "Cornish Mutual's sponsorship will help to ensure that this event continues to grow and deliver even more fantastic activities, cookery demonstrations and entertainment in 2012. The festival has gone from strength to strength in recent years and we have every intention of making this year's event even bigger and better than before!" More information and festival updates can be found at www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk .   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/cornish-mutual-is-proud-to-sponsor-cornwall-food-drink-festival/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/cornish-mutual-is-proud-to-sponsor-cornwall-food-drink-festival/ Mon, 05 March 2012 15:37:00 CHICKS http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/how-a-chicks-break-in-the-countryside-makes-a-difference/ As annual sponsors of CHICKS, Cornish Mutual have invited us to contribute to their blog. CHICKS is a children's charity that provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children from across the UK, including many from Cornwall. The children we help come from a variety of backgrounds. Many have been abused, live in poverty, or have been neglected.  Others live in care or are themselves young carers, often bearing the extraordinary responsibility of caring for disabled or terminally ill relatives. What they have in common is the desperate need to create some positive childhood memories, to be listened to, and to have the kind of fun that all children deserve.  In 2012 CHICKS is celebrating 20 years of providing disadvantaged children with a much needed break at one of our retreats in Cornwall or Devon.   For some, the countryside is just out the window, yet for many, the countryside is a welcome break from a heavily polluted metropolis. The children that come on a CHICKS camp have often never been to the countryside before, not seen sheep, and don't understand that meat comes from that cow, sheep or pig. It is incredible to watch their faces as you explain about the origin of their lamb chops and beef burgers. On our Jitterbug camp in 2011, a boy was taken in by the view at Brentor, near our Moorland Retreat. Following his break in Devon, Scott wrote, "The view was something I couldn't take my eyes off. It was like it grabbed my eyes with both hands and held them firm and straight, watching the view of the Moors, grasslands and sky allowed me to think." For this young boy, as for many others, the break away in the countryside allows them to be themselves, to breathe some fresh air and see the beauty of nature, rather than streets filled with concrete buildings. We are thankful that our retreats are well away from the roads, but safety in the countryside  is essential. Prior to coming on a CHICKS camp, the children are often unaware of the speed at which traffic travels in rural areas, and that the behaviour of neighbouring farm animals can not always be predicted. They have an amazing time, and really appreciate the free space around them; one conversation between the children was particularly endearing, "Look at all that land, it's England!" said Aiden. Ben said, "Where?" and Aiden replied, "All around us is England - it's beautiful!" These children don't see the countryside in their daily lives, and a CHICKS break gives them a safe space to run in the green fields and enjoy being children. If you would like to support the work of CHICKS, please visit our website www.chicks.org.uk or call us on 01822 811020. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/how-a-chicks-break-in-the-countryside-makes-a-difference/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/how-a-chicks-break-in-the-countryside-makes-a-difference/ Fri, 02 March 2012 18:29:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/rics-highlights-growth-in-farmland-value/ The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released a report showing the rising value of farmland. According to Propertytalk Live, the Rural Market Land Market Survey H2 2011 found that demand once again outstripped supply, with almost all UK regions seeing prices rise during the second half of last year. The average cost per acre for this type of property has now hit £6,514, which means farmland has doubled in value in five years. Sue Steer, a spokesperson for RICS, suggested the imbalance between supply and demand makes it "easy" to see why prices have surged. She said: "Land prices reached record levels once again towards the end of 2011, as commercial farmers looked to capitalise on increasing commodity prices by expanding their businesses." The Western Morning News reported that RICS surveyors expect the pattern to carry on in 2012, which suggests South West farmers will see their land continue to fetch premium prices in the coming year. Ms Steer pointed out that the state of the national housing picture means that rural land geared towards the residential sector will have a more "mixed" outlook than property used for commercial farming. The RICS survey found that a net balance of +53 per cent of surveyors saw an increase in demand for commercial farmland during the second half of 2011, compared with the same period the previous year. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/rics-highlights-growth-in-farmland-value/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/rics-highlights-growth-in-farmland-value/ Fri, 02 March 2012 10:59:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/english-farmers-to-benefit-from-grant-scheme/ Farms and other rural business are set to reap the benefits of a £60 million Rural Economy Grant scheme, reports Farmers Guardian. The scheme, which is open for applications, runs until the end of April and allow firms to receive "up to 40 per cent of the cost of projects in the five business areas of farm competitiveness, agri-food, tourism, forestry and micro enterprise support". Each grant could be worth up to £1 million, claims the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Secretary Caroline Spelman, which would give rural entrepreneurs the opportunity to transform their business prospects for the long-term and "unlock their economic potential". For example, grants can be used to purchase new processing and packing equipment, giving farmers the chance to target new markets. In addition, grants for the improvement of animal health and welfare will be made available to farmers, as well as funding for accommodation, visitor services and activities. Spelman commented to Press Association about the scheme: "From today, they have the chance to turn their most ambitious and innovative business plans into a reality - boosting profits, supporting a thriving rural economy and improving the natural environment. "Our £60 million investment will give farmers and rural entrepreneurs life-changing opportunities to transform their business prospects for the long term," she added. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/english-farmers-to-benefit-from-grant-scheme/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/english-farmers-to-benefit-from-grant-scheme/ Thu, 01 March 2012 13:58:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/farmers-offered-advice-on-ad-energy-facilities/ South West farmers can get free advice on whether to invest in anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities following the launch of a new initiative. According to The Poultry Site, the initiative has been put together by the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), giving landowners the chance to look into how their operations could be altered by signing up for renewable power production. Charlotte Morton, chief executive of the organisation, said: "Today's farmers are facing a tough economic climate made even more challenging by soaring energy, fertiliser and transport costs. "AD not only helps farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing dependence on commercial fertilisers and traditional transport fuels and energy consumption, but also keeps farmers farming." The free ADBA service aims to help farmers decide if AD is a viable option for them by considering issues such as whether levels of waste are high enough, whether the location is appropriate and if a grid connection is available. Farmers Guardian reported that the service received an official launch at the Energy Now Expo in Malvern, where a number of members of the ADBA were available to chat to interested farmers about the consultancy service. As well as producing renewable energy, the AD process can create a sustainable source of fertiliser. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/farmers-offered-advice-on-ad-energy-facilities/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/farmers-offered-advice-on-ad-energy-facilities/ Thu, 01 March 2012 10:44:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/dairy-shorthorns-allow-dorset-farmer's-organic-reinvention/ The decision to invest in Dairy Shorthorn cows has allowed one Dorset farmer to make a successful transition to organic operation. Speaking to the Farmers Guardian, Pipplepen Farm's Trevor Cligg explained that he and his wife have gradually built up their business since 2003, investing a significant amount of money to improve facilities at their farm in South Perrott. He described how 90 per cent of his herd are Dairy Shorthorn and the breed has been ideal for his organic approach to dairy farming, although Mr Cligg admitted that he tries not to over-complicate his operations with complex farming strategies. "We brought 230 cows and 150 youngstock with us, and bought in about 70 Brown Swiss crosses, Jerseys, and some organic black and white cows. But over the years we have come to the conclusion the Shorthorns suit us the best because they are so hardy and easy to care for," said the farmer. Mr Cligg originally milked a herd of 140 Holsteins in Devon, but the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001 meant he and his wife had to start again, this time choosing to go with Shorthorns. The Cornish Guardian offered an indication this month of the price buyers can expect to pay for a Shorthorn steer, reporting that the top-priced example of the breed was on sale for the equivalent of 185 pence per kilogramme (p/kg). For the South West regional market, the average price of a steer was 171.65p/kg. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/dairy-shorthorns-allow-dorset-farmer's-organic-reinvention/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/dairy-shorthorns-allow-dorset-farmer's-organic-reinvention/ Thu, 01 March 2012 10:27:00 Paul Haddrell http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/preparing-for-a-flood/ In recent years, the South West has been subjected to bouts of severe flooding, which have destroyed homes and devastated communities. In November 2010, much of South East Cornwall suffered torrential downpours with more than 100 homes evacuated in the worst hit areas of St Blazey, St Austell, Mevagissey and Lostwithiel - even tourist attraction the Eden Project was forced to close for a week due to the damage the flooding caused. A year on, in late October 2011, the same part of Cornwall was under water again, and flood warnings were issued for rivers and seafront areas across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Although you might not be able to stop your property from flooding, there are measures you can take to reduce the damage and make sure you're prepared for the worst. It is also important to insure your home and contents against flooding. The following advice should help you assess whether your home is at risk of flooding, help ensure you have the correct insurance cover in place and minimise the effect a flood can cause. Is my property at risk of flooding? According to the latest statistics from the Environment Agency, over 5.5 million properties in England and Wales are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water - which accounts for one in six properties. It's essential you know if you live in a high-risk property, so you can make the appropriate preparations. The Environment Agency has a flood map which will tell you if you're at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Will my insurance policy cover any damage caused by flooding? When you take out your building and contents insurance, make sure you find out what is covered and what isn't. Make sure you know where all your insurance documents are kept and make a note of the numbers you need to call if your property floods. Keep a thorough record of any damage caused and keep any evidence - take photographs and videos, mark the height of the flood water on the walls in each room. Don't throw away anything that has been damaged, apart from food - and make a list of that if your policy covers perishable items. To help your claim run smoothly, keep a record of all communication between you and your insurance company - dates and times of phone calls and the name of who you spoke to, copies of letters, emails and faxes and receipts for anything you've had to pay out for. If there's anything you're unsure of, speak to your insurance company and they should be able to advise you on what your policy covers. How can I minimise the damage and prepare myself? There are some simple steps you can take to minimise the damage caused by flooding, such as keeping valuable items such as televisions on high shelves or mounted to the wall whenever possible and safe to do so. You can find detailed advice on steps to reduce flood damage and specialist products you can buy to prevent water from entering your home on the Environment Agency's website. If you're worried about your property being at risk of flooding, you can sign up to Floodline's warning system, which will alert you by phone, mobile, email, SMS or fax if a warning is issued for where you live. To sign up for the service, visit their website or call 0845 988 1188. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/preparing-for-a-flood/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/preparing-for-a-flood/ Fri, 24 February 2012 15:25:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/temporary-workers’-message-for-farmers/ With daffodils out and pickers working hard in fields, farmers and landowners in the Westcountry are being reminded that they have a legal responsibility for the health and safety of any temporary or seasonal workers they employ. Rural insurer Cornish Mutual and South West legal firm Stephens Scown LLP want to raise awareness so that agricultural employers understand their duties towards independent contractors and temporary workers under health and safety laws. The message comes as part of Cornish Mutual's new 'Farmsafe' initiative - the rural insurance firm is teaming up with Stephens Scown to provide specialist advice for the region's landowners. Both The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 set out requirements for employers and individuals to ensure that proper provision is made for health and safety at work. Cornish Mutual and Stephens Scown are now urging farmers in the Westcountry to keep their health and safety management systems under review with regular audits. Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, says: "Farmers who take their obligations seriously are not likely to be in breach of the law, but there's no doubt the farming community should be aware of the potential for a prosecution which stems from serious management failings. Agricultural employers are not immune to health and safety laws and when accidents happen they can potentially have devastating consequences including death, prison and the end of a business. We know that agriculture has the worst record of any industry when it comes to deaths and serious injuries and we want to help improve this situation." There were eight deaths in the workplace in the South West during 2010/11 and over 2,000 employees suffered major injuries. In July last year, an HSE investigation was launched after a farm worker was killed near Falmouth when a power cable was severed by machinery he was using and in March 2010, a Cornish teenager was accidently killed after falling into a slurry pit in his tractor. Following a recent change in the law, a business can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter when there is an incident in the workplace involving the death of an individual, as a result of serious management failures, resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care. Marie Ashton, employment lawyer and head of HRExpress with Stephens Scown LLP, says: "Health and safety laws apply to all employers, whether they have taken on permanent full-time staff or temporary workers just for the spring or summer. Farmers and landowners must ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees and there are a number of obligations on them. "These include things such as having a written health and safety policy, making sure you regularly consult with employees, carrying out proper and adequate risk assessments, having adequate first-aid arrangements and emergency procedures in place, as well as providing information, instruction, training and supervision." There are also working time regulations and specific legal provisions for particular types of work such as exposure to noise and vibration, working at height, manual handling and the use of work equipment and machinery. Farmers also have a responsibility to report any incident under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). Marie adds: "Anyone who directly employs teams of agricultural workers needs to have a licence from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and will only be eligible if they meet the GLA's standards and show they can take care of the health and safety of workers. Gangmasters who operate without a licence or those who use the services of an unlicensed provider are liable to prosecution, fines or imprisonment." Alan Goddard comments: "Employers need to make sure they eliminate risks and communicate with their workforce to ensure they understand their own responsibilities for ensuring their health and safety and that of their colleagues. This might include making provision for those whose first language is not English. "It's also a good idea to have public liability and employers' liability insurance, which includes the legal costs of defending your company or organisation against action taken under the new manslaughter legislation. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement, except in a few circumstances, to provide compensation to employees in situations where their employer is responsible for injury or death." Cornish Mutual has further guidance on farm safety available at:  www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe .  For more information on Stephens Scown visit: www.stephens-scown.co.uk . Further advice and guidance on health and safety law and specific obligations can be found at www.hse.gov.uk . Licensing standards for gangmasters are available at www.gla.defra.gov.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/temporary-workers’-message-for-farmers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/temporary-workers’-message-for-farmers/ Fri, 24 February 2012 14:21:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/five-year-plan-sets-out-how-rpa-will-improve/ A five-year plan on how the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will be improved has been published by the government. More than £60 million in additional funds has been pledged by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over the next three years to help boost efficiency at the organisation, which is responsible for handing out about £2 billion in agricultural grants each year. According to the Western Morning News, the RPA has come under severe criticism in the past and the body's chief executive Mark Grimshaw told the newspaper that the project will be career-defining for him. The five-year plan will seek to iron out issues that have blighted the organisation's operations, while also preparing for changes in the Common Agricultural Policy. Farming minister Jim Paice said: "The RPA's historical problems have been well documented, but the five-year plan sets out a clear path to deal with that legacy and ensure the RPA provides a high level of service in the future." Commenting on the news, Guardian Professional reporter Sade Laja noted that data quality has been a real issue for the RPA, which is why it had such trouble distributing grants in the past. Ms Laja explained that the "cleansing" of its data will be one of the highest priorities for the body over the course of its transformation. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/five-year-plan-sets-out-how-rpa-will-improve/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/february/five-year-plan-sets-out-how-rpa-will-improve/ Wed, 22 February 2012 16:32:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farmers-get-lessons-in-health-and-safety/ More than 100 farmers from across Devon and Cornwall have taken part in a series of practical workshops to highlight health and safety and cut the number of deaths and serious injuries in agriculture. Sessions on working at height, manual handling, safe use of farm machinery, electrocution and handling livestock were delivered by Duchy College and Lantra approved trainers at two free events hosted by rural insurer Cornish Mutual. There were also practical demonstrations on how to deal with entrapment and machinery blockages, and what precautions to take around chemicals at the events at Duchy College Stoke Climsland and on Willey Farm, near Okehampton earlier this week. Run under the South West Regional Skills Programme delivered by Duchy College Rural Business School, the training was supported by Cornish Mutual as part of the rural insurer's 'Farmsafe' initiative launched earlier this year. Philip Wilson, Business Development Manager at Cornish Mutual, said: "By providing training like this and through other 'Farmsafe' activities, we want to raise awareness of safety issues and help to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on farms - it could make a real difference. These events have also been a good opportunity for our farming Members to catch up with each other and share their industry knowledge and experience." Ian Davey, a farmer and Cornish Mutual Member from Trerulefoot in South East Cornwall broke his arm and dislocated his shoulder, after being electrocuted with 11,000 volts when his trailer tipped up and touched an overhead power line. Ian Davey said: "Farms are very dangerous places and there are lots of hazards which we're not always fully aware of. We're always in a hurry to get a job done, usually influenced by the weather, and often we don't stand back and look at the dangers involved. My message is to look up and be aware of power lines, ladders, quad bikes, tractors, farm buildings and working at heights. These events are very important to make farmers more aware of the situations they find themselves in." Mike Hambly from Westcott Farm, Callington in Cornwall, commented: "I've had friends that have actually been fatalities, particularly one through electrocution, so the messages really do need to be listened to. I think there are a lot of us in the industry that know of people that have been touched by serious accidents. It's beholden on all of us to want to protect ourselves if we're self-employed and obviously to make sure staff and contractors are protected as well. We're working in small teams and can't afford time off to be ill or have injuries, so these are really key events to make sure we keep everyone safe to avoid these downtimes." Rob Pearce, Principal Inspector in Cornwall and Devon for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: "Many farmers are self-employed or run small family businesses, so we want to make sure they're not putting themselves and their livelihoods at risk with poor health and safety. There have been a number of simple tips outlined that won't cost a lot to put into practice and could even help to boost productivity. It's an alarming statistic that farmers are ten times more likely than most workers to be killed while at work, and that someone is killed on a farm in Devon and Cornwall on average of once every two months." For more information on Cornish Mutual's 'Farmsafe' initiative, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farmers-get-lessons-in-health-and-safety/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farmers-get-lessons-in-health-and-safety/ Tue, 21 February 2012 18:51:00 Ashfords Solicitors http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farming-and-renewable-energy/ Recently, there has been considerable press coverage regarding solar farms, including the Government's review of the Feed in Tariff ("FIT") which is applicable to solar projects. Solar is just one of the technologies of potential relevance to the farming sector. It is important, however, to make a distinction between commercial schemes led by external backers  that happen to be leasing farm land, and smaller scale schemes that are used by farmers to provide power and an additional source of income. Although there are various risks associated with farm scale schemes, the chief risk is the ability of the electrical distribution network to handle the exported power. Whilst the problem can be overcome, it may take a long time or be expensive (or both) and needs to be taken into account at an early stage. Some may think this will not be an issue due to the farm's electrical requirements - but even those farms with very high electrical requirements are likely to have surplus power at certain times. The renewables technologies usually seen in the farming sector are; - Solar - Small-scale wind (usually only one turbine) - The use of slurry or crops (or both) in anaerobic digestion ('AD') - Biomass (generally using wood or straw but also crops such as miscanthus) - Ground source heating In addition, in some locations, micro hydro electric schemes are possible. A specific issue with solar in farm schemes is dust. The latest solar panels are self cleaning, but need a pitch of around 45 degrees to achieve this. If they are not kept clean, their generating capacity declines. Wind turbines need a suitable position, and planning permission is frequently an issue. AD needs a consistent feedstock. Maintenance of the chosen system needs to be considered carefully and there is some concern that quoted maintenance costs may be too low. Assuming the technical requirements can be met and planning permission can be obtained, there are real benefits. The FIT (applicable to solar and farm scale AD and small scale wind) and the Renewable Obligations Certificate ("ROC" - applicable to large scale wind, micro hydro and biomass used to generate electricity) both provide financial incentives. For ground source projects and heat generating biomass, the Renewable Heat Incentive ("RHI") is potentially available. The FIT, ROCs and the RHI will assist financing the chosen scheme since they provide a source of income on top of the value of the power or heat produced. For more information, and for advice on the suitability of your farm in producing renewable energy, contact Mark Northey, Head of Energy at Ashfords Solicitors. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farming-and-renewable-energy/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farming-and-renewable-energy/ Wed, 15 February 2012 09:14:00 Verity Dodd http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/free-health-safety-workshops/ You are probably well aware that agriculture now has the highest number of fatalities and serious injuries of any industry in the UK. As an insurance company with our roots in farming and an interest in the welfare of rural communities throughout the South West, we take health and safety issues very seriously and would like to encourage the reduction of risk in agriculture.  For this reason, we will be running an awareness-raising initiative called ' FarmSafe ' throughout 2012, to help reduce the number of health and safety-related incidents and accidents on farms.  An important part of this initiative takes place next week, when we will be holding two health and safety workshops in association with Duchy College. The workshops, which will be provided by Lantra trainers, are free to Cornish Mutual Members  and will consist of eight different sessions on the following topics; • Chainsaw safety • Telehandler best practice • Working at heights/manual handling • Livestock handling • Safe use of ATVs • Entrapment/machinery blockages • Electrocution • Chemicals and dust The first workshop takes place on Wednesday 15th February at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland; the second on Thursday 16th February at Willey Farm, Sticklepath (near Okehampton). Refreshments will be provided on arrival along with lunch. It is hoped the sessions will demonstrate how health and safety can be practically implemented into the everyday running of a farm; if you would like to attend a workshop, please let our Marketing Assistant, Verity Dodd, know on 01872 246481 or by emailing marketing@cornishmutual.co.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/free-health-safety-workshops/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/free-health-safety-workshops/ Fri, 10 February 2012 11:48:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/strangest-insurance-requests-are-revealed/ A helicopter, Faberge egg collection, a pair of false teeth and a village phone box tops a list of the strangest items that rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual has been asked to cover, it has been revealed for the first time. The company, which has nearly 24,000 Members across the Westcountry, has been asked to provide insurance cover for a stately home worth more than £5 million, a family of camels, medical gasses and a bronze statue marking the 1497 Cornish rebellion. Other more unusual requests for cover include vast and expensive porcelain, art and antiques collections and a road bicycle with no lights for daytime use only - all of which were refused. One Inspector working for Cornish Mutual in North Devon also handled an insurance claim where a sunbathing sheep was startled by a postal van and managed to jump through a person's front room window and disembowel itself, dying on the owner's lounge floor carpet. In 2010/11 more than 5,800 insurance claims were handled by Cornish Mutual in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset and the company paid out over £10 million. Philip Wilson, Business Development Manager at Cornish Mutual, says: "I would like to say that we have seen and heard it all before when it comes to strange requests for insurance cover or the more unusual claims, but now I'm not so sure! On a serious note, it is very important to ensure that you have the right type of insurance cover in place for your personal belongings or items of any value, however bizarre or unusual they may be. It's worth checking that you are adequately insured to the right level because if you need to make a claim, you may find yourself underinsured." He adds: "Compared to other insurers, we pride ourselves on our very straightforward claims service where we make it as easy as possible for our Members to claim. Although these examples are some of the more unusual ones we've handled, our Member Services team and local Inspectors do a great job of dealing with claims and requests for insurance and do their best to help wherever they can. "Because we provide a very personal, flexible service and range of bespoke insurance products, we can tailor our cover around the specific needs of the individual wherever possible, so it is always worth checking with us first." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/strangest-insurance-requests-are-revealed/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/strangest-insurance-requests-are-revealed/ Thu, 09 February 2012 16:57:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/insurer-creates-new-space-for-support-(1)/ Farmers across Cornwall in need of help and support can visit the county's agricultural chaplain in a new shed at the Truro Livestock Market, thanks to rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual. Chris Batt (pictured), who is the Farm Crisis Network's Cornwall Co-ordinator, will be taking up residence at the shed every Wednesday morning from 9am until lunchtime, when local famers and members of the agricultural community can drop in for a confidential chat if they are experiencing any problems. The new facility, a 22 x 8ft wooden shed has been bought and paid for by the Truro-based insurer to support the Cornwall Agricultural Chaplaincy. Chris Batt said: "Having the shed at Truro Market is really important, as it gives members of the agricultural community a place where they can come for advice, support, or just a general chat with a friendly face. Farming can be a very stressful and isolating job - for example, someone I saw last week said I was the first person they'd spoken to in three weeks - so just being there can make a really big difference. "Farmers are very self-sufficient and don't like to ask for help, but small worries can snowball and things can go rapidly downhill when you don't have someone to talk to. When I speak to people I try to pre-empt problems and point them in the right direction before things become a major issue, as well as acting as the first point of contact for charities like RABI and the Addington Fund." Paul Hawkins, local Insurance Inspector for Cornish Mutual added: "The work the agricultural chaplaincy carries out here in Truro is so important to the local farming community, including many of Cornish Mutual's Members, which is why we wanted to support them by providing a new shed for the market. It will give an excellent base for Chris and a place where people know they can go for private help and guidance." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/insurer-creates-new-space-for-support-(1)/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/insurer-creates-new-space-for-support-(1)/ Thu, 09 February 2012 16:47:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/protect-gold-to-avoid-valentine’s-heartbreak/ As the price of gold soars, rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual is warning people in the Westcountry that their valuables may not be adequately insured in the lead up to Valentines Day next week. With experts predicting the precious metal will reach an all-time high of $2,000 per ounce later this year, the insurer is urging people with expensive valuables, such as gold jewellery and watches, to get them re-valued. During 2011, the price of gold saw an increase of 50 per cent and Cornish Mutual is concerned many people in the South West will have items that are significantly undervalued and could find themselves losing out if they had to make an insurance claim for an item being lost, stolen or damaged.  Cornish Mutual, which has nearly 24,000 Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, has seen a number of cases where a re-valuation on lost valuables has resulted in a drastic increase in value. Glenys Wilkins, owner of Wilkins Jewellers in Bridgwater, Somerset, says: "People are often not aware of the value of their gold jewellery until they actually lose it and want to make a claim. They usually can't believe the amount the price has increased, even in the past two or three years. Most insurers require an up-to-date valuation, as well as proof of ownership, so I would recommend that people carry out a re-valuation at least every three years. We hold a valuation day on the last Wednesday of every month, so anyone with items they think may have increased in value can come to get a professional opinion." Not all insurance firms will allow a re-valuation after a claim has been made, which is why Cornish Mutual is encouraging its Members to obtain new valuations for any gold they have insured. It is also important for people to make sure their home contents cover is correct, so when it comes to making a claim they do not find they are underinsured. Nick Howe, local Inspector for Cornish Mutual in Somerset, explains: "When someone first comes to us for an insurance quote, we ask for an up-to-date valuation on valuable items like gold jewellery, but as many of our Members have been with us for a number of years, some of those valuations are now out of date. Because of the drastic increase in the price of gold recently, it's worth making sure that you are adequately insured for your valuable items." He adds: "Some insurers will only allow claims to the amount of the original valuation. Although nothing can replace the sentimental value of jewellery gifted to you by a loved one, by correctly insuring your valuables and having them valued regularly you can at least be sure of recovering the financial loss." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/protect-gold-to-avoid-valentine’s-heartbreak/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/protect-gold-to-avoid-valentine’s-heartbreak/ Wed, 08 February 2012 11:11:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/nutrition-key-to-reducing-lamb-mortality/ Farmers in the South West need to think carefully about their ewes' diets as lambing season approaches, according to one expert. Kate Phillips, livestock consultant at rural development organisation ADAS, told Farmers Guardian that nutrients such as vitamin E and Selenium play a "crucial role" in keeping the animals alive. She explained that both of these substances are important for nurturing a lamb's vigour, while Selenium also helps a lamb's immunity to diseases and their ability to generate heat. "Feeding carefully formulated in-lamb ewe diets will pay dividends later. If you feed a diet that meets ewe energy, protein and mineral needs pre-lambing, and body condition is good, then lamb losses will be reduced," said Ms Phillips, adding that farms should be aiming for 15 per cent lamb mortality or less. In her opinion, the majority of farmers have the ability to reduce the number of animals that die during the lambing season. While nutrition is vital for ewes due to give birth, one farmer has described to Cotswold Journal how he is aiming to improve his farm's lambing success by giving ewes a haircut. Jake Freestone of Overbury Farms explained: "There are many positive reasons to winter shear ewes. Firstly, they will be more comfortable and cooler as they are naturally an outdoor-all-year-round species, resulting in less strain on the sheep, shearling put to one side, but once a year they should get that anyway. "They should also eat less and be more efficient with what they eat, as they are not using energy to keep cool." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/nutrition-key-to-reducing-lamb-mortality/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/nutrition-key-to-reducing-lamb-mortality/ Thu, 02 February 2012 17:39:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/'robotic-milking'-benefiting-cornish-farmers/ A number of farmers in Cornwall are taking advantage of new technology which allows for the 'robotic milking' of cows. As well as giving farmers time to attend to other areas of their business, 'robotic milking' is also helping farmers to increase their milk yields and improve their herd management. Andrew Julian, who works at Tratford Farm in Looe, is one of the farmers already experiencing the benefits of investing in milk robots. In an interview with thisiscornwall.co.uk, he explained how the robots were helping him run his business more efficiently. He said: "Milking was taking six hours a day, and now the daily time with the cows is typically just two-and-a-half hours and is totally flexible and we are not tied to the unit. "We have seen yields increase by up to 15 per cent since the robots were installed and we are managing the cows far better with less labour - but the improved quality of life is as important as anything." According to Farmers Guardian, robotic milking systems are also allowing to farmers increase their herd because there is no longer huge time constraints involved with milking them. Another user, David Talbot of Lower Alston Farm in Lancashire has estimated that the machines are saving him at least £1,200 per month in labour costs for his herd of 200 cows. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/'robotic-milking'-benefiting-cornish-farmers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/'robotic-milking'-benefiting-cornish-farmers/ Thu, 02 February 2012 17:35:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/cornwall's-food-industry-creates-£14-billion-a-year/ Cornwall's food industry is worth an estimated £1.4 billion a year to its economy, according to a new report. The study, which was commissioned by Cornwall Development Company, took into account every aspect of food created in Cornwall from the growing of crops to sales in the supermarket. It was suggested that nearly £300 million a year is created via farm produce, whilst tourists are currently spending an estimated £450 million a year on food during trips to Cornwall. The report also indicated that the food industry is responsible for 30 per cent of jobs in the county.  Reacting to the figures, Cornwall Development Company rural delivery manager David Rodda claimed it would take a lot of hard work for the region to maintain these impressive figures. In an interview with insidermedia.com, he indicated an urgent need to develop a strategy which will make it easier to do so. He said: "It is clear from the studies that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have an incredibly strong, vibrant and important agri-food industry. However, no-one should be complacent at the current time. The key thing is that we don't allow the opportunities to pass us by." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/cornwall's-food-industry-creates-£14-billion-a-year/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/cornwall's-food-industry-creates-£14-billion-a-year/ Wed, 01 February 2012 16:43:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/devon-wfu-'honoured'-to-host-national-conference/ The Devon branch of the Women's Food and Farming Union (WFU) is excited to host the organisation's national conference this spring. Rosemary Berry, chairman of the Devon group, described to the Farmers Guardian how happy she and her team are to be organising the event, which will take place at Bicton College from April 11th to 13th. "Devon WFU is extremely honoured to host this year's national conference and delighted that so many distinguished speakers and guests have already pledged their support for the event, including our national patron Baroness Byford and president Helen Bower," she remarked. The theme of this year's occasion is 'Food for Thought', with food security due to be at the top of the agenda and several experts lined up to speak to delegates. Farming Monthly reported that the University of Exeter's Professor Michael Winter, director of the school's Centre for Rural Policy Research, is one of those scheduled to speak about the topic. Other speakers so far confirmed are chief veterinary officer for Wales Dr Christianne Glossup, microbiologist Dr Marina Morgan, MEP Richard Ashworth, Devon farmer Richard Haddock and local cheesemaker Mary Quicke. Among the other topics on the agenda are the Slow Food Movement, fair trade and animal health, with the WFU hoping to see members as well as non-members attending the event. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/devon-wfu-'honoured'-to-host-national-conference/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/devon-wfu-'honoured'-to-host-national-conference/ Wed, 01 February 2012 16:06:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/national-beef-association-hails-badger-cull-breakthrough/ The National Beef Association (NBA) hopes to see ten more badger cull licences granted now that two pilot projects look set to go ahead, reports South West Farmer. Bill Harper, TB Committee chairman at the NBA, explained that the culling of badgers is needed to help stop the "horrendous" spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB), which is why ten further applications are being planned for 2013. The two pilot areas for the project are in West Somerset and Gloucestershire, with the system coming into effect in autumn. Local farmers will be invited to apply for a licence to take part. Mr Harper said: "We are still a long way off a badger cull taking place, but the attitude of all involved is very encouraging and we remain positive that licences will be granted and everything put in place for the two pilot areas to surge into action this autumn." BBC News' environment correspondent Richard Black pointed out that the scheme's cost-effectiveness is still being debated, but the need to do something to stop the spread of bovine TB is undeniable. He cited statistics released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which demonstrated that the disease is costing about £100 million each year, while also leading to tens of thousands of cattle being put down. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/national-beef-association-hails-badger-cull-breakthrough/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/national-beef-association-hails-badger-cull-breakthrough/ Tue, 31 January 2012 18:49:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/mary-king-brings-chilli-morning-into-her-stables/ South West event rider Mary King has brought in a new horse called Chilli Morning to her stables, much to the delight of his owners. Speaking to Horse & Hound, owner Chris Stone explained that he and ex-rider Nick Gauntlett are "thrilled" that the talented stallion will be used by King - one of Great Britain's Olympic hopes at London 2012. He accepted that Chilli is not of the same standard as some of King's world-class horses that may go to the Olympic Games, but suggested this is actually something of a relief. The decision to move the horse to another stable was taken after it became clear that he would not qualify for the Olympics. Mr Stone said: "Nick and I set off on the dream of the London Olympics together on the day that we were awarded the Games, and he did a great job in finding and producing the horses to give them, and him, a shot at selection." King spoke to Sidmouth Herald 24 this week about her decision to take Chilli into her stables, describing the move as "very exciting" and saying he may be used at Badminton Horse Trials in May. Source: Vertical Leap   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/mary-king-brings-chilli-morning-into-her-stables/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/mary-king-brings-chilli-morning-into-her-stables/ Tue, 31 January 2012 12:30:00 Verity Dodd http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/top-10-inexpensive-ways-to-add-value-to-your-house/ If you're trying to sell your home, you'll want to do everything you can to impress potential buyers and increase its value. While not everyone can afford improvements like a loft conversion or kitchen refit, there are some inexpensive steps you can take to add value to your house. 1. Smarten up the outside of the house First impressions are incredibly important - a bad view of the outside of your house could put off buyers before they've even opened the door. Give it a new lick of paint, clean the windows and gutters and make sure the front door looks smart - and make sure your house name or number is clearly visible. 2. Tidy the front garden Similarly, a well-presented front garden will help to create the right impression when viewers arrive. Clear the driveway, trim the grass, and maybe add a few potted plants. 3. Create a bright, airy hallway It's the first part of the house people will see, but often an area which is forgotten about. Remove any clutter like shoes, bikes or unopened post, and make the most of a narrow corridor by painting in light colours and hanging mirrors to create the illusion of a bigger space. 4. De-clutter This applies to all rooms in your house - the more mess and clutter there is, the smaller the rooms will feel. In the kitchen, tidy away recipe books, food and drink bottles and boxes, recycling and utensils., iIn the bathroom tidy away excess toiletries and cleaning products, and in the living rooms and bedrooms put away any children's' toys, books, DVDs etc. 5. Clean It sounds obvious, but a dirty or untidy house will put people off buying. Sweep floors, vacuum carpets, wipe down worktops and cupboards, polish taps, take out the rubbish and don't leave any unnecessary items lying around that might look messy. 6. Show off storage Adequate storage is important to most buyers, especially families, so make sure you show off what you have. Tidy out and clean all your cupboards so they look more spacious, if you have a garage or shed clean that out too, and if you have roof space available for storage make sure there is easy access in case house viewers want to have a look. 7. Bring décor up to date A few little tweaks can make your house feel modern, fresh and clean. Choose light, airy colours for the walls, and don't forget the ceiling, especially in the kitchen where paintwork discolours the quickest. Choose blinds for the kitchen and bathroom, get rid of any net curtains, swap your shower curtain for a glass screen and choose un-fussy soft furnishings. 8. Make the house smell good Although it is a bit of a cliché, freshly baked bread and freshly brewed coffee make a house much more attractive than the smell of smoke or last night's curry. Don't overdo the air freshener either, neutral smells are best. 9. Hide family and pets Although you obviously still have to live in your house while you're trying to sell it, it can be off putting for potential buyers if the whole family is there when they visit, and if they're not pet lovers themselves the sight of a cat or dog might make them imagine the house is dirty or smelly, even when it's not. If you know you have a viewing, send the children to a neighbour's house or get your other half to take the dog for a walk. 10. Consider your target buyer Take into account the area you live in, the size of the property and the asking price, and think about who your target buyer is. You can then present the house accordingly, whether it needs to be child-friendly, an office space instead of a third bedroom, or have space for a car instead of a front garden. A house with all mod-cons, perfect for a young professional couple is unlikely to sell in a retirement village, so know your audience! Finally, if you do move home, don't forget to inform your home insurance provider.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/top-10-inexpensive-ways-to-add-value-to-your-house/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/top-10-inexpensive-ways-to-add-value-to-your-house/ Tue, 31 January 2012 12:07:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farmers-responsible-for-increasing-land-purchases,-claims-report/ Almost half of all land purchases in 2011 came from farmers wanting to expand their reach, reports fwi.co.uk . A mix of hard cash and loans has allowed the proportion of farmers buying and to increase by five per cent last year, meaning that just over six out of 10 land purchases are made by farmers. Comparatively, "existing non-farming landowners" accounted for 10 per cent of purchases, while lifestyle buyers were "constrained". That's according to Savills director Alex Lawson, the firm behind the figures, who also note that the proportion of farmers selling land fell by four per cent to 43 per cent - the lowest level since 1993. "The arable sector is doing OK at the moment and farmers are feeling quietly confident," claimed Lawson. "They have benefited from some fantastic commodity prices recently and crops in the ground are looking pretty good." More than 100,000 acres of equipped land was up for grabs this year - the highest level since 2008. Farmers are snapping up land as quickly as possible and for good reason, noted Lawson. "Anyone who bought land three to four years ago or earlier has seen their investment double in value - no other asset has performed as well. For some it is looking like a good time to sell," he added. According to Yorkshire Evening Post , Savills predicts an average of five per cent value growth when it comes to farmland. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farmers-responsible-for-increasing-land-purchases,-claims-report/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/farmers-responsible-for-increasing-land-purchases,-claims-report/ Mon, 30 January 2012 17:56:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/school-children-to-get-lessons-in-farm-safety/ More than 1,300 primary schools across the South West will be encouraged to teach children about the dangers on farms and in the countryside with the help of a new initiative being launched this week. Cornish Mutual is targeting youngsters in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset as part of an initiative covering six key topics including farm, road and rail safety, how to behave around animals, electricity, hygiene and the Countryside Code. 'Farmsafe for Schools' is a free online teaching resource which includes lesson plans and downloadable practical worksheets to be used in the classroom, with 16 different activities designed for children between the ages of 5 and 11. The materials also offer detailed teachers notes, as well as a number of presentations and two colourfully animated posters. Developed by educational experts and health and safety consultants, the programme is linked to the Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE), Geography and Citizenship.  Over 2,600 teachers and head teachers across the region will start to receive letters about the new free online resource from this week, along with a poster to display in the classroom. It is expected that the teaching materials will be available to around 260,000 school children in the Westcountry. Alan Goddard, managing director at Cornish Mutual, says: "As an insurer for the rural community, we understand that farms and the countryside can sometimes be a dangerous place for children. We have developed this online teaching resource in order to help pupils identify some of the dangers and learn how to deal with them. "We have tried to open up new and exciting possibilities for learning and we hope that our 'Farmsafe for Schools' initiative will provide primary school teachers in the South West with everything they need to deliver engaging lessons and help their students to stay safe in the countryside." Teacher Justin Vernon from Topsham School in Devon adds: "The pack provides an imaginative and engaging programme covering a number of subject areas. It is ready to go and a great resource to use in the classroom. We have found that it is highly relevant to children of this particular age and provides a good deal of interactivity. The teaching materials in the 'Farmsafe for Schools' resource gives the opportunity for young people to be creative, but at the same time highlights some serious issues and concerns in a very motivational way." The first poster being sent out reminds children about the existence of the 'Countryside Code' and encourages youngsters to plan ahead and follow signs, leave gates and property how they found them, protect plants and animals, take their litter home, keep dogs under close control and think about others. The second focuses on safety around animals, giving pupils pointers on moving slowly and quietly, approaching from the front, leaving animals alone if they are sleeping, eating or with their young and washing their hands after touching an animal. For more information about Cornish Mutual's 'Farmsafe for Schools' initiative and to download any of the free teaching resources, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafeforschools . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/school-children-to-get-lessons-in-farm-safety/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/school-children-to-get-lessons-in-farm-safety/ Thu, 26 January 2012 18:54:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/south-west-farmers-alerted-to-funding-opportunities/ Farmers in the South West should consider applying for grant funding if they have expansion plans. This is the view of William Trinick, a rural surveyor at land agent Smiths Gore, who told South West Farmer there is "huge scope" for people to install renewable energy schemes on country properties or to pursue other business ventures. Mr Trinick said: "There is £20 million of grant funding ring-fenced for Cornwall to improve and diversify the rural economy specifically. If you are a farmer wanting to improve your business or diversify into processing, or someone wanting wanting to start a small business from a rural unit, grants are available." He made his comments after the firm announced that he had been appointed to Smiths Gore's Truro office due to growing demand for professional services in the region. In terms of green power ventures, Mr Trinick stressed that his confidence in such investments comes despite the reduction of the feed-in tariff incentive offered by the government. With or without this incentive, the construction of new renewable energy projects in the South West could be set to accelerate in the next few years, as the Western Morning News reported that the UK is currently struggling to meet European Union (EU)-set targets for 2020, citing a EurObserv'ER report. Chief executive of West Country energy agency RegenSW Merlin Hyman responded by saying that the environmental goals are achievable, even if the country is currently a long way off. The UK is lagging behind all 26 other EU member states in terms of renewable energy. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/south-west-farmers-alerted-to-funding-opportunities/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/south-west-farmers-alerted-to-funding-opportunities/ Fri, 20 January 2012 10:28:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/do-you-need-insurance-for-your-farmers’-market-stall/ Farmers' markets have seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years, and can be really beneficial to farmers and small businesses. As well as providing a base for you to sell your products, if you don't have your own shop, they are a great way of meeting potential new customers and introducing more people to your products.   As with any aspect of your business, there are insurance considerations associated with trading at a farmers' market, so we've put together a list of some important things to think about before setting up your stall.   -    Make sure your Insurance company know that you are selling at a farmers' market.  If you fail to tell them you may not be covered in the event of a claim.    -    Although it is not illegal to trade at a farmers' market without public liability cover, it is a requirement of most market organisers that you have cover in place before joining. Your public liability insurance will cover costs arising from your legal liability where another stallholder or a member of the public has sustained injury or suffered damage to their property through your negligence.   -   It would be wise to consider taking out products liability cover. This will cover your legal liability for any injury or damage your products may cause to others such as a home-made pie causing food poisoning.   -   Whilst your farm policy may extend to cover you selling your own goods at market it may be different if you are selling someone else's stock or produce. It is therefore important to check with your insurer that your cover is adequate.   -    If you keep a large amount of stock, it is advisable to take out property cover, which can offer cover against damage by fire or flood amongst other things.   Theft cover may be available but some insurers will only offer this cover if the property is in a locked building.   -     If you have anyone working for you on your stall, you are legally obliged to take out employers' liability insurance, as you would be if you employed people in an office or on a farm. This includes any 'back office' staff such as bookkeepers or stock takers, as well as the front of house staff running the stall. If people who usually work for you help out on the stand, they will likely be covered by your existing employers' liability policy - however you should make your insurer aware that they are also working at the market.   -    If you are using a van or truck to transport goods and produce to a farmers' market, you may need to include commercial vehicle cover on your insurance policy. You may also want to think about goods in transit insurancewhich covers loss or damage to your goods whilst they are in your vehicle.   Finally, if you are planning on selling any type of food product on your stall, you will need to register with your local authority. They will carry out an inspection of your food premises and will be able to advise you of any certifications or licenses you need depending on what you are selling.   Cornish Mutual offers a range of insurance services including a business insurance package which can cover employers' liability, public liability, property insurance and goods in transit cover. For more information, call our Member Services team on 0845 017 5513 or contact your local Insurance Inspector . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/do-you-need-insurance-for-your-farmers’-market-stall/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/do-you-need-insurance-for-your-farmers’-market-stall/ Tue, 17 January 2012 13:33:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/british-poultry-farming-rep-calls-for-eu-action/ Where British poultry farmers have complied with cage farming guidelines, 14 European member states have failed, reports Farmers Guardian . Katy Lee, spokesperson for UK farming unions in Brussels, stressed how important it is for other countries to fully implement the ban on battery cages, which should all have been discarded in favour of 'enriched cages' by the start of this month. She pointed out that the European Union is due to ban sow stalls - prohibited in the UK since 1999 - next year, making the need to stamp out this trend for non-compliance even more significant. "In good faith the UK poultry industry has fully complied with the new laws on the welfare of laying hens and now we are told 14 member states have failed to meet the deadline. This is unacceptable," said Ms Lee. More than 46.7 million hens are estimated to still be in battery cages in countries such as Spain, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Belgium and Romania. According to BBC News , a chicken that was named Britain's last remaining battery hen was rehoused just before the end of 2011 after being taken in by Jane Howarth, a representative from the British Hen Welfare Trust. She told the broadcaster that about 6,000 battery hens were given new homes in December 2011, including that final bird, which was appropriately named 'Liberty'. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/british-poultry-farming-rep-calls-for-eu-action/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/british-poultry-farming-rep-calls-for-eu-action/ Mon, 16 January 2012 11:45:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/farmers-discuss-high-tech-solutions-with-t-mobile/ Agricultural leaders have embarked on a brainstorming session with top communications specialists to discuss how smartphone applications can help around the farm. The aim of the event - hosted by T-Mobile - was to raise awareness about how mobile technologies can improve everyday duties in the agricultural industry by making processes cheaper, more manageable and more efficient. Topics such as security and livestock management - as well as health/safety matters - were all discussed, as these were recognised as the areas where technology could help from farmers throughout the UK the most. Many practical ideas came out of the session; one of which was the implementation of QR codes - a scannable, detailed barcode - that could be sprayed onto a cow's hide to identify its provenance and vaccination history, reports Farming UK . Another was an anti-rustling application that would be able to spot when livestock were on the move. This would be achieved by placing an infrared camera in the cattle field which detects an animal's heat signature. Should it move away, its heat signal would decrease, triggering an alarm to the owner's phone number or other landowners in the area for example. Designing technological solutions for the farming industry has long been overlooked, according to Martin Stiven, vice-president for business at UK mobile network T-Mobile. "I think the farming sector is one that high-tech organisations probably haven't spent as much time on as they could," Stiven admitted when speaking to BBC News . However, not implementing the ideas generated at the brainstorming session would be a missed opportunity for the industry, he added: "The technology is there, it's about applying it. And it's about thinking about the particular issues that farmers have and building those specific applications that will help them." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/farmers-discuss-high-tech-solutions-with-t-mobile/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/farmers-discuss-high-tech-solutions-with-t-mobile/ Wed, 11 January 2012 13:53:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/workshops-to-cut-farm-deaths-and-injuries/ Cutting the number of deaths and serious injuries on Devon and Cornwall's farms will be the main focus of practical workshops being supported by Cornish Mutual, working in association with Duchy College next month.  Running under the South West Regional Skills Programme delivered by Duchy College Rural Business School, the events in both counties will target farmers and agricultural workers and are aimed at highlighting health and safety issues.  According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), agriculture has the worst record for deaths and serious injuries compared to any other UK industry, including construction. There were eight fatalities and 2,120 people suffered major injuries in the South West during 2010/11.  The two events will be delivered by Duchy College trainers, who are Lantra approved, and will cover a whole range of subjects, such as working at heights, manual handling, safe use of farm machinery, electrocution and handling livestock.  Practical demonstrations will also be given on how to deal with entrapment and machinery blockages and what precautions to take around chemicals and dust. As part of the rural insurer's new 'Farmsafe' initiative, Cornish Mutual will be working with Duchy College to host the training events, which makes the workshops free to farmers.  The Cornwall event will be held on Wednesday 15 February at Duchy College Stoke Climsland, near Callington and the Devon event will be held on Thursday 16 February at Willey Farm, Sticklepath, near Okehampton - both will run between 10.30am and 3.30pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, says: "As a responsible insurer working in the region's rural communities, reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on South West farms is the number one priority for us. We place a huge importance on good practice and that's why we've launched our new 'Farmsafe' initiative to raise more awareness of the seriousness of the issue. We're delighted to be working with Duchy College and the HSE to support these workshops. We would encourage anyone involved in agriculture to sign up for a place."  Andrew Counsell, Head of Duchy College, adds: "The Rural Business School at Duchy College has been delivering vocational training events and short courses to farmers across the South West for over 10 years. We work to ensure that the training is always timely and relevant, meeting the needs of the industry. The latest report on farm deaths from the HSE highlights the dangerous nature of many tasks farmers carry out and we are pleased to have been able to help make this training available through the South West Regional Skills Programme."  It is anticipated that around 100 people will attend each event - there are some places still available, however, they will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. If you would like to attend either event, contact Verity Dodd at Cornish Mutual on 01872 246481 or by email marketing@cornishmutual.co.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/workshops-to-cut-farm-deaths-and-injuries/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/workshops-to-cut-farm-deaths-and-injuries/ Wed, 11 January 2012 12:50:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/no-room-for-complacency-in-farming-sector,-claims-environment-secretary/ There's no room for complacency if British farming is to meet the challenges associated with growing sustainably-produced food, claims the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman. Reported by This Is Cornwall , Spelman told an audience at the Oxford Farming Conference the farming sector was "changing at speed" and that farmers need to concentrate on their strengths, such as exports, during this period. The minister cites the example of Dorset Cereals, whom she believes is a shining example to farmers. The Westcountry-based cereal makers doubled its international sales within the last five years (to £5 million) after cushioning up to the export market. Spelman explains: "This represents a fifth of the company's turnover last year. This company's award-winning products are a great example of a small company with overseas ambitions - and my challenge to you is that we need more of them." The Environment Secretary assures farmers the government is doing everything it can to help support rural economies and communities, as well as supporting innovation and entrepreneurialship in agriculture. According to The Telegraph , climate change can also be a useful tool for farmers in order to combat emerging economies such as Brazil and China. It could bring longer growing seasons and the opportunity to introduce new crops and livestock, cites Spelman. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/no-room-for-complacency-in-farming-sector,-claims-environment-secretary/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/no-room-for-complacency-in-farming-sector,-claims-environment-secretary/ Tue, 10 January 2012 10:11:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/message-to-all-farmers-from-the-environment-agency/ Although we have just experienced one of the mildest Decembers for several years, recent reports warn the weather is set to change as we enter 2012. Cold winter weather can bring significant challenges for farmers - one of which, currently being highlighted by the Environment Agency , is the spreading of manure and/or waste milk on waterlogged or frozen ground. The following advice has been produced by the Environment Agency to help farmers prepare for harsher weather. Manure and other organic waste Farmers should never apply any manure or other organic wastes to land when the soil is: waterlogged frozen hard snow covered or cracked down to field drains or backfill   This also applies if heavy rain is forecast in the next 48 hours. The spreading of manure/other organic waste in these conditions can create a serious risk of causing pollution by run-off to rivers and streams or leaching to groundwater. Farmers should also not spread slurries, manures and other materials with high available nitrogen content during closed periods in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). On other land, the Code of Good Agricultural Practice (CoGAP) advises not to spread unless there is a crop requirement. To do otherwise wastes valuable nutrients.    With sufficient safe storage for slurries and manures - including dirty water - farmers should be able to cope during most winters. However, there may be occasions when we suffer exceptional weather conditions. The Environment Agency has specific advice for these conditions, including the following points;   In the case of prolonged extreme weather, spreading may be done following a declaration by the Agency. Make sure you notify the Agency in advance of any spreading that is done under a declaration. This allows them to check that your proposals are reasonable, and gives them information to help assess the overall impact of the conditions on the environment after the event. Take every precaution you can to avoid pollution; the responsibility is with you as a farmer, and the Agency may prosecute you if pollution does occur.   Waste milk   There may be times when freezing conditions make it impossible for milk to be collected, and farmers have no practical alternative but to dispose of it on their land. If you wish to spread milk on your land, you must hold a relevant exemption. However, even if you have an exemption, it does not allow you to spread on waterlogged, snow covered or frozen ground. In those circumstances, a relaxation of the rules may be allowed.   In many cases, farmers will have already registered their exemption. If you do not already have an exemption, you can obtain one by calling the Environment Agency's National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506.    The Centre can also provide you with advice on what to do if you are affected by extreme weather conditions, and will be able to tell you if any declarations have been made and whether they apply to the area you live in. Of course it is also advisable to insure against the loss or non-collection of milk. Cornish Mutual can consider appropriate cover as part of their farm insurance; for further information about this cover, please contact our Member Services Team on 01872 277151. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/message-to-all-farmers-from-the-environment-agency/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/message-to-all-farmers-from-the-environment-agency/ Mon, 09 January 2012 13:25:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/somerset-farmer-hails-fleckvieh-cow/ Fleckvieh cows have been labelled "perfect" by a Somerset dairy farmer. Tom Voizey, who has kept the animals at Marsh Farm near Crewkerne for four years, described to the Farmers Guardian how he "fell in love" with the cows when an agent took him to see some in The Netherlands. He explained that the cows average about 7,000 litres of milk each year, but this is not the only benefit of the breed. They also boast good fertility, good feet and strong fitness - in his opinion. Mr Voizey predicted that Fleckvieh could be the future, even if they are not currently bred much in Britain. He said: "I really believe the Fleckvieh has a lot to offer the UK dairy industry as a pedigree breed, and not just as part of a cross-breeding programme." Although cross-breeding is typical practice, in-breeding is something which is an increasing issue for UK farmers. Farmers Weekly revealed that in-breeding levels in the UK stand at about two per cent, but are rising by 0.13 percentage points annually. Writing for the agricultural publication, UK Worldwide Mating Service genetic consultant Neil Greggor urged farmers to first find out the levels of in-breeding in their stock and then work on reducing them, since the problem can lead to losses in productivity. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/somerset-farmer-hails-fleckvieh-cow/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/somerset-farmer-hails-fleckvieh-cow/ Mon, 09 January 2012 11:40:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/new-senior-inspector-for-dorset-and-somerset-insurer/ Rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual is looking for further growth in Dorset and Somerset during 2012 with the appointment of a new Senior Inspector.   Naomi Phillips (pictured) will take responsibility for leading a team of five locally-based specialist Insurance Inspectors across Dorset and Somerset. The company has appointed three new Inspectors to work in Somerset over the last 18 months and is also looking to appoint another two new Inspectors to work in Dorset to support its growth plans.   The role of Senior Inspector has been newly created by the company and Naomi will help to grow the business in the two counties by mentoring and supporting the five current Inspectors, to deliver Cornish Mutual's current Members and new Members with their usual high level of personal and customer service.  Born and schooled in Taunton, 32-year old Naomi attended Queens College in the town before studying for her Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII) and management degree from Bridgwater College. Naomi has worked in the rural insurance company sector as an insurance agent and then sales consultant for more than ten years.  Naomi, who lives just outside Bridgwater with her husband Simon and two springer spaniels, started working for Cornish Mutual in December and says she is relishing the opportunities: "Being a dairy farmer's daughter from Taunton and a South West girl at heart, what I love about working for Cornish Mutual is that it has a locally-based team and the company really understands and supports the rural community.  Cornish Mutual has the flexibility, personality and potential to grow in Dorset and Somerset and I'm very hopeful that my experience and knowledge will make a real difference."  Naomi's role will involve visiting local farmers and Members across Dorset and Somerset, as well as assisting her team of Inspectors with their technical insurance knowledge and giving training on new products.  She adds: "I have always worked in the region and because I know Dorset and Somerset so well, I have a genuine connection with these two counties and the people that live in them. Having the freedom to work in the countryside, meeting rural businesses, getting to know my team and seeing them develop and succeed will provide me with huge personal satisfaction."  Philip Wilson, Cornish Mutual's Business Development Manager adds: "Proactively expanding our business in Dorset and Somerset will remain a key focus for us over the next 12 months and Naomi will be critical to helping the company succeed in doing this. She has a great team of motivated Inspectors who are eager to work with her and use this opportunity as a springboard to further raise the profile of Cornish Mutual across their respective areas."   In her spare time, Naomi enjoys dressage and has five of her own horses stabled near her home. She says she regularly takes part in both regional and national dressage championships and travels extensively across the country: "I've ridden from a young age and been involved in breeding, showing, eventing and dressage for many years. It takes up a lot of my spare time, but I wouldn't have it any other way."   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/new-senior-inspector-for-dorset-and-somerset-insurer/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/new-senior-inspector-for-dorset-and-somerset-insurer/ Wed, 04 January 2012 14:31:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/road-salt-thefts-could-put-lives-in-danger/ West Somerset police are sending warnings to residents after a number of opportunist thieves have stolen valuable rock salt left at roadsides, reports Somerset County Gazette . Bags of salt distributed by Somerset City Council for use on the roads during particularly icy days have been going missing, leaving the Highways Authority in a precarious and potentially dangerous situation when it comes to a snowy day. Inspector Lisa Simpson is urging the thieves to consider their actions: "By stealing the salt the thief is compromising both the safety of residents and visitors to the area and adding extra strain to the local budget. "This is a theft and we will deal with those involved robustly," she added. Since the bags of salt have gone missing, commuters, farmers and travellers in West Somerset have been urged to err on the side of caution when it comes to using roads in the winter months. Conservative councillor Harvey Siggs has lambasted the thieves, telling BBC News : "The victims of these crimes will be the motorists stranded alone in the most inhospitable and remote places in Somerset, because I can't guarantee we'll be replacing every stolen bag." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/road-salt-thefts-could-put-lives-in-danger/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/road-salt-thefts-could-put-lives-in-danger/ Tue, 03 January 2012 11:47:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/cla-hails-olympic-drive-to-succeed-of-rural-firms/ The determination of rural businesses to succeed matches the will of any Olympic athlete, a representative from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has claimed. Speaking to the Farmers Guardian , CLA president Harry Cotterell explained he believes that 2012 will be the "year of the countryside" regardless of how well Great Britain fares at London 2012. In his opinion, the farming sector in particular is going through something of a renaissance, adding: "Whether we are farmers, producing excellent British food for the domestic or export markets, or small businesses, often start-ups, with a thirst for success, or even tourism and leisure businesses battling against the tide of recession, there is a resilience in the countryside." Mr Cotterell made his comments in an Olympics-themed New Year message in which he urged farmers and rural business owners to capitalise on the media coverage being brought to the UK thanks to the sporting competition. One way in which a huge number of towns and cities across the country are hoping to ramp up excitement about the event is through the Olympic Torch Relay. London 2012 organising committee chairman Lord Seb Coe believes it will get even hardened cynics on board, according to The Guardian . The torch will be carried by 8,000 people through more than 1,000 places ahead of its final destination in the capital. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/cla-hails-olympic-drive-to-succeed-of-rural-firms/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/cla-hails-olympic-drive-to-succeed-of-rural-firms/ Tue, 03 January 2012 11:45:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/uk-farm-land-strongest-performing-asset,-say-savills/ The capital value of UK farm land will grow quicker than many other property markets including residential housing and London office spaces, according to Savills rural research. In a Property Wire report, the global property group says that the average value of farm land will rise by 36 per cent over the next five years, with many expecting a five per cent growth in 2012 alone. Its predictions follow a strong growth in average farm land values over the last five years - up 138 per cent. This is significantly more than the average values seen in residential and commercial property assets. However, it is only the best quality farm land that is likely to increase its value dramatically, says Alex Lawson, director of Savills Farms and Estates. Mr Lawson explained that Savills' expectations of a 9.7 per cent increase in average farm land value for 2011 were pulled down by the quality of land seen in some regions. Therefore the actual rise was muted, at just 5.7 per cent. "This average however, masks the strong demand for the best arable land which recorded growth of 8.9 per cent," he said, according to IBTimes.com . Going forward into 2012, Mr Lawson expects land values to at least maintain their value, if not rise. "Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty the farmland market is likely to become more diverse in terms of performance, we expect the continuing tightened supply and low interest rates to maintain values for all but the worst quality land," he added. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/uk-farm-land-strongest-performing-asset,-say-savills/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2012/january/uk-farm-land-strongest-performing-asset,-say-savills/ Tue, 03 January 2012 11:42:00 Stephens Scown http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/employing-migrant-workers/ The recent case of a dairy farmer from Oxfordshire given a conditional discharge after using an unlicensed labour provider shows the importance of making the right checks when employing migrant workers, says Stephens Scown's immigration lawyer Judith Hockin… If a farmer wants to take on temporary staff, one option might be to use a labour provider. However, the farmer must make sure the provider is properly licensed by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) first.  It's illegal for the labour provider to operate without a license. It's also illegal for the farmer, as a labour user, to knowingly employ workers from an unlicensed provider - it's up to the farmer to make regular checks.  The GLA was set-up following the tragic deaths of 21 Chinese immigrants during the Morecombe Bay cockling disaster. GLA legislation covers farming, as well as forestry, horticulture, shellfish gathering and food processing and packaging.  In the case of farmer Brian Barnett, he'd struggled to find suitably qualified herdsmen and so used a labour provider to employ two experienced Filipino men.  The judge said he was satisfied there was no question of Mr Barnett exploiting cheap labour and that it was a purely technical offence. The farmer satisfied all the regulations, but missed the need for a GLA license.  There may be farmers in the Westcountry who find themselves in a similar position, so it's always advisable to take the following steps as a precaution:  Firstly, check the labour provider is licensed with the GLA's register www.gla.gov.uk - note the name of the authorised persons or postholders and keep a copy of the registered entry. You can also confirm entries by phone or fax and arrange for a copy to be sent to you to keep on file. If a labour provider contacts you, don't take their word that they have a license - still check the GLA register.  Secondly, when you're handling contractual matters you must only deal with the authorised person or postholder at the registered labour provider. Make sure all documentation sent to you, as required by the GLA's Standard License conditions, comes from the licensed business and there's nothing to suggest it's been prepared by or originates from anyone other than the authorised person or postholder. Make sure invoices are identified for the services rendered by the licensed labour provider business you entered into an agreement with.  If documentation appears to come from a business other than the licensed business with which you made the arrangement, contact the labour provider directly and ask them whether it's being provided by a third-party. If they confirm they're no longer providing the labour, terminate your arrangement and contact the GLA to let them know.  If documentation comes from the licensed business, but not from the authorised person or postholder, ask the labour provider whether they've requested a change to their registered entry with the GLA. Wait 25 working days and check the GLA register to see if there's been a change to the authorised person or postholder since you last checked. Keep a copy. If the person with whom you are now dealing is still not shown on the register as an authorised person or postholder, terminate your agreement and contact the GLA.  When dealing with day-to-day administration of an existing contract or making initial enquiries about establishing a new arrangement, you can deal with anyone in the labour provider business.  If you have an arrangement with a labour provider for more than three months, check the GLA's register at three monthly intervals and keep a copy, or register an interest in the labour provider with the GLA 'Active Check Service'.  If when you check the GLA register you find your labour provider's business is no longer listed, or you receive notification under the 'Active Check Service', terminate your arrangement with the labour provider.     If the authorised person or postholder you deal with is no longer named on the licence, you should ensure in future you deal on contractual matters with an authorised person or postholder currently shown on the register entry.  If you use the services of a labour provider to recruit people who become your employees, you don't need to make further GLA checks after you've received the labour provider's invoice on completion of the recruitment service.  Although this might seem quite draconian, the onus is on you, as an employer, to keep checking. It's an on-going duty and not knowing is certainly no defence.  In some cases, labour providers don't need to hold a licence, but other service suppliers such as some farmer-led organisations will do - if you're unsure, check with the GLA.  If you've any questions, concerns or doubts contact your legal advisor, your trade organisation or the GLA. More information can be found at www.gla.gov.uk . Judith Hockin qualified as a solicitor on 1 April 2004 and has been with Stephens Scown since July 2006. Judith specialises purely in immigration and nationality issues, particularly business related matters. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/employing-migrant-workers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/employing-migrant-workers/ Wed, 28 December 2011 09:58:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/the-dangers-of-slurry-pits/ The tragic death of a teenager from Cornwall who fell into a slurry pit in his tractor serves as a timely reminder about the very real dangers that are ever present on farms.  Only last month, an inquest ruled that 16-year old Jordan Orriss from Wadebridge suffocated as a result of an accident near Padstow in 2010, when the clutch system on his Massey Ferguson failed. The vehicle crashed through a wall and turned over, trapping him beneath the slurry. In court, the health and safety inspector described this failure as a 'freak event'.  In 2009, six-year old Xander Shaw drowned in a slurry pit while playing with his sister on a farm in Shropshire and two men were killed when they became trapped in a slurry pit in a separate incident in Essex in July this year.  Thankfully cases like these are rare, but when they do happen, they touch so many lives - families, friends and loved ones. We know and understand that farms are homes, as well as workplaces and because of this, children and teenagers are often present.  Most of us recognise that agriculture has the highest rates of death and serious injury compared to any other industry in the UK - in 2010/11 there were 34 deaths among farm workers and eight members of the public died on farms.  Farmers need to make sure they meet their general duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the provisions of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has undertaken a lot of work to highlight the risks of slurry pits or liquid stores and now Cornish Mutual's Farmsafe initiative is raising the profile of health and safety in agriculture.  In the majority of cases, accidents on farms are preventable and there are steps that farmers and landowners can take to reduce the risks. When it comes to confined spaces such as slurry pits, the truth is that taking some simple measures like putting up fencing, gates or covers can help to reduce the risk of death or serious injury.  The HSE recommends that children should be deterred from accessing the store itself by surrounding the perimeter with a wall or fence, and below-ground stores, such as reception tanks or sheep dips, are covered completely when they are not being used.  It suggests the fences are properly erected and maintained, constructed using suitable material and have an overall minimum height of 1.3 metres with at least two strands of barbed wire at the top. If it doesn't have barbed wire, consideration should be given as to whether the fence should be two metres in height. It is also a good idea to make sure that gates and openings have the same level of security and that children cannot open them - either by using chains, padlocks or latches on the inside of the gate.  When it comes to covering below-ground stores, the HSE recommends making sure the cover(s) can withstand the weight of vehicles, humans or animals, that there are no gaps and that there is suitable signage nearby to deter against unauthorised access. It advises making sure the cover is hinged so it doesn't fall into the store, it remains closed when access is not needed and is heavy enough to stop children opening it or is fitted with a padlock or other locking device.  It's a good idea not to stack anything near the fence or wall, so that children are unable to climb up and over and similarly, remove any ladders from nearby.  It is fair to say that some of these recommended measures may not have prevented the deaths highlighted earlier from happening, or made a difference in these particular cases, but it is certainly worth bearing them in mind and doing what you can for your farm to stop the worst from happening.  For more information, advice and guidance, visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) www.hse.gov.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/the-dangers-of-slurry-pits/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/the-dangers-of-slurry-pits/ Thu, 22 December 2011 10:08:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/dorset-farmer-describes-fit-scheme-as-no-brainer/ A Dorset dairy farmer has labelled the feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme a "no-brainer" and hailed the future returns of his solar power facility. Speaking to the Farmers Guardian , David Tory claimed that as long as people install a quality system, then the return on investment is still worthwhile - despite the cuts announced by the government recently. He said: "I expect my solar PV system to start paying for itself within five and a half years, I have looked at all the costs involved and with reductions in manufacturing costs for solar PV panels it is still a viable investment." Mr Tory is set to spend £135,000 on his solar farm, but he is predicted to enjoy £850,000 in energy savings and a profit of £650,000 over 25 years. This is in spite of the government's decision to halve the FiT incentive. What's more, a recent survey by the Cornish Guardian suggested the public are not against the installation of more solar panels in the South West. Many local residents have even noted how commonplace such technology is and how much money can be saved by utilising it. They were asked about the idea of installing solar panels on a church - as opposed to a separate solar farm or residential property - and the general feeling was that if the local diocese approved it, then it would be accepted by the community. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/dorset-farmer-describes-fit-scheme-as-no-brainer/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/dorset-farmer-describes-fit-scheme-as-no-brainer/ Wed, 21 December 2011 16:31:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/rural-communities-to-prepare-for-winter/ Make sure you are prepared for winter and identify potential health and safety risks in plenty of time - that's the rallying call for communities across the South West from one rural insurer.   With two successive severe winters, regional insurance firm Cornish Mutual is encouraging people to think ahead and take preventative measures before potentially tough weather conditions wreak havoc in the Westcountry again.  Heavy snow has fallen and icy conditions have already hit many parts of the country this month and in Surrey, the County Council has recruited a team of 50 local farmers in advance to help clear the roads using their tractors and ploughs if necessary.  Cornish Mutual is now urging villages and towns in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset to work together to come up with solutions that help to minimise disruption in rural areas.  "Help each other out and do what you can in advance," says Alan Goddard, managing director of the Truro-based insurer. "In extreme weather conditions, communities can do a lot to help themselves and others. Look at last year and remember what caught you out. Get ready and anticipate what might happen - check your property or vehicles that might be particularly vulnerable to bad weather.  "Make sure that your neighbours are prepared, particularly elderly residents. Devon County Council has a snow warden scheme in place, where a dedicated person in each community or parish delivers advice, training and salt to volunteers - what a great idea!"  He adds, "Although we've just experienced the warmest November for many years, don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. It is always a really good idea to think ahead and prepare for the worst. We must not forget that this time last year dozens of rural villages were cut-off with sub-zero temperatures and 30 centimetres of snow falling across much of the region."  Although the Met Office is not predicting snowfall before the end of December, Cornish Mutual, which has around 23,000 Members in rural communities, says farmers should also join forces. Mr Goddard says contingency planning with neighbouring farmers is a good idea, "We know that in the agricultural industry there are already tight-knit groups - farmers are used to working together as part of the community, this is what they do best. Sharing resources can help to ensure that your livelihood is not interrupted.  "Check that you have got enough feed and bedding supplies for livestock and consider back-up plans. Think about securing and maintaining access, water, fuel and power during freezing conditions; do you need a generator as well as emergency supplies and extra storage areas?"  In Scotland, farmers and local authorities united last year to clear snow in remote parts of the country to ensure enough feed could be delivered for livestock.  Mr Goddard adds, "Think about your stock and whether you would be able to get to them or move them in deep snow, particularly in remote areas. Have you got a safe and accessible area where animals can be moved in bad weather? It is also a good idea to check that your vehicles have been properly maintained and serviced now - in particular, think about snow-clearing equipment and stockpiling salt and grit to keep your farm accessible."  Deep snow on roofs can result in damage or the building collapsing and Cornish Mutual says farmers should think about health and safety risks, before clearing snow or undertaking repairs.  Rob Pierce, Principal Inspector of Agriculture for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), says, "Working at height is high risk work and it becomes even more so with snow and ice to contend with. In inclement weather, the pressure may be on to get jobs done quickly but stop and think first. Ask yourself if the work can actually be done from the ground. If not, make sure you've got the right kit or get a trained person to do the job for you.  "Remember that you don't have to be very high for the consequences of a fall to be serious. Deaths and injuries have occurred from falls less than two metres. This winter, make the promise to yourself and your family to come home safe."  The insurer also recommends that people review their insurance cover to make sure that they are adequately covered for severe weather and storm damage over the winter months. For more information visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk .  For more information from the Health and Safety Executive visit www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/falls.htm .  For more information on Devon County Council's snow warden scheme visit www.devon.gov.uk/snow-wardens.pdf . Cornwall Council also has dedicated snow and ice pages on its website www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=26632 . Image source: bored-now on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/rural-communities-to-prepare-for-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/rural-communities-to-prepare-for-winter/ Tue, 20 December 2011 11:03:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/badger-cull-will-proceed,-environment-secretary-reveals/ Caroline Spelman, the Secretary for the Environment, has announced that Britain will go ahead with a mass badger cull in a bid to cut down bovine tuberculosis (TB). According to  Mail Online , there will first be two trials in "secret locations", to assess the impact of the cull. If these are successful, a full nationwide cull may go ahead. However, the news was met with negative responses from a range of sources - including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It believes the cull simply won't work and a spokesperson, Stacey Frier, expressed her frustration at having to repeatedly tell the government this. "We and so many others have been telling the government for years that this cull is not the answer to the problems with bovine TB but they are just not listening," Frier revealed. "We feel like we are banging our heads against a brick wall." What's more, MP Paul Flynn suggested the move was "founded on greed and bad science"; whilst the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) called the aims of the cull "spurious at best". Spelman did confirm why she believes the cull is necessary though, speaking on behalf of many farmers who have been forced to slaughter their TB-infected cows. The Secretary claimed the situation is only "getting worse" and that she was standing up on behalf of the "farmers" who have experienced "devastating" consequences as a result of the disease. She added that the nation cannot disregard the "evidence" that a cull would work,  www.telegraph.co.uk  reported. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/badger-cull-will-proceed,-environment-secretary-reveals/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/badger-cull-will-proceed,-environment-secretary-reveals/ Mon, 19 December 2011 15:15:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/tractor-sales-increase-throughout-november/ Tractor sales experienced a year-on-year rise of 7.5 per cent in November 2011, with 716 sold during the month. The figures were released by the Agricultural Engineers Association, which also confirmed that annual sales had risen by four per cent. According to a writer for Farmers Weekly Interactive , David Cousins, the annual increase was recorded in the first 11 months of 2011. The news may come as no surprise to farmers throughout the UK, as back in March 2011, sources on Farmers Guardian revealed that demand for tractors was beginning to rise. Back then, it claimed that demand was rising so fast, it may soon outstrip supply; warning farmers who were in the market for a new tractor to buy quickly to avoid disappointment. Although the year's overall increase could rise if December's figures match those seen in November, this may be unlikely, Cousins revealed. He stated: "December tends to be the slowest month of the year for tractor sales, with just 450-500 new tractors being sold. That would bring the end of year total for 2011 to not far short of 14,000. "However, the change in tax allowances could well affect that," Cousins concluded. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/tractor-sales-increase-throughout-november/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/tractor-sales-increase-throughout-november/ Thu, 15 December 2011 13:51:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/south-west-farmers-to-benefit-from-autumn-statement/ The South West's farming community may benefit from a raft of proposals to support the economic recovery made in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, reports Farmers Guardian . On Tuesday, George Osborne announced that there would be less inspections on farmland, cutting the red tape that so often holds back the everyday duties of agricultural landowners. Supporting more women in the industry and eliminating further barriers preventing the export of local food and drink produce were other initiatives put forward in the statement. There were also proposals to reform the planning system, simplify tax for small businesses and overhaul the broadband infrastructure for rural communities. Various unions and business associations throughout the country have welcomed the £20 million fund to provide superfast broadband to rural communities in particular; as well as a £25m fund for rural tourism for promotion. Another initiative that is set to benefit rural businesses - as well as ordinary families right across the UK - is a cancellation and reduction in fuel duty, scheduled to come in next year. ThisIsMoney.co.uk reports that the government was to introduce a price hike of 3p on each litre of fuel from January 1st 2012 and another 5p rise in August. However, the planned 3p duty will now be deferred until August 2012, while the 5p hike will be dropped altogether. Edmund King, AA president, said that motorists could finally breathe a "heavy duty sigh of relief." He also praised the chancellor for seeing "sense on this vital issue." Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/south-west-farmers-to-benefit-from-autumn-statement/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/south-west-farmers-to-benefit-from-autumn-statement/ Thu, 15 December 2011 13:44:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/insuring-yourself-against-accidents-and-injuries-this-winter/ Winter has arrived, and if this one follows the pattern of recent years, we all need to take extra care as the ground turns icy. Minor accidents such as slips and trips happen all the time, and life carries on as usual - but have you thought about how you and your family might cope if you were to sustain a more serious accident or injury this winter? Should the worst happen, and an accident or injury leaves you unable to work, you could, for example, find yourself in a very vulnerable financial situation. While accidents and injuries sustained in the workplace are likely to be covered by your employers' liability insurance, it's actually more likely that an accident will happen outside of work. Research carried out by ROSPA found that, at the extreme end of the scale, 4,996 people were killed in accidents at home in 2009, compared to 171 being killed in accidents at home in 2010/11. If something happens in your own time which prevents you from working, your employers may not have any responsibility to pay you while you are off, and you could even lose your job if you cannot return to work quickly enough. Similarly, if you are self-employed you may already have cover whilst at work, but if an accident happens away from the workplace, you may be left without any source of income, for an indefinite amount of time. One way to protect against this happening is by taking out a personal accident insurance policy. Although no one thinks or expects an accident will happen to them, it is advisable to be prepared just in case. Depending on the type of injury sustained, different personal accident policies offer different levels of cover, which can be in the form of either a weekly or monthly payment or a lump sum payout (usually in the case of more serious or permanent injuries). The money you receive could enable you to remain in a stable financial position whilst you recover, giving you and your family one less thing to worry about. Cornish Mutual's personal accident insurance offers a weekly benefit at 75% of your income, payable for up to two years. If a more serious accident costs you life or limb, then the policy will pay a lump sum to you or your family. To find out more about Cornish Mutual's personal accident insurance , contact  our Member Services Team on 01872 277151. Image source: RobotSkirts on flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/insuring-yourself-against-accidents-and-injuries-this-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/insuring-yourself-against-accidents-and-injuries-this-winter/ Thu, 15 December 2011 09:52:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/britain's-largest-steer-putting-somerset-on-the-map/ A Somerset farm has become a must-see destination after finding out it is home to Britain's largest bull. At Dulhorn Farm and Caravan Park in Somerset, tourists are likely to run into Field Marshall: a six foot four inch Charloais, who is heavier than a Mini Cooper. The castrated steer, who allegedly still has room to grow, was adopted by farmer Gary Bowden after his previous owner, Arthur Duckett, died last May, the MailOnline reports. Mr Bowden will take advantage of Field Marshall's immense size to raise money for the Dorset Air Ambulance while he awaits official confirmation that he is indeed, Britain's biggest bull. He is to throw a 'guess the weight competition' just as Mr Duckett used to. "He was entered in a similar competition two years ago and I would say although he hasn't grown in height since then he's definitely thickened up," Mr Bowden said. He added that the docile beast may well even be a contender for the world title: "I've done some research and haven't found any bigger in the world - so he may well be the world's biggest." With a bit of luck, Field Marshall may well just be the largest. Somerset has a history of record-breaking cattle, as OddityCentral.com reveals that Chilli, a black and white Friesian bull, won the title of biggest bovine in the world back in 2008. The Friesian, from Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Ferne, Somerset, held similarly impressive figures. Chilli stood a massive six foot, six inches tall, and weighed a whopping 1.25 tons. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/britain's-largest-steer-putting-somerset-on-the-map/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/britain's-largest-steer-putting-somerset-on-the-map/ Mon, 12 December 2011 13:54:00 Safety Cornwall http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/home-safety-at-christmas/ With just over three weeks until Christmas, many of us are starting to prepare our homes for the festive season. Whilst decorating the house can be fun, there are a few things to bear in mind so that your family and home remain safe. David Shepherd at Safety Cornwall Ltd has the following advice: Decorations Christmas trees should not be sprayed with hair lacquer in an effort to prevent the needles from falling. A lacquered tree will burn readily. Also bear in mind that real Christmas trees can burn very quickly indeed if they are left to dry out, so remember to keep the needles moist. Decorative lights fitted to trees and elsewhere should be checked to make sure that there are no missing bulbs or loose wires, and the plug should be fitted with a 3 amp fuse. Lights should be kept well away from combustible decorations and should be unplugged at bedtime or other times when they are not in use. Non-combustible decorations should be used in preference to combustible decorations made of paper, or anything else which easily catches fire. Where paper decorations are used they should be kept well clear of fires (fixed or portable), lights and any other electrical equipment or open flames. All decorations should be kept away from exit/escape doorways and escape routes - if they do catch fire, this will compromise a safe exit. Heating Open fires should always be guarded, and mirrors should never be placed above any type of fire because they encourage people to move too close to a fire, risking setting their clothes on fire. Fancy dress and party dresses may burn particularly well. Used wrapping paper should be carefully disposed of outside the house. Chimneys and flues should be swept at least once every six months. Portable heaters should be kept away from furniture and furnishings, in a position where no objects can fall on them. It is wise to fix them in place so that they cannot be knocked over. Electric fires should be unplugged at night. Children should never be left alone in a room where there is a portable heater, and matches and lighters should always be kept well away from children. Candles Real candles should not be used to decorate a Christmas tree. If you use candles, you should: o Fix candles in a holder of the correct size o Keep lighted candles out of the reach of children o Keep lighted candles away from curtains, decorations and other flammable materials. o Extinguish candles before retiring for the night Batteries Do not be tempted to `borrow' the smoke alarm battery to use in a present. Without its battery a smoke alarm is useless and you would be at a much greater risk from the effects of a fire. If a fire breaks out, make sure that the door of the room where the fire is located is closed - this will help to contain the fire and restrict the spread of poisonous fumes. Warn the household and get everyone out by the safest route, then call the Fire Service by dialling 999. Finally, do not go back in to the house for any reason. Image source: Chiway on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/home-safety-at-christmas/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/home-safety-at-christmas/ Thu, 01 December 2011 12:24:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/colic-is-biggest-risk-to-horses-this-winter/ Horses are at more risk of colic during the winter months compared to any other time of the year warns South West rural insurance company Cornish Mutual.   The insurer, which has Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, says if the symptoms of surgical colic are not spotted in the early stages and you don't seek the help of a qualified vet, it could prove fatal.  Equine colic is defined as abdominal pain - the most common forms of colic are gastrointestinal in nature, often related to small intestinal or colonic disturbance and may need surgical intervention.  Although there has been a good spell of mild weather lately, Cornish Mutual is concerned that it might see an increase in the number of cases of colic during the colder months, as owners in the South West bring their horses in for the winter.  Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, explained, "It is not the cold weather that is the problem; it is the potential change in the management of the animal, because of the change in season. For example, if the horse has been outside in a field grazing all summer and is then brought into and kept in the stable for the winter, the change in their feeding or exercise regime could cause problems. If the animal is suddenly fed less fibrous and more concentrate food, this could be a risk factor for colic."  There are over 216,000 horses in the South West, according to the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).  Bob Barker, veterinary surgeon at St Davids Equine Practice in Exmouth and Okehampton, has over 30 years veterinary experience in the South West. He said the practice sees three or four cases of colic on average each week, "There are two types of colic - medical and surgical - and the latter can be life-threatening if not treated. Horses are the animal most affected by gut problems and we see more cases when there is a change in nutrition or pasture or they change to new hay too early in the autumn. If, during the colder months, their water freezes and they don't drink enough or they eat snow that can also be problematic."  Classic obvious signs of colic include pawing the ground, looking at their abdomen, excessive sweating, rolling, lying down and getting up frequently and not wanting to eat.  Bob added: "As vets, we are able to assess the degree of pain and other clinical signs. Surgical cases are much more likely to be successfully treated if it is caught at an early stage. Horses are not able to vomit, they have a small stomach and a very large intestine and if there is a blockage in their digestive problem this is a serious issue."  Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, said: "Colic is a commonly seen insurance claim but it is something that all horse owners worry about, whether they are insured or not. The best advice is not to delay, contact your vet and call them out to you as soon as possible - this is the best way of diagnosing the problem and understanding the severity of the situation.  "The chances of a horse being treated and surviving are much better than they used to be. However, if the colic needs surgery, this is pretty serious and the costs can run into several thousand pounds. Most horse insurances will provide around £5,000 worth of vets fees, medical treatment or surgery, so it really does pay to be covered."  Cornish Mutual offers a wide and flexible range of bespoke equestrian insurances. Various levels of cover for horses and ponies of all ages can be provided including vets fees, liability to third parties, theft, loss of tack, and disposal and loss of foal.  The company arranges cover for personal accident, death or serious injury caused by the horse or while out riding. Should a horse suffer injury or illness, loss of use can be covered to up to 100 per cent of the value of the animal (depending on the policy).  The company also provides access to a free 24-hour helpline for Members to get advice in an emergency, as well as a round-the-clock vet helpline in the event that the owner is unable to contact their own vet, and legal protection cover. For more information about Cornish Mutual's horse insurance product, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/index.php/horse-insurance or call 01872 277151. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/colic-is-biggest-risk-to-horses-this-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/december/colic-is-biggest-risk-to-horses-this-winter/ Thu, 01 December 2011 11:16:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/south-coast-readies-gritters-for-winter/ Poole Borough Council has invested in two new gritters, 1,300 tonnes of road salt and additional grit bins in a bid to combat any potentially dangerous winter weather, reports BBC News . The council claimed it wanted to be "prepared" for the winter weather and will keep a fleet of five gritters on 24-hour standby over the course of the season. In addition, other authorities would be able to lend further supplies of salt should the council require it. Another authority, Torbay Council, will be handing over £150,000 for winter preventative measures and will be keeping six gritters on standby in order to treat more than 100 miles of roads in the region. Cllr Robert Excell, executive lead for Safer Communities and Transport, commented on the initiative by the council to This Is South Devon : "The Bay's road network covers a total of 345 miles, including residential streets and cul-de-sacs. TOR2's fleet of gritters can cover priority routes across the Bay, but they simply cannot treat the entire network of roads and footpaths. "In line with councils up and down the country, we have to assess which roads should be treated in bad weather, as well as consider what we can do elsewhere," he added. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/south-coast-readies-gritters-for-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/south-coast-readies-gritters-for-winter/ Mon, 28 November 2011 13:59:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/2011-south-west-growers-show-enjoys-record-numbers/ The 2011 South West Growers Show has been hailed as a success in terms of developing business in the region. Mark Taylor, chairman of the event's committee, told South West Farmer that it was "fantastic news" that so many exhibitors and visitors had come to the occasion, with record numbers of both recorded. He highlighted how the whole point of the event is to help suppliers develop business contacts, so it was great to see large numbers of potential clients attend. More than 100 exhibitors appeared at the 2011 South West Growers Show at the Matford Centre in Exeter last month and television presenter Toby Buckland was on hand to officially open it. Mr Buckland, who is also an author and gardener, said: "It's a tremendous honour to be asked to open The South West Growers Show. It continues to go from strength to strength as a show for growers run by growers." Another indication of the strength of farming in the South West appeared in the Western Morning News this week, where it was suggested that the region's local branch of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group could continue in spite of the impending collapse of its parent organisation. The national body is expected to go into receivership soon, but the continued profitability of the South West group may allow it to carry on as a separate operation. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/2011-south-west-growers-show-enjoys-record-numbers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/2011-south-west-growers-show-enjoys-record-numbers/ Fri, 25 November 2011 14:01:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/is-your-vehicle-fit-for-winter/ When the sun is out and it's a calm autumnal day with not a cloud in the sky, it is hard to cast your mind back to the scenes of last winter - one of the coldest on record. At Cornish Mutual, we had over 60 claims totalling more than £153,000 for vehicles damaged as a result of sliding on ice last winter. Winter is the busiest time of year for vehicle breakdown companies and many will be bracing themselves for the worst. As Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone once said: "Before anything else, preparation is key to success" and, of course, the Scouts are well-known for their motto "Be prepared". And that, in essence, is the message behind this particular blog - there are steps you can take now to make sure you and your vehicle (whatever it might be) are ready for the potential onslaught from Jack Frost and friends. Checking your vehicle in advance could pay dividends in the end. So we've put together some timely advice for winter motoring and a bit of a list to make sure that you don't forget anything… Firstly, invest in a scraper and de-icer and keep them in your vehicle - you will probably need these to clear your windows before you've even started the vehicle and gone anywhere. You can also use your air conditioning to speed up the process. Fuel - it sounds obvious but make sure that you have plenty of diesel or petrol in your tank, particularly if you're planning on a long journey or travelling to remoter areas where there might not be a garage for some distance. Keep the tank topped up! Batteries generally last between 3 and 5 years, so make sure your battery is not coming to the end of its life, just as we come into winter. Turn off lights, heaters, wipers, the air conditioning and your stereo before starting the engine - it means that there will be less demand on the battery. If there are problems with starting your vehicle take a good look at the battery, starter motor and alternator. These can all be affected by cold weather and are often some of the most common problems. Oil - again, check that this is topped up and use your dipstick to make sure the level is right! Coolant - the damage done by a lack of anti-freeze in coolant could mean the end for an engine. You need to have a 50-50 mix of anti-freeze and water in the cooling system for winter - this will give you maximum protection down to -34 degrees centigrade. Check your levels are right on a regular basis. Your local garage can help you to check the level and mix of coolant in the engine. se your dipstick to make sure the level is right! Screen wash - make sure you have topped up your screen wash and that it has a 50% mix to help reduce the chance of your wind screen or back window freezing over on the road. Tyres - as a minimum precaution, check your tyre pressure regularly and ensure you have at least 3mm of tread. Winter tyres make a big difference, so although it might be an extra expense, you might want to think about investing in winter or 'all-season' tyres which give a better grip in cold and wet conditions. The experts say they give much better handling and reduce stopping distances in winter weather. Wind screens - make sure your wind screen is kept nice and clean and clear of any obstruction. It also goes without saying that if you have a chip or a crack in your wind screen, get this seen to as soon as possible. Check your wiper blades are doing the job they should be and replace ones that are worn out. Lights - in the darker winter months, so you will need to use your lights more often. Make sure they are clean and clear of any snow, ice or dirt and check on a regular basis that they are all working correctly. It is a good idea to carry an extra set of bulbs in your vehicle too. Driving in snowy and icy conditions - if you really need to be out on the road, remember to keep your speed down, drive in higher gears to reduce the risk of skidding or your wheels spinning. Make sure that you leave more distance than normal between your vehicle and the one in front, as the stopping distance is greatly increased in icy conditions. If you do start to slide, don't panic, take your foot off the accelerator and don't break suddenly, but try to steer the vehicle safely. Finally, the AA recommends that you have the following items in a winter emergency kit in your vehicle: • Blanket, rug or sleeping bag • Shovel • Bits of carpet or thick cardboard to place under wheels to help regain traction on snow or ice • Salt, sand or cat litter - to help clear snow and ice • Reflective jacket(s) • Ice scraper and de-icer • Torch and batteries • Tow rope • Snow chains (if you live in a remote or rural area) • Bottled water • Snacks • Extra screen wash And if bad weather is forecast, warm winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and warm clothes, waterproofs, sturdy boots and a flask of a hot drink. By taking precautions now and allowing a bit more time, it is much more likely that you will have a safer and smoother driving experience this winter! http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/is-your-vehicle-fit-for-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/is-your-vehicle-fit-for-winter/ Thu, 24 November 2011 16:53:00 Paul Hawkins http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/taking-on-a-smallholding-–-is-it-for-you/ Over recent years, more and more people have given up city living, escaped the 'rat-race' and moved to the countryside in search of 'the good life'. Here in the South West, we are lucky enough to have some of the best countryside in the UK, so it is not uncommon for people to do just that and change their lives forever! For many, the idea of running a smallholding conjures up idyllic images of spending time among lush green rolling hills in the sunshine, lots of animals, being self-sufficient enjoying home grown produce, and a laid back way of life. But running your own smallholding is no mean feat - be under no illusion, whilst it can be extremely rewarding, it can also be hard work! It is a big investment in terms of money, time and commitment and you need to be sure that you are making the right decision.  There are so many things to think about. Although it is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination, we have put together a small number of serious considerations anyone about to take their first steps towards running their own smallholding should think about first….  Most importantly do your research, make sure that you get to know people who have done the same thing to better understand the challenges and practicalities involved. Talk to other smallholders, farmers and breeders as much as you can. Visit your local agricultural show to see how things are done, read books and scour the internet and attend smallholding events or taster days to increase your knowledge and skills. Spend some time on someone else's smallholding before taking on your own.  Managing a smallholding requires a vast amount of knowledge and skill. Try and get some training, perhaps by taking a smallholding course at your local agricultural college - Cornwall College, for example, offers a specialist pathway in smallholding as both a full-time Foundation Degree or for one day a week, working towards a Higher National Certificate. Decide whether you want to run a smallholding as a hobby or as a commercial venture. Many people will want to live off their land, but you need to think about whether being self-sufficient is really practical. Are you going to continue working to bring in an extra income or do you intend to make the smallholding your full-time passion?  Think carefully about your location, property and land - you will need to decide where your smallholding will be located, how large it will be - whether it is two or twenty acres, the type of holding, the layout and the house and buildings. Obviously different areas of the country will be better suited to different types of farming - consider what is best for you. Decide whether you are going to live at the smallholding or whether it is practical to make regular trips there each week.  Decide on the livestock   you want to keep   and the fruit, vegetables or crops you want to grow. Whether you want to rear cattle, keep chickens, rare breed sheep or goats, each will require specific knowledge and training in order to be successful. Again, there are courses you can go on to better understand animal husbandry. Knowing about breeds, housing, feeding, equipment, health and well-being is critical. Land management is also a huge area for consideration - there are many things to think about including design and location, soil, crops, pests and pest control, maintenance, harvesting and preservation.  There will almost certainly be more work to be done than you think, so will you be able to manage it on your own? Running a smallholding requires teamwork and is a 365-day a year job, so if you want to be able to take holidays, you need to make sure you have someone reliable to run the smallholding while you are away.  Many people think about running a smallholding as a way to escape the stress of their current jobs. Although there are a lot of enjoyable aspects to running a smallholding, like every job, it comes with its own problems and stresses. Problems which may cause stress include finances and worries about animal health.  If you are looking for an easy way to make money, running a smallholding is almost certainly not going to be it. Income and profit can also be very hard to predict - anything from unexpected weather conditions to animal diseases can drastically impact on your financial situation.  For more information about running a smallholding visit  www.smallholder.co.uk ,  www.countrysmallholding.com  or www.smallholdingcourses.co.uk http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/taking-on-a-smallholding-–-is-it-for-you/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/taking-on-a-smallholding-–-is-it-for-you/ Fri, 18 November 2011 16:56:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/visit-to-cornish-flood-victims-one-year-on/ After heavy rain and gale-force winds caused flooding and massive disruption in parts of Cornwall, a St Austell-based insurance Inspector has been to see the work Cornish Mutual has done to get victims back on their feet. Cornish Mutual Inspector Joan Ball was involved in the aftermath of the severe flooding* in St Austell, St Blazey, Lostwithiel, Fowey and Mevagissey in November last year. The company helped people affected and organised a team of loss adjusters and flood damage restoration specialists to visit Members. Jim and Vina Lobb from St Ewe (pictured with Joan Ball) suffered significant damage to their two let properties in Pentewan. Mr and Mrs Lobb contacted Cornish Mutual who organised for a loss adjuster to visit the properties the same day. Vina said: "We saw the flooding on the news and I went down to the properties in Pentewan straight away. We called Cornish Mutual in the morning and the loss adjuster was there by the early afternoon. I spent the whole day helping the tenants however I could - it was really upsetting. "Around a foot of water had swept through the ground floors, underneath the doors and into the properties. It was filthy dirty, muddy, smelly and the scene was chaotic - completely unexpected. The tenants were brushing out and they'd lost a lot of their possessions, everything downstairs and the water had flooded the lower parts of the staircases," she said. Both properties were uninhabitable after the flooding. Luckily, Vina and Jim, who have been Cornish Mutual Members for more than 60 years, had buildings insurance and their policy also included cover for loss of rental income. Cornish Mutual paid £31,000 to restore the properties and the company spent £103,500 in total to settle 19 claims relating to the Cornish floods. It took around three months to get everything back to normal - plaster had to be stripped off the walls, skirting boards and floors needed to be ripped up and the kitchens required complete rebuilds. Both properties needed to be cleaned and dried out and then rewired, recarpeted and redecorated. Vina brought in builder Chris Lobb from Gorran Haven and plumber Dean Hancock from Trewoon, who following discussion and agreement with Spectrum Loss Adjusters, completed the remedial works required following the flooding. Vina Lobb, who met Prime Minister David Cameron during the floods, added: "Cornish Mutual, Spectrum and Richfords provided an absolutely fabulous service - it couldn't have been better. Whenever there were any problems or queries, we just called and they always had time for us. Cornish Mutual took a lot of the pressure off; they just took care of everything." Cornish Mutual Inspector, Joan Ball said: "It's always great to hear really positive comments about the service we provide and the team did an absolutely fantastic job of helping those affected by the flooding. Something like this is extremely distressing, it takes a long time to deal with and we wanted to make sure we did all we could to provide Members with the help, advice and reassurance that we would get it sorted out for them." Adam Smith from Spectrum Loss Adjusters added: "Whenever a major event of this scale occurs, a prompt response is required and we contact all policyholders to establish the position, reassure them of the claims process and assess the situation. We always endeavour to visit claimants on the same day, as we did with Mr and Mrs Lobb. We were able to liaise with them and their tenants, to explain our involvement and agree an immediate plan of action. "It's vital that services are checked to ensure safety at an early stage and we make arrangements for the properties to be cleaned and dried at the earliest opportunity, as these initial prompt measures will mitigate the final claim. We worked closely with the Cornish Mutual team to make sure Members got a prompt efficient service and, wherever possible we used local contractors to expedite the process." Mike Cooper from flood restoration specialists Richfords commented: "At Richfords we're in the business of giving people their lives back after fires and flooding. As the November flooding in St Austell, St Blazey, Lostwithiel, Fowey and Mevagissey was so local to us we were involved in drying and restoring over 100 properties. We were very pleased to have been able to help so many families within our community and to work closely with Cornish Mutual and Spectrum loss adjusters to deliver great service." *BBC News Online - In some areas flood waters rose up to 6ft (2m) causing widespread damage. Millions of pounds worth of damage was done to more than 600 homes and businesses. More than 100 houses had to be evacuated and search and rescue helicopters were used to help people trapped in their cars and homes. Main roads were closed, landslides stopped train services and schools were shut. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/visit-to-cornish-flood-victims-one-year-on/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/visit-to-cornish-flood-victims-one-year-on/ Fri, 18 November 2011 15:31:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/cornwall-to-take-control-of-its-own-trunk-roads/ Cornwall could take back control of its major trunk roads for the sake of its economic and social prosperity. According to saltashpeople.co.uk , Cornwall Council is to consider a proposal that would see it asking central Government to transfer the responsibility of Duchy trunk roads - the A30 and A38 - back into the hands of the local authority. Should the move go-ahead, it means that Cornwall Council would be responsible for the maintenance of the roads; both of which are considered the main arteries connecting Cornwall to the rest of England. Councillors say that local authority ownership would make the county's road network easier to maintain and therefore attract more tourists. It would also benefit local businesses who use the road network on a regular basis, as currently, the council has to wait until government allocations are available before necessary road repairs and maintenance work can begin. "The trunk roads in Cornwall, A30 and A38, are critical infrastructure to maintain and develop the economic and social prosperity of Cornwall," reads the proposal for government. "The congestion currently experienced on these roads is a cause for concern if Cornwall is to continue to attract tourism and business investment." Commenting on the issue of infrastructure in the county last year, George Eustice, Conservative MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, agreed, telling the Western Morning News : "As a peninsula, Cornwall's economy depends on having good infrastructure, and I want to look at ways of accelerating its improvement." On Wednesday members of the council cabinet will discuss plans to take ownership of two strips of road specifically: the A38 from Bodmin to Saltash and the A30 from Penzance to Launceston. Even if the plans were approved, the Department of Transport, who claims to have not ruled out the possibility of such a deal, says that the handover of ownership would not likely take place until at least April 2014. Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/cornwall-to-take-control-of-its-own-trunk-roads/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/cornwall-to-take-control-of-its-own-trunk-roads/ Thu, 17 November 2011 14:02:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/new-recruitment-for-rural-insurance-firm/ Fourteen new full-time members of staff have been recruited by South West rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual leading to a large-scale expansion of its team. The newly-created positions will all be based in Truro and work in departments including member services, IT, accounts and operations. The team will be involved in providing Cornish Mutual's commercial and personal insurance products and services for its 23,000 Members in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. They will also work closely with the company's 21 locally-based insurance inspectors across the region. Cornish Mutual currently employs more than 70 members of staff. Ria Murphy, Lisa Hitchens, Katie Harland, Rachel Donaldson, Megan Baker, Laura Wilkins and Jonathan Pollard take up the roles of member services advisors. Mauricio Morgado and Martin Reynolds are new IT support technicians, Chris Langley is software support and reporting analyst, Vanessa King is an accounts assistant, Clare Martin is business analyst, Nigel Meaby takes on the role of operations support and Carole Ham will act as front-of-house administrator (all pictured). Sharon Plowright, head of operations for Cornish Mutual, said: "The creation of these fourteen new roles is really important to the future strategic growth of the business. In the current economic climate, I think it really demonstrates that we take the recruitment of new people very seriously and sends a clear signal that we are continually looking to invest a lot of time and resources into making sure that our Members receive the very best service possible. We're delighted to be welcoming them on board and significantly expanding our team at the same time." Lisa Hitchens from St Austell said: "I was looking for a fresh start following maternity leave and, having worked for an insurance broker for ten years, joining Cornish Mutual has given me the best of both worlds. I have the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge I've gained so far, but in a company with a great reputation that is focused on future growth and committed to the development of its staff members which, in this industry, makes a refreshing change." Jonathan Pollard from Penzance said: "My family have a strong connection to the farming community that has spanned generations, so I jumped at the chance to work for Cornish Mutual. What interested me about Cornish Mutual was the fact they operate purely for the Member's benefit and they understand the needs of each of those Members individually. Also they are a strong local company with deep roots within the agricultural industry, so for me, it was a natural choice to join the company." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/new-recruitment-for-rural-insurance-firm/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/new-recruitment-for-rural-insurance-firm/ Wed, 16 November 2011 15:35:00 http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/green-farms-could-be-rewarded-by-government/ Fewer inspections could be in order for farmers who take pride in implementing green initiatives, reports This Is Somerset , as Government ministers want to help the agricultural industry plan to eradicate "tick-box regulation". Other actions have been taken to eradicate it further, such as limiting paperwork and creating an online archive of guidance. Furthermore, landowners and councils are being encouraged to work in partnership to reduce fly-tipping. West Country farmers hailed the Government's proposals, but the full plan is not due to be released until early next year. In addition, it is unknown whether the myriad of other proposals will be available to farmers that don't opt for an eco-conscious approach. The proposals come after Richard Macdonald, a former South West farming leader, implied that farmers can get too bogged down in red tape. His comments effectively forced the Government's hand when it comes to helping out farmers. Macdonald also accused successive governments as being "cautious, prescriptive, fearful of EU infraction, and possessive of implementation". Source: Vertical Leap http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/green-farms-could-be-rewarded-by-government/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/green-farms-could-be-rewarded-by-government/ Wed, 16 November 2011 14:04:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/insurer-invests-in-new-it-infrastructure/ Nearly half a million pounds has been invested in a new IT infrastructure by South West rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual to improve the level of service it provides for its Members. The Truro-based company has spent the money on implementing a new insurance policy administration system, deploying a new IT infrastructure and upgrading its telephony. Cornish Mutual's Member services team and local insurance Inspectors have been trained on the more modern, intuitive system and the company has employed three new IT professionals to support and develop its operations, ensure business continuity and help make the necessary transition. Using the latest  insurance software  will allow the company, which has over 23,000 Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, to be more flexible and self-sufficient in designing and offering new products and services in the future. Redruth-based Piran Technologies Limited was employed by Cornish Mutual to provide the new secure and robust IT infrastructure. Following a rigorous tender process, specialist supplier Transactor Global Solutions Limited was used for its policy administration system, which helps Cornish Mutual to guide Members through the insurance buying process. Peter Beaumont, Finance Director at Cornish Mutual, said: "This investment in our new IT infrastructure and Transactor software means that we are now able to provide the right platforms to improve our overall service to Members. Our previous policy system was based on old 'green screen' technology and we were limited in our ability to make changes and integrate with other systems. By moving to more up-to-date technology, we are able to take a lot more control over the services we offer. We are improving the Member experience and better protecting secure data." He added: "When a Member telephones Cornish Mutual, what they are after is pretty simple - a quick answer and a person on the end of the phone who can help them.  We recognise that some of our Members prefer to contact our team directly, without going through the main number, although this does make it harder to manage calls, we support this as part of our commitment to personal service. We have made a number of changes to shorten average telephone waiting times and thus reduce the number of calls we do not answer in time. "Technology improvements have not only helped us track and manage incoming calls better, but also predict call patterns and match the availability of advisors to our busiest times. We now have a call-back option in place if a Member wants us to ring them back. We are learning how we can improve all the time, but we have made an exciting leap forward in our service provision." Mark Wright, Managing Director of Piran Technologies, commented: "Our mission is to provide our customers with cost-effective secure IT systems with the potential to increase business productivity and environmental sustainability. We are proud to be able to offer these services to a progressive, forward thinking local company like Cornish Mutual. They have embraced innovative and flexible systems that provide extremely high security principles, without compromising the ability to grow and maintain highly available services for their customer services." Peter Beaumont added: "As well as ticking all the boxes, both Piran Technologies and Transactor Global Solutions understood our mutual business model and have proved to be very cost-effective. Insurance is a fast-moving industry and we needed to be more responsive and remain ahead of the game when it comes to meeting the changing needs of our Members. It is really exciting to see the opportunities opening up to us to improve the quality of a service we are already very proud of." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/insurer-invests-in-new-it-infrastructure/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/insurer-invests-in-new-it-infrastructure/ Thu, 10 November 2011 16:59:00 Mike Cooper http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/end-of-indian-summer-signals-time-to-prepare-for-arctic-winter/ In early October, as the mercury rose in our thermometers to a record-breaking 29 degrees Celsius, the freezing temperatures for winter seemed a long way off. Sadly, after having enjoyed the Indian summer, the reality of our usual British autumn/winter weather has returned and we are told to expect an arctic winter. Over the past two winters at Richfords Fire and Flood we have attended hundreds of homes in Devon and Cornwall where frozen and burst pipes have caused significant damage to property and misery and upset. However, there are several ways in which homeowners can avoid damage to their property by preparing before the freezing temperatures hit. Insulation  - Adding extra insulation to your loft space can be a great way of keeping your home warmer this winter and reducing energy bills. However, be sure when adding insulation to your loft that you also insulate or lag pipes. Also adding lagging to your cold water tank can prevent a freeze. Heating - During very cold periods keeping your heating on even at a low level (12-15 degrees Celsius) can prevent ice from building up and causing a burst. Remember: the living areas of your property will always be warmer than non-living areas, such as the loft space, so if you feel cold indoors your loft space may be freezing. Turn off the water supply to outside taps - as these are the most likely to freeze. Unoccupancy - If you are likely to be away from your property for any length of time you should shut off the mains water supply and drain down the system to prevent a burst. Remember: many home insurance   policies have an unoccupancy clause which may mean damage is not covered if the property is unoccupied. In summary, the freezing temperatures in the UK over the past two winters have caused close to £1 billion worth of damage to homes and businesses. These few simple steps above may help you to prevent damage to your premises this year. Image source: Sarah and Mike …probably on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/end-of-indian-summer-signals-time-to-prepare-for-arctic-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/end-of-indian-summer-signals-time-to-prepare-for-arctic-winter/ Thu, 10 November 2011 10:09:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/derek-celebrates-40-years-of-loyal-service/ Cornish Mutual's longest serving member of staff has celebrated his 40 year milestone working for the rural insurance company. 57-year old Facilities and Projects Leader Derek Endean (pictured) was first employed as a cover note clerk by the Truro-based company at the age of 17. Over the 40 years, Derek who lives in Probus has held a number of positions at Cornish Mutual including supervising the fire, household, motoring and accounts departments. He was promoted to Administration Supervisor in 1999, before taking up his current role which includes having responsibility for ensuring the smooth running of the head office, dealing with contractors and suppliers, staff procedural issues, health and safety and environmental sustainability. Derek says technological advances have been the biggest change over the years, "We've gone from writing out insurance cover notes and policy amendments on pieces of paper to everything being computerised, and with an increasing use the internet and email. It's funny to think that when I started, we used to have these huge and heavy Dickensian-sized ledger accountancy books and policy documents that we used to have to manually update." For Cornishman Derek, the company holds a special place in his heart because it is where he met his wife, Sue. She worked as a telephonist for the company for around five years. Derek laughs, "It was the archetypal office romance! We've now been married for 33 years and have two sons, Stephen and Matthew, as well as a grandson, so in a way I guess we have Cornish Mutual to thank for that. I was also born in Truro, just a stone's throw from the company's offices at the time." The rural insurance firm now has around 23,000 Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset and Derek says that although the figure has grown, the personal touch has not changed, "When I worked in underwriting I got to know our Members by their first names because many of them had been insured for years. This face-to-face contact hasn't changed to this day." So what has kept Derek at Cornish Mutual? "It's always been a very good company to work for and we've got a stable workforce. The management has always supported its staff and taken a keen interest in you as an individual - it's always been a great working relationship. You feel valued and I really enjoy the work. "Cornish Mutual invests a lot of time and resources in its people, giving them plenty of personal development and career progression. There is now a huge emphasis on training and qualifications and when I started all those years ago, very few people had those opportunities - there wasn't the structure or budget there is today." Derek says that, apart from meeting his wife, the 40-year highlight has been the recent team conference day, "For only the second time in the Company's history we managed to get all employees and board members under one roof and because it was combined with charity fundraising, interesting discussions and other activities, it was a really great day." Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, adds: "We are delighted to be celebrating Derek's milestone with the company - 40 years is a long time and his knowledge and experience is truly valued by everyone here. It is a wonderful thing that mutual insurance companies are able to boast such long-serving and loyal employees and that we are able to give that continuity of service to our Members. I would like to thank Derek for his unstinted commitment and we look forward to working with him for many more years to come." http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/derek-celebrates-40-years-of-loyal-service/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/derek-celebrates-40-years-of-loyal-service/ Wed, 09 November 2011 16:16:00 Paul Haddrell http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/a-quick-guide-to-our-current-claims-process/ Having to make a claim on your insurance can be a very stressful and drawn-out experience, even more so if your insurance company does not keep you informed of how they are handling your claim and the progress they are making with it. At Cornish Mutual we pride ourselves on a straightforward and fair claims process, therefore we have put together this short guide for our Members to explain how we currently deal with claims and what you can expect from us should you have to make a claim. The first thing we need in the case of any type of claim (except for windscreens) is a completed claim form. Our claim forms can be downloaded from our website , or can be posted out to Members if they would prefer to call the office or  their local Inspector to request one. The second thing we need from you, the Member, is an estimate for the damage caused. Once we are in receipt of this we can establish whether an engineer or loss adjuster needs to be appointed. Unfortunately until we have received both the claim form and estimate we cannot authorise repairs to proceed. Should we appoint an assessor or loss adjustor to your claim, they will contact you and arrange to visit you at your earliest convenience. After the visit, the assessor/loss adjustor will write a report and decide upon a settlement figure or best course of action. The report details all the information we need in order to take the claim forward - for example the time and date of the incident, exactly what happened, the extent of the damage caused, and the costs involved in repairing the damage caused.  However, a payment can only be made once you have sent in a completed claim form. Once the estimate/settlement figure has been approved by our Member Services team, they will authorise the work to be carried out. In straightforward cases, the whole claims process can take just 48 hours, although each claim is treated individually and is assessed on its own merits. The claim forms ask for all the information we require in order to process a claim. In our experience, however, claim forms which have been sent in with missing information are the most common cause of delay to the process. It is always worth double checking - should you need to make a claim - that you have filled out every last detail.  If you are unsure of the answer to any given question, our Member Services team will be more than happy to advise you. It is our aim to treat all claims fairly and to settle them promptly. Should a claim be rejected or not settled in full, we always offer a full explanation as to why this is. For more information about our claims process, or to speak to someone regarding an existing claim you might have, please call Member Services on 01872 277151 or email claims@cornishmutual.co.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/a-quick-guide-to-our-current-claims-process/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/a-quick-guide-to-our-current-claims-process/ Thu, 03 November 2011 14:50:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/farmers-reminded-about-muddy-roads/ Rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual has teamed up with South West legal firm Ashfords LLP to remind farmers and landowners about the hazards of leaving mud on the region's roads. Excessive mud left on the roads can cause serious accidents. Common sources of the problem are farm vehicles, run-off from fields and animals using the highways, particularly during wet weather. Blocked ditches and drains can also cause flooding which, in turn, leaves mud and debris behind. As part of Cornish Mutual's health and safety initiative it is urging farmers and landowners to ensure they understand their legal obligations in order to minimise the risk of an incident. The Highways Act 1980, the Water Resources Act 1991 (in relation to anti-pollution notices) and the law of public nuisance all have provisions relating to mud on the road. Even mud from vehicles not belonging to the landowner, for example, a contractor spreading muck on the fields or a milk tanker can still be the landowner's responsibility, if the mud came off their land and they knew about the mud and could have prevented it or cleared it up. Flora Wood, Partner and head of Ashfords' Personal Injury Team, said: "Always make sure that you agree with a contractor who is responsible for clearing up any mud. None of our country roads are pristine - often accidents happen without any witnesses, and landowners become aware of a claim many months later. By then it is difficult to prove the mud was not excessive or did not come from their land. The best safeguard for farmers and landowners is to adopt a clear policy to avoid mud and stick to it. A written record of action taken to reduce mud is advisable for any activity involving a risk of bringing mud onto the roads." Cornish Mutual Inspector Dave Bersey, who looks after Members in areas including Looe, Launceston, Lostwithiel and Liskeard, recently found reason to speak to a farming Member about there being excessive mud on the roads around his farm. The Member took his advice and put up signage to warn other motorists about the hazardous area. Dave Bersey said: "The farmer was delighted that it was brought to his attention as he hadn't realised it may have caused a problem. He got the road cleaned up and back to normal, as well as putting up signage. Clearing up mud can be difficult so it's worth considering hiring in special equipment. Use signage if you can to make sure other motorists are aware that there may be mud on the road and always clean mud off the highway at reasonable intervals and at the end of the day." According to Cornwall Council*, the most frequent complaint received by the Council about farmers relates to mud and muck on the roads. Dave added: "Mud on the road can also come from other activities that take place in fields, such as banger racing and agricultural shows in the region. Vehicles are often pulled in and out of the fields onto the roads and can bring muck with them. Any event or other activity like this can have an impact." There are a number of preventative measures that can be taken including making sure that the field gateways onto the road are well drained; hard core or chippings can be used around these areas or on farm tracks to reduce the spread of mud. Tractor tyres can be washed down before going onto the roads and driving at lower speeds can reduce the spreading of muck and mud. Farmers and landowners are also advised to make sure that they have appropriate Public Liability insurance cover in place should the worst happen. Cornish Mutual provides a range of insurance products to indemnify farmers and landowners against their legal liabilities. Ashfords LLP has offices in Exeter, Bristol, London, Plymouth, Taunton and Tiverton. To contact Flora Wood call 01392 334020, email f.wood@ashfords.co.uk or see www.ashfords.co.uk . *See guidance, 'The farmer and the highway' - Cornwall Council http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/farmers-reminded-about-muddy-roads/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/november/farmers-reminded-about-muddy-roads/ Wed, 02 November 2011 11:24:00 Winter Rule http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/planning-for-the-reduction-in-machinery-allowances/ Now that the harvest is in and things are starting to quieten down on farms during the autumn and winter months, careful thought should be given to capital expenditure plans on tractors and machinery before next April. At present businesses obtain the annual investment allowance (AIA) on expenditure up to £100,000 for which they get 100% tax relief. From April 2012 this allowance is reducing to £25,000 which is a very serious reduction for most farmers. With even an average tractor costing around £60,000, and some way in excess, agricultural businesses need to give serious consideration now to making capital purchases before next April, because of, in some cases, long order and delivery times and the need to get finances lined up. The following example shows how dramatic the reduction in AIA will be. Assuming profits of £75,000, after depreciation of £40,000, and expenditure on a tractor and other machinery totalling £100,000 the tax position before and after April 2012 is as follows:-   Year ended 31/03/2012 Year ended 31/03/2012 Profit 75,000 75,000 Depreciation (which is added back for tax purposes) 40,000 40,000   ---- ----   115,000 115,000 Capital allowances     AIA (100,000) (25,000) Writing down allowance on remainder     £75,000 x 18%   - (13,500)   ---- ---- Taxable profit £15,000 £76,500   For a sole trader this will mean that profits, which would have been wholly taxed at the basic rate of 20% in 2011/12, will suffer tax at 40% on about £34,000 of the profits in 2012/13. For a sole trader this will mean that profits, which would  have been wholly taxed at the basic rate of After April 2012, because the AIA is lower, more of the capital cost will be subject to the annual writing down allowance of 18% per annum on the reducing balance. Tax relief will be received eventually but it will be spread over a much longer period.0% in 2011/12, will suffer tax at 40% on about £34,000 of the profits in 2012/13. Once we are in the new regime post April 2012, businesses should ensure that they utilise the £25,000 AIA each year without wasting it in any year. To achieve this, make sure that capital expenditure is spread evenly from year to year and that you have a regular replacement programme for tractors and machinery. There is no doubt that farm businesses will see an increase in tax going forward, but there are actions that can be taken to mitigate this additional burden by perhaps restructuring the business, or by paying pension contributions or by making tax efficient investments. Please call us on 01872 276477  if you would like further advice in any of these areas. Related posts: Farmers warned of holiday cottage tax changes Experts advise on planning future success No Tax Holiday http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/planning-for-the-reduction-in-machinery-allowances/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/planning-for-the-reduction-in-machinery-allowances/ Thu, 27 October 2011 15:58:00 Safety Cornwall http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/health-safety-in-the-workplace-–-we-are-all-responsible/ As part of European Health & Safety Week, we have invited Safety Cornwall Ltd  to write a short blog about the health & safety responsibilities we each have within the workplace… Health and safety applies to each and every one of us whilst we are at work, whether we are employers, employees or other workers such as contractors, volunteers, or whatever.  Like it or not, we cannot avoid our responsibilities in health and safety law.  If you are an employer, you have a duty in law to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your employees and you must also ensure the health and safety of non-employed persons such as members of the public, visitors to your premises, service users, etc. It is important to understand who is an 'employer'.  This includes sole traders; those who run a business partnership (eg, husband and wife teams); directors of limited companies; volunteer members of sports committees or councils; trustees of charitable organisations.  All have a duty of care in health and safety law, as above. Compliance with health and safety law is essentially a two-fold requirement for employers.  Firstly, employers must develop health and safety management systems which are proportionate to the work activities undertaken and/or the services or amenities provided.  Secondly, employers must ensure that operational practices and procedures in the workplace are inherently safe and compliant with regulatory requirements and relevant guidance or standards.  Employees must be informed, instructed and trained in regard to working safely, followed by adequate supervision.  Employees must co-operate with safe working practices, failing which, they too may become criminally liable if they cause harm or injury to person(s). Employers must also remember the joint duty of care where contractors are involved.  There is a clear and important duty upon employers to pre-check the credentials and competence of contractors and also to ensure that they plan, prepare and execute their contract work safely.  For example, the construction industry unfortunately experiences by far the highest number of fatalities, usually attributable to falls from height.  Alas also, and proportionate to the numbers of persons employed in the industry, agriculture is by far the most dangerous industry, with ten-times the ratio of people killed than in construction.  Failure to check out and monitor the work-safety performance of your contractors, may well result in shared culpability if injury occurs. The consequences of health and safety failures are becoming increasingly more serious.  The HSE is now moving towards a cost-recovery scheme where the investigation of an incident leads to enforcement action; court fines have recently been increased quite dramatically; where it can be shown that a gross breach of a relevant duty of care resulted in a fatality, charges for manslaughter may now be brought, with potential for custodial sentence.  Whatever, the HSE's declared intent is "to prevent people being killed, injured or made ill by work", and who can argue with that? David Shepherd is the Managing Director of Safety Cornwall Ltd . David is a Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (MCIEH) and has spent some 30 plus years working as a health and safety inspector for several council enforcing authorities, both within the UK and New Zealand.  He has been in private practice as a health and safety adviser and consultant since 1988.  Safety Cornwall is based in Truro and is retained by all sectors of local industry and commerce throughout Cornwall and beyond, with extensive expertise as safety advisers within the agricultural sector. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/health-safety-in-the-workplace-–-we-are-all-responsible/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/health-safety-in-the-workplace-–-we-are-all-responsible/ Mon, 24 October 2011 11:47:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/charity-cookbook-raises-thousands-for-air-ambulance/ Almost £9,000 has been raised for the Air Ambulances of the South West through the fundraising efforts of rural insurance company Cornish Mutual. This includes the sale of the 'Come Together, Eat Together' charity cookbook which has so far raised over £7,000 alone - the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust will benefit from the cash injection to help keep the service flying. Cornish Mutual Inspector Dave Bersey recently met with Susie Smith from the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust to see the work of the paramedics at the Newquay Cornwall Airport base. Copies of the book which featured local chefs including Arty Williams and Rick Stein were sold online, at the county's agricultural shows and other events, as well as by the charity's volunteer fundraisers. Each copy costs £5 and includes more than 30 favourite recipes by cooking enthusiasts and families from across the county. There are still a few copies available to buy online at www.eattogether.co.uk/order - all proceeds go directly to the Cornwall, Devon and Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulances. The 'Come Together, Eat Together' cookbook was launched by rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual, as part of its campaign to get families eating together. The campaign followed research, released earlier this year, which showed that almost half of families in Cornwall no longer ate together at least once a day. Dave Bersey, Insurance Inspector with Cornish Mutual, said: "Meeting the paramedics and getting a better understanding of the life-saving job they do has reinforced the importance of raising money for the Air Ambulance through the sale of the charity cookbook. At Cornish Mutual, the whole team has been involved in various fundraising activities this year for the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust and we hope that every penny raised will help to make a difference." Susie Smith, Senior Community Fundraiser with the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust said: "We're extremely grateful to Cornish Mutual for choosing to support the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust. Staff, volunteers and visitors to our charity shops have all thoroughly enjoyed making the creative and inventive recipes in the books." She added: "The speed with which our helicopter can get patients to hospital can be the difference between life and death. Cornwall, in particular, lends itself to needing this service with many of our beaches, moorlands and cliff tops being inaccessible by road. Add to this the fact that our narrow roads can come to a standstill during summer with the nearest A&E often being hours away by road. As we receive no funding from central government, we rely entirely on the support from local people and organisations such as Cornish Mutual to keep our helicopter flying and saving lives in Cornwall and in the Isles of Scilly." Cornish Mutual provides farm, household, commercial, events and personal accident insurance to Members throughout the rural communities of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. To find out more about the 'Come Together, Eat Together' campaign and to order a copy of the cookbook, visit www.eattogether.co.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/charity-cookbook-raises-thousands-for-air-ambulance/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/charity-cookbook-raises-thousands-for-air-ambulance/ Fri, 21 October 2011 12:53:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/full-scale-of-worst-winter-claims-revealed/ New figures released today for the first time show the full cost of claims for South West rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual during one of the worst winters on record. Nearly 300 weather-related insurance claims were made between 1 November 2010 and 31 March 2011 costing the Truro-based company nearly three quarters of a million pounds (£709,305). The claims include burst pipes and tanks, flooding, storm damage, lightning strikes, vehicles sliding on ice and damage caused by rain, snow and wind. The average claim totalled £2,462. Burst pipes, tanks, boilers and water escaping were the most common and expensive causes of damage with an average individual claim of £4,624. This was followed by storm rain damage, with the average individual claim of £2,664.   Number of claims Total paid out Burst pipes, tanks and boilers and water escape (flooding) 73 £337,601 Vehicles sliding on ice 63 £153,915 Storm rain damage 31 £82,605 Storm wind damage 29 £54,515 Loss of milk due to non-collection 29 £39,925 Storm snow damage 16 £19,767 Weather damage: other claims 28 £11,496 Lightning damage 19 £9,481 Total 288 £709,305   Cornish Mutual, which has Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, is publishing the figures following the Met Office's recent call for a 'sense of reason' about what is in store for this year's winter in the UK. There have been some media reports of temperatures plummeting to -20C and others saying we may experience an Arctic winter. Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, said: "For the last two years we have had particularly severe winters in the South West and the claims that we've experienced clearly reflect that. I think, rather than scaremongering about what might or might not happen this winter, the best thing that everyone can do is to think ahead. Preparation is absolutely key and the more prepared you are for the worst, the better off you are likely to be at the end of the day." He added: "As an insurance company, we did experience one of the busiest periods for winter claims in recent years and clearly we'll be keeping a close eye on forecasts this year. No one likes to be left facing huge bills which often run into thousands of pounds as a result of damage caused by the weather, so making sure your home, vehicle or property is in a good state-of-repair now and that you are properly insured against these sorts of eventualities is always a sensible thing to do sooner, rather than later." Nearly 30 claims were paid to farmers in the Westcountry for loss of milk, because tankers couldn't collect from some farms. Treacherous conditions on the roads meant that tankers were not able to reach the milking parlours and some dairy farmers had to dispose of the milk when their tanks became full. Cornish Mutual is reminding farmers in the region that they must speak to their insurer about cover for uncollected milk when they take up an insurance policy or at the time of renewal. Alan Goddard said: "We always advocate acting early when it comes to this issue. We won't be able to provide insurance cover for farmers just before a particularly bad weather spell and often uncollected milk cover will be part of the general insurance policy they take out. The best advice is to let us know in plenty of time that you want to be covered to avoid any nasty surprises further down the line." Image source: hello-julie on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/full-scale-of-worst-winter-claims-revealed/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/full-scale-of-worst-winter-claims-revealed/ Thu, 20 October 2011 00:00:00 Alan Goddard http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/searching-for-skills/ I have long held the view that there is a shortage of skilled professionals looking to work in the insurance industry - yes, it might not be the most glamorous career choice, but I do think that more can be done to make our sector more attractive. I think we need to educate people, particularly graduates who may be weighing up their options, that it can be very satisfying with salary and skills development delivering long-term rewards. I think, as an industry, we need to communicate that insurance is not stuffy and boring, but that we do offer attractive career opportunities at all levels. It is fair to say that in the past we have had some difficulties finding people with the broad analytical skills that we need for our development work. Although it's a problem that affects the whole sector, we want to grow the business by bringing new skilled professionals in, as well as developing the talent that we already have within the company. It is hard to attract good-quality people to work in the insurance industry in the Westcountry unless they're already looking for a change of lifestyle, rather than for career reasons. At Cornish Mutual, we're looking to start graduate placements in the near future and we're also working with learning providers to develop our own, in-house staff development scheme. I believe that one of the factors that will help with the future growth of our business is the insurance industry becoming more successful overall in securing talented individuals. There is a desire for Cornish Mutual to grow over the next few years and we want to recruit locally wherever possible. We don't want to start losing people who might have been born, raised and educated in the South West who then choose, for whatever reason, to leave the region and work elsewhere. As an insurer, we're in a unique position because we're the only general insurance firm to be based in the South West and we still have Inspectors meeting and dealing with our Members face-to-face. We need good people who like dealing with real people - our business is very much customer facing and although we're using new technology and automated processes, there is no substitute for that one-to-one level of service that we can provide. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/searching-for-skills/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/searching-for-skills/ Wed, 19 October 2011 12:36:00 Cornish Mutual News http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/spotlight-on-farming-deaths-and-injuries/ Cutting the number of deaths and serious injuries in the Westcountry's farming industry will be a key focus for Cornish Mutual in supporting European Health and Safety Week later this month (24-28 October). The rural insurance firm, which has Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, is highlighting figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which show that agriculture is the number one sector for fatalities and major injuries. In 2009/10 there were four deaths in the industry in Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, as well as 72 major injuries and 113 non-fatal injuries in the South West region alone. The most common causes include being run over, vehicle overturning, falling from height, hit by moving or falling objects, drowning or asphyxiation, contact with machinery or livestock, being trapped by something or contact with electricity. Cornish Mutual is launching a year-long initiative during European Health and Safety Week to raise awareness of the issues amongst farmers and landowners. Over the next twelve months, the company will be working closely with a number of organisations to promote the 'safer workplace' message. Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual, said: "European Health and Safety Week is a really good opportunity to encourage activities that make the workplace much safer and healthier. We will continually remind people not to cut corners when it comes to taking sensible health and safety measures, particularly to help reduce incidents in higher-risk industries like agriculture. "Given that agriculture is the lifeblood of our regional economy, health and safety is a real issue for farmers and landowners and should be high up on their agenda. Put simply, farmers, landowners and all other businesses in the South West must comply by law. Health and safety legislation exists to protect people from real risks mainly at, or connected with, work but it can cover other areas like schools In the UK, health and safety law is governed by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Where an employee is killed or injured at work, the Health and Safety Executive can instigate a criminal prosecution, which may result in a financial penalty (fine) and in certain circumstances of corporate manslaughter could result in imprisonment for those individuals responsible. There is also the potential for a negligence claim against the farmer or landowner. Alan Goddard added: "Ignoring current health and safety legislation and failing to act could have very serious consequences. Business owners could face a costly claim or even a prison sentence if a member of staff is killed or injured while at work. There is no room for complacency when you're potentially putting people's lives at risk through your activity." Dave Shepherd, Health and Safety Advisor with Safety Cornwall Limited, added: "Although farming has the worst safety record, identifying hazards and taking measures to reduce the risks is the first step for farmers and landowners in helping to improve the situation. Everyone has a responsibility for good health and safety practice and I would urge people to take it seriously. You should look at your own policies and procedures regularly to avoid being caught out. Fewer risks mean fewer accidents and that's the best way of driving down these statistics in the future." Farmers and landowners in the Westcountry are being reminded that they should have the right insurance cover in place to indemnify them against their legal liabilities, in the event of a death or serious injury. Although it is not compulsory, they are advised to have suitable public liability cover in place. Employers Liability cover, however, is a compulsory insurance. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/spotlight-on-farming-deaths-and-injuries/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/spotlight-on-farming-deaths-and-injuries/ Mon, 17 October 2011 14:29:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/securing-your-home-against-burglaries-this-winter/ With only a couple of weeks until the end of British Summer Time, you probably don't need to be reminded that evenings are becoming shorter. When we turn the clocks back an hour on Sunday 30 October, the nights will really start drawing in, so now is a good time to do a few checks on the security of your home to get it ready for the winter months. With only a couple of weeks until the end of British Summer Time, you probably don't need to be reminded that evenings are becoming shorter. When we turn the clocks back an hour on Sunday 30 October, the nights will really start drawing in, so now is a good time to do a few checks on the security of your home to get it ready for the winter months. Use a timer switch to make your lights come on before you arrive home from work; this will make it look like someone is in. Draw your curtains if you are going out for the evening to prevent trespassers looking through your windows, and if possible, leave a light on to give the impression you are still at home. When you leave, make sure all windows and doors have been securely shut and locked; this may seem obvious, but when the clocks first go back it can be easy to forget the windows we might have been keeping permanently open through the summer. It is also worth marking your valuables with a ultra-violet (UV) pen; should they be stolen, they will be easily identified as yours. If you have a garden shed or garage, make sure that it is locked and secured with a substantial padlock during hours of darkness. Tools and machinery kept in sheds and garages can be very expensive, and unsecured outbuildings are an easy target for burglars. Other measures to consider include the installation of outdoor security lighting, as well as that of a burglar alarm. In areas with very little or no roadside lighting, security lighting and a flashing burglar alarm box can help put off potential trespassers. Setting up or joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your area could offer additional security.  Your local Constabulary can provide further advice and guidance on how to keep your home safe this winter.  In case the worst should happen, you should also check that you have the right home contents and buildings insurance in place. Cornish Mutual's home insurance can be tailored to meet your own specific requirements; to find out more, please call our Member Services Team on 0845 017 5513. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/securing-your-home-against-burglaries-this-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/securing-your-home-against-burglaries-this-winter/ Fri, 14 October 2011 10:23:00 Paul Haddrell http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/why-public-liability-insurance-is-a-must-for-horse-owners/ Anyone who keeps a horse knows just how important it is to be conscious about safety at all times. Not only to avoid accidents and injuries to yourself and the horse - but  to also ensure that your horse does not harm others. If your horse is involved in an incident which causes injury or damage  to another person or their property, you could be held responsible, whether you were present when the accident happened or not. This means that if your horse escapes from its paddock onto a road and causes an accident, you could be held liable and you could end up footing the bill for any damage caused to the vehicles and any personal injury claims if someone gets hurt. The same rules apply if your horse kicks a person or vehicle, or damages another person or their property in any way, for instance kicking a walker when they are crossing a field. An example of where a horse owner was found liable and had to pay out compensation is the legal case of Mirvahedy v Henley. Mr Mirvahedy was driving home from work in South Devon when a horse owned by the Henleys ran across the road and caused a collision. Mr Mirvahedy suffered serious injuries and claimed that the Henleys had been negligent in not properly fencing their field. This argument was rejected by the House of Lords, but they ruled that the Henleys were liable nonetheless. There are steps you can take to minimise the risks of your horse being involved in an accident, like checking all your boundaries and fences are secure, all gates are locked and any necessary repairs are made. If your horse is kept at someone else's property, you should also ensure that they are taking the same precautions. However, even if you have done these things, we would still strongly advise all horse owners to make sure they have public liability insurance for their horse , in case the worst does happen. Cornish Mutual has seen large claims made against horse owners for accidents involving horses, and there have been several high profile cases where horse owners without insurance have been faced with huge compensation bills. Image source: ell brown on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/why-public-liability-insurance-is-a-must-for-horse-owners/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/october/why-public-liability-insurance-is-a-must-for-horse-owners/ Thu, 06 October 2011 15:43:00 Verity Dodd http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/how-cornish-mutual-have-supported-the-rural-community-in-2011/ As an insurer of people living and working in the countryside, Cornish Mutual likes to support activities that it considers to be part of the farming or rural community. This often takes the form of sponsorship and we support a range of events throughout the year, from the Cornwall Farm Business Awards - this year sponsoring their Victor Ludorum with a donation of £500 - to Young Farmers' competitions and agricultural shows. This year, as always, we have supported events at a number of agricultural shows throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset - some of which we have attended, some we haven't. Our level of sponsorship varies from £50 for a cattle class to larger amounts - for example our support of the Countryside area at Stithians Show. At Cornwall Food & Drink Festival this month, we offered sponsorship in the form of insurance. At other events, we might give money towards prizes for the winners of the classes, poster printing costs or the rosettes which are presented to the winners. In return for our help, we do ask for some form of promotion. This normally means that at the very least we want to be mentioned as a sponsor in the show schedule/catalogue, but can also include being mentioned on the show's website, the display of a Cornish Mutual banner, free trade stand space or free admission for our Inspectors - or the agreement of the people we're sponsoring to be involved in a press release.  Aside from shows, we have supported the ARC Addington Fund again this year, as we feel the charity - which provides homes for families leaving the farming industry - plays a crucial role in our community. We have donated £10,000 towards the Fund's latest project - the conversion of disused barns, near Indian Queens in Cornwall, into affordable homes and workshops. We have also provided the Young Farmers Clubs in our four counties with significant sponsorship this year. In return for this, they have each become involved in our Come Together, Eat Together campaign, helping to promote it and our charity Cookbook, and raising money for the region's Air Ambulances. For example, each Club held their own cooking competition this summer, using recipes mentioned in our Cookbook. The Clubs encouraged their members, friends and family to come along to the competitions, and the winners were noted in local news stories and papers. If you live or work in the rural community of the South West, and feel your local event, agricultural show or charity could benefit from Cornish Mutual's support, we are happy to consider written applications. Please email marketing@cornishmutual.co.uk or write to Verity at Cornish Mutual, CMA House, Newham Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2SU. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/how-cornish-mutual-have-supported-the-rural-community-in-2011/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/how-cornish-mutual-have-supported-the-rural-community-in-2011/ Fri, 30 September 2011 12:37:00 Stephens Scown http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/understanding-the-full-facts-of-free-roof-top-solar-pv-panels/ Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewable Energy at South West legal firm Stephens Scown urges Cornish Mutual Members to understand the full facts before signing up to deals offering free roof-top solar PV panels and cheap electricity. A lot of people are looking at solar PV panels in an effort to reduce their electricity and heating bills, as well as helping the environment.  With the introduction of Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) some organisations provide free solar PV panels, install them and in effect 'lease' the homeowners' roof, usually for a period of 25 years.  The company receives the FiT payment direct and the customer can benefit from reduced energy bills. However, some companies may not offer the generated electricity for free, but at a discounted price. This is a great way to reduce your electricity bills if you don't wish to spend a lump sum of money at the start of the project and would rather not be  responsible for the service and maintenance of the system.  Although this seems a win-win situation there are things to watch out for such as; when and how much electricity do you use; who insures the system and the roof; does the company have certain rights to your roof when the lease has ended; what happens when you move house and who is responsible if the system breaks? These will all be detailed in the lease and it is well worth ensuring that these details are checked out by an experienced solicitor. Some homeowners are opting to buy the solar panels outright which entitles them to free electricity and the FiT payments. You may have heard of solar panels enabling returns on investment of around 9-12%, however, this very much depends on the location of the site and other attributes such as over shading.  To receive the guaranteed FiT payments the solar panels and the installer have to be Microgeneration Scheme (MCS) accredited, an accreditation designed to offer the consumer the confidence that the equipment and the installer are of a high quality and will last the 25 year term that the FiT is available for. If going down this avenue there are also things that need to be considered such as warranties, service and maintenance contracts as well as provision on your home insurance. Here are some other useful questions you should ask the solar installer/provider:  1.         Can the roof structurally hold the system for 25 years? 2.         Are the product and installer MCS Accredited? 3.         Does the installer comply with the code put in place by the Renewable Energy Assurance (Real) Scheme? 4.         Who pays for the service and maintenance of the equipment? 5.         Who is responsible if the system is vandalised or stolen? 6.         What happens to the FiT payments if the system stops working? Are you insured or can you claim damages? 7.         What happens if the company that installs the system goes into liquidation? 8.         Who is responsible for gaining planning permission and permission to connect the systems to the national grid? 9.         Who is liable for injury should any arise from the installation? 10.       At the end of the contract, who takes the system down and what happens with the solar panels? In many ways, there are a whole host of issues that property owners need to consider carefully before going ahead with an installation, but provided you ask the right questions and get the right advice, you can't go far wrong. Cornish Mutual Members with home insurance can be covered for installing solar PV panels on their property - for more information call Cornish Mutual's Member Services Team on 0845 017 5513.  For more information or to contact Sonya call 01392 210700 or visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/understanding-the-full-facts-of-free-roof-top-solar-pv-panels/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/understanding-the-full-facts-of-free-roof-top-solar-pv-panels/ Mon, 19 September 2011 10:30:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/is-your-gold-jewellery-adequately-insured/ You may have recently read or heard about gold prices hitting an all time high, and that selling your old, spare or scrap necklaces, rings, watches and other jewellery could make you some extra cash.  Gold has risen in price by around 50 per cent in the past 12 months to a record high of over $1,800 per ounce. If you had invested in gold ten years ago, the value of that investment today would have more than tripled.  This massive price increase doesn't just affect traders with huge investments. If you own any gold, regardless of how much or how little, it will more than likely be worth a lot more than when you bought it. If you want to make some quick money, then selling it might be an option. But if you are not interested in selling, then it is worth making sure it is properly insured.    The soaring prices have not gone un-noticed by thieves and there have already been reports that petty criminals have started targeting gold jewellery in home burglaries and muggings.*  Many gold items will be worth more to you in sentimental value than in cost, but insuring your gold can at least allow you to replace any lost items.  It is worth checking whether you have adequate cover with your insurance provider. You could get your gold items re-valued to make sure the amount your currently have them insured for is correct. Considering the dramatic rise in prices, you may find that the value of the gold items you own has exceeded the amount covered by your policy, and you may need to update it or risk finding yourself underinsured should the worst happen and you need to make an insurance claim.  Cornish Mutual's range of products includes home and contents insurance. To find out more about insuring your gold as part of your home insurance with Cornish Mutual, please contact our Member Services Team on 01872 277151. * Source: www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2011/08/01/comment-tackling-the-mounting-problem-of-gold Image source: tiffa130 on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/is-your-gold-jewellery-adequately-insured/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/is-your-gold-jewellery-adequately-insured/ Fri, 09 September 2011 16:01:00 Cornwall Food and Drink http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/cornwall-food-drink-festival-–-celebrating-the-very-best-of-cornish-food-and-drink/ As Cornwall Food and Drink sponsors, Cornish Mutual have invited us to contribute to their blog. For several years, Cornish Mutual have supported us insuring the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival at a reduced premium. This year, the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival will host some of Cornwall's top chefs, all cooking with fantastic local produce and a brand new kitchen - but these are just some of the ingredients for everyone to enjoy at this year's festival,  from 23 rd to 25 th September.  In just eight years, the festival - held on Truro's Lemon Quay - has grown to become one of Cornwall's favourite events, drawing thousands from within and outside the county.  This year, you'll find award-winning artisan producers with everything from chocolate to chutney, bakery to butchery, ice cream to clotted cream, and pasties to paella.  What's more, remaining true to its roots and keeping it Cornish, everything on sale at the festival will have been either produced or processed within Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. If that's not enough, you can see at least thirty demo sessions on two stages over the three days - watch the county's top chefs in action and learn new tricks and hot tips from selected food experts.  Kids can get creative in the Funky Food Zone and - new for this year - the festival fun goes on after sunset with some special treats for true food lovers. For further information about the festival, please visit www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk/festival2011 . We're also hoping you can help us in our 'Love Cornish Food' campaign, which aims to get Cornwall to the top of a national poll to find Britain's top food spot.  Being run in conjunction with 'British Food Fortnight', which starts 17th September, the poll is running online and voting is open until 11th September.  The results will be announced on 17 th September, so if Cornwall wins it will be great news to spread at the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival. The whole county is getting behind this and we're in the lead, but we must maintain our top spot until voting finishes on 11 th September -  and Lincolnshire are hot on our heels after we toppled their early lead.  We have so much great food and drink in this county - can we really let any other region win the crown that is rightfully ours?   Voting takes just a few seconds at www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/votefoodspot/. Voting now closed http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/cornwall-food-drink-festival-–-celebrating-the-very-best-of-cornish-food-and-drink/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/september/cornwall-food-drink-festival-–-celebrating-the-very-best-of-cornish-food-and-drink/ Fri, 02 September 2011 15:10:00 Melissa Ward http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/august/can-you-help-us-reach-our-cookbook-target/ Our charity cookbook, Come Together, Eat Together, has been on sale for 3 months now, and already we have sold more than 1,000 copies - so a massive thank you to everyone who has bought one!  Food fans across the region have been showing their support for the campaign by ordering their copies online, and our Inspectors have been out and about at their local agricultural shows, enthusiastically promoting the book.  The response we have received so far has been amazing, and it's great to see so many people getting excited about cooking and eating with their families. The show season is now drawing to a close, but we've still got five more lined up where you can come down, meet our Inspectors and get your copy of the Come Together, Eat Together cookbook, which will be on sale for just £5.  The Dunster show is today; Melplash is on Thursday 25 August; the Dorset County show is on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September; Frome's Agricultural and Cheese show is on Saturday 10 September and finally the Bath & West Dairy Show, is on Wednesday 5 October.  If you can't make it to any of those shows, but would still like to show your support for the campaign and help raise money for the Cornwall, Devon and Somerset Air Ambulances then don't worry - you can!  The cookbook can also be purchased on the website, www.eattogether.co.uk/order ,  where you can order your copy for £5, plus £1 postage and packing charge. If you'd prefer not to order online, you can also send us a cheque for £6 with your name and address, and we'll get a copy out to you in the post straight away!  Devon Air Ambulance will be at Flavour Fest in Plymouth this weekend with more books on sale, and are selling them in their shops across the county, as are Cornwall Air Ambulance. Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance are also selling them at events they attend. The cookbook will continue to be on sale at @Angela's Restaurant in Exeter, as well as Nick Barclay's Blue Plate restaurant near Looe.  Our goal is to sell 1,500 copies, with all funds going directly to the Air Ambulances, so we still need your help!  Help us to spread the word about Come Together, Eat Together and encourage all your friends to make sure they get their own copies of the cookbook!  For more information about the Come Together, Eat Together campaign and to order a copy of the cookbook, visit www.eattogether.co.uk . If you would like to order a copy by post, then send a cheque for £6 along with your name and address to Verity Dodd, CMA House, Newham Road, Truro, TR1 2SU. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/august/can-you-help-us-reach-our-cookbook-target/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/august/can-you-help-us-reach-our-cookbook-target/ Fri, 19 August 2011 12:41:00 Philip Wilson http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/august/stithians,-devon-county,-liskeard…-have-you-visited-us-at-a-show-yet-this-year/ Who can believe it's August already; the summer months seem to be flying by! Here at Cornish Mutual we've been very busy this summer, attending agricultural shows all over the South West. Our show season started way back in March, when we attended the Westcountry Game and Equine Show at Shepton Mallet. Since then we've been to Devon County Show, Royal Bath & West, Royal Cornwall, NSA Sheep SW, Stithians, Liskeard, Mid Devon and Totnes - and we're at North Devon today! As usual we have enjoyed welcoming people to our stand - a marquee at Devon County and Royal Cornwall Shows, and our distinctive shows trailer at all the one-day shows. At Royal Cornwall, we had the privilege of displaying the Barclays Premiership Trophy on our stand for most of the day. People visiting us could have their photograph taken with the Trophy for a donation to the Air Ambulance. Our Insurance Inspectors always look forward to catching up with existing Members - and, of course meeting potential new ones - at shows, and our stand is always popular thanks, in part at least, to the delicious cakes served by our caterer, The Occasional Tart. This year our Inspectors have also been busy promoting our Come Together, Eat Together charity cookbook at each show. The cookbook is being sold to raise money for the South West's Air Ambulances, and so far we've sold almost 530  copies at shows. What's more, we're running our free prize draw for £100 of Marks and Spencer vouchers at one-day shows again this year; ask our Inspectors how you can enter and you will also be offered a free insurance review. Our next show is Camelford on 10 th August, followed by Okehampton on the 11 th . A full list of the shows we have yet to attend this year can be found in the ' Out and About '  section of our Latest News page. If you're planning on going to any of the shows we have a stand at, please do come and join us for a cup of tea and a chat! http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/august/stithians,-devon-county,-liskeard…-have-you-visited-us-at-a-show-yet-this-year/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/august/stithians,-devon-county,-liskeard…-have-you-visited-us-at-a-show-yet-this-year/ Wed, 03 August 2011 10:35:00 Mike Cooper http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/july/don’t-claim,-maintain…/ During the summer months the number of claims regarding damage to property is significantly lower than in the winter months. However, many claims are still made and unfortunately in many cases they can be avoided.  It has been widely reported that we have experienced one of the driest springs on record. This dry weather is not only bad news for growers. Every year at Richfords we attend flooding incidents at properties following very dry weather. The cause of this flooding is often not due to very heavy rain, but drains and gutters being blocked. Debris collects during the year and dries hard in the spring months creating a blockage. Therefore, many of these water damage claims can be avoided by having gutters and drains checked and cleared if debris has built up.  A regular regime of good maintenance at home can also prevent fires. There are two common causes of chimney fires, which can be prevented.  One of the most common causes of fire is the build up of soot in chimneys from traditional solid fuel fires. Every year, Richfords Fire and Flood carry out property restoration on homes where a fire has begun in the chimney and spread to other areas of the property. In many cases, these fires could have been prevented by regular maintenance of the chimney or flue by a qualified chimney sweep.  The second most common cause of chimney fires is flues which have been installed into existing chimneys shifting out of place or leaning against the inside of the original chimney. Over time, if the flue is in contact with the inside of the chimney or with wooden supports, these materials can smoulder and catch fire.  Having the flue checked at regular intervals by a qualified installer can ensure that you do not suffer a fire.  In summary, generally speaking, the spring and summer months are a time of fewer property claims. Unfortunately both floods and fires do happen at this time of year. Taking some simple preventative measures, however, including the routine maintenance of gutters, drains and chimneys, can save you the need to make a claim. Image source: Ack Ook on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/july/don’t-claim,-maintain…/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/july/don’t-claim,-maintain…/ Fri, 15 July 2011 14:59:00 Paul Haddrell http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/july/zoonoses-a-basic-guide/ Nowadays we are constantly being reminded of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, and how it can help to reduce the spread of infections and viruses. It's not just infections from other humans that we need to protect ourselves against, however. Anyone who lives or works on a farm is also at risk of catching a zoonosis from the animals they care for. Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, for example orf, bovine tuberculosis, cowpox and E-coli. E-coli O157 is particularly dangerous - especially to the elderly and to young children, in whom it can cause kidney failure. Premises such as farms, which house large numbers or types of animals, can provide ideal conditions for the spread of zoonoses if they are not properly cleaned and maintained. Many zoonoses need very little contact to pass from animal to human, meaning people can easily be infected. Although there are now around 40 zoonoses in the UK, most can be easily treated with medicines and clear up quickly. Some can take longer to treat, however - involving hospitalisation in serious cases - and can even leave the person with long-term effects. If you work or live on a farm, it is worth carrying out a few precautionary measures to limit your chances of catching a zoonosis. The benefits of basic hygiene and cleanliness should never be underestimated; simple things like washing your hands after touching animals or working in an area in which they live, making sure the animals have clean bedding and water at all times, and ensuring water and food bowls/troughs are kept clean are all vitally important. Bear in mind that zoonoses are subject to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and as such, farmers are required, by law, to assess the health risks inherent to their working activities. Farmers are also required to implement and regularly monitor control measures - such as cleaning procedures, signage etc - and to train any employees they might have on the risks involved in their work and how they can prevent being infected by a zoonosis.   It is worth considering wearing protective clothing when working with farm animals, particularly where there is a risk of coming into contact with animal waste products or blood. As well as this, farmers who employ workers should provide adequate onsite hand-washing facilities, and consider offering their staff first aid training. Of course it is also advisable to monitor the general health of your animals on a regular basis. Any animal showing signs of illness should be separated from other animals until a vet has treated the animal and confirmed that it has returned to good health. It may be worth considering a farm health plan - put together in consultation with your local vet - to try and minimise the risk of zoonoses occurring in the first place. Other precautionary measures which farmer workers might like to consider include limiting the movement and mingling of animals, and sanitising equipment which comes into contact with animals after each use. For further information on how you can prevent the spread of disease amongst animals on your farm, and the transmission of zoonoses to humans, visit the Health and Safety Executive's website: www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/zoonoses.htm . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/july/zoonoses-a-basic-guide/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/july/zoonoses-a-basic-guide/ Wed, 06 July 2011 14:29:00 Ashfords Solicitors http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/primogeniture-how-prepared-is-your-family-for-the-future/ A blog by Sue Savill of Ashfords Solicitors . With the next generation of the Royal Family embarking on married life, attitudes towards inheritance and succession issues may be changing.  A recent survey by Chartered Accountants, Saffery Champness, for Country Life Magazine has found that more major land owners are now prepared to leave their estates to their eldest child regardless of gender, and that more wish to make some provision for their younger children.  There is a proposal being considered by the Government that Prince William's first child with Kate Middleton would become his heir, regardless of gender. If this is a move away from primogeniture - where the eldest son inherits - then the Royal Family will reflect what is already happening throughout the country.  Many large estates have become complex and diverse businesses, and the survey found that the issue of succession planning was a very real one for many families. Almost half of those surveyed felt that it was important to consider the ability of the designated heir as well as issues of fairness and equality amongst their children.  Parents appreciated the difficulty of weighing up the differing merits of the children against the needs of the business.  This is a sensitive area and whilst 61% of those surveyed wanted their estates to remain in the family - and 71% had gone so far as to identify an heir - very few had plans in place to develop their heir and their ability to run the business.  The same principles and concerns apply to many farming families or owner-managed businesses in the South West.  Parents want to ensure the continuing success of the business, as well as to provide for all their children.  These two aims need not be mutually exclusive, provided the family thinks ahead to likely eventualities.   Take the case of a typical farmer who has three children: one of the children farms with him, the second child is married to a neighbouring farmer's son, and the youngest daughter has a successful career in London.  The farmer does not want to overburden the farm by making his son buy his daughters out, but does not want to be unfair to his two daughters either.  There are a few options he could consider; it might be possible to carve out certain assets to leave to the daughters - perhaps a field with hope value or a barn with potential for development.    The farmer could also help during his lifetime, using gifts - perhaps a cottage - or putting life insurance or another investment in place to pay out to the daughters on his death, but this takes foresight and long-term planning.  There are any number of options which might suit the differing needs of each individual family. There is only one certainty, and that is that dying without a Will in place is not effective planning, as the Law which then applies is very inflexible and can be difficult to adapt.  Ashfords' Trusts and Estates Team can assist on any matters regarding a Will or Trust. For taxation and estate planning advice please contact Michael Alden at the Exeter office on 01392 334041, Sue Savill at the Taunton office on 01823 232313 or Rachael Crocker at the Tiverton office on 01884 203088. Sue Savill heads up Ashfords' Trusts and Estates Team in their Taunton office. Sue advises on wills, powers of attorney and estate planning, including tax mitigation and the administration of estates. She has a particular interest in advising parents or carers of children with special needs, and is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly. Ashfords LLP is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.  The information in this note is intended to be general information about English law only and not comprehensive.  It is not to be relied on as legal advice nor as an alternative to taking professional advice relating to specific circumstances.   Image source: DaGoaty on www.flickr.com   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/primogeniture-how-prepared-is-your-family-for-the-future/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/primogeniture-how-prepared-is-your-family-for-the-future/ Tue, 21 June 2011 13:59:00 Stephens Scown http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/farmers-warned-of-holiday-cottage-tax-changes/ At the end of last year, the Government published draft clauses for its Finance Bill 2011, including proposed revisions on Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL). Richard Baker of Stephens Scown solicitors examines what this means for farmers who own properties in the South West. With the new tax revision having taken effect from April this year, holiday property owners in the Westcountry may need to review their situation as soon as possible. Farmers who lease out cottages or other farm buildings will be affected by the FHL changes - they may have to change the way they operate or risk losing valuable tax reliefs. The amendments are being introduced to bring the UK into line with EU law.  Before April, provided the holiday accommodation was run commercially, as opposed to a hobby or let only to friends and family, FHL rules allowed owners to treat the property or properties as a trade rather than investment. It meant owners could qualify for loss relief against general income, capital allowances on plant and machinery and certain Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reliefs. The law changed with the Finance Bill 2011 so that:  The minimum period over which a qualifying property must be available for letting to the public in the relevant period is increased from 140 days to 210 days in a year from April 2012; The minimum period over which a qualifying property is actually let to the public in the relevant period is increased from 70 days to 105 days in a year from April 2012; Losses made in a furnished holiday lettings business may only be set against income from the same furnished holiday lettings business; and A 'period of grace' was introduced to allow businesses that don't continue to meet the 'actually let' requirement for one or two years to elect to continue to qualify throughout that period.  It's really important that people get the right professional taxation advice at the earliest opportunity if they're unsure about how this might impact upon them. Some businesses may need to undertake additional valuations and other calculations and we would always advise doing this sooner rather than later.  For more information about furnished holiday lettings, contact Richard Baker on 01872 265100. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/farmers-warned-of-holiday-cottage-tax-changes/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/farmers-warned-of-holiday-cottage-tax-changes/ Fri, 17 June 2011 11:44:00 Philip Wilson http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-horse/ Owning your own horse can be a really rewarding experience - you're not just buying a hobby or pastime, but a companion who will be with you for many years. There are, however, some serious considerations you will need to make before deciding to buy your own horse. To help, we've put together five key factors you ought to bear in mind.  1. Can you afford a horse?   Firstly and perhaps most importantly, you need to ask yourself whether you have enough disposable income to look after a horse. Aside from the initial costs of purchasing the horse, there are many ongoing fees to think about, and annual bills can add up. Livery, feeding, worming, feet trimming, dental care, vets bills and insurance all need to be taken into account when estimating what your annual costs will amount to.  A key expense will be how you intend to stable your horse; if you choose full livery it could be in excess of £10,000 per year.  If these kinds of costs are off putting then using local riding stables may be a better option.  2. Do you have enough time?   We all have really busy lives these days and owning a horse can be an extremely time-consuming commitment. Will you be able to adapt your existing daily routine to fit in several hours caring for it?  Unless you have full livery, you'll need to make time for feeding, grooming, exercising and mucking out, and you'll need to make sure you can stick to the same routine every day. Changes to a horse's feeding routine can lead to colic, so if you're up early to feed them during the week you'll also need to be up early at the weekend.  Don't forget to think about who will look after your horse if you're on holiday - you will need to find someone you can trust to stick to your usual routine.  3. How will you care for your horse?   Before buying your horse, be certain you know how you are going to care for it. Do your research; make sure you find vets, farriers and other equine professionals with good reputations, learn basic horse health care, ask your vet for recommendations on feed and make sure you are completely happy with the stables where it will be kept.  4. Is it right for you in the long term? Buying a horse is not a short-term commitment. Some horses live into their thirties so you need to consider what might happen in 10 or 20 years time.  Would you be able to look after an elderly horse? If the horse or pony is for your child, what will you do when they outgrow the animal?  Horse charities have been kept very busy in the recent economic turndown. Consider what you would do if your financial circumstances changed and you can no longer afford to keep the horse. 5. Are you covered in case of injury, illness and accidents?   Owning a horse is expensive enough without having to worry about unexpected events leading to extra costs. Before buying your horse, get some quotes for horse insurance to make sure you are covered should the worst happen.  Different providers will offer different packages, but some of the things you want to be sure are included are; vets fees, loss of use, personal accident, liability to third parties (for example if a by passer is injured by your horse on a trek) and death and disposal. 24-hour helplines, legal protection, and special cover for older horses are also bonuses to look out for.  Cornish Mutual offers a range of insurance products including horse insurance .  For more information, please contact your local Insurance Inspector  or the Truro office on 01872 277151. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-horse/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/5-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-horse/ Thu, 16 June 2011 10:18:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/taking-your-car-abroad-this-year/ If you are thinking of taking your car abroad with you this year, you need to make sure your motor insurance policy provides the right level of cover.  Many UK motor insurance policies automatically provide (at no extra cost) third party liability cover which is the minimum cover required by law in the European Union (EU) for accidents which occur within the EU. It is always best to check with your insurance provider that your policy includes this. Trips to countries outside the EU are less likely to be included on your policy and should always be discussed with your insurance provider prior to travel.  If your car insurance does provide you with the level of cover required for international driving, your insurer may issue you with a Green Card. The Green Card is an internationally recognised document which serves solely as evidence that the holder has the minimum insurance cover required by law in the country being visited. A Green Card provides no insurance cover in itself.  If you have Private Motor insurance with Cornish Mutual, you do not need to obtain a Green Card in order to take your car abroad - your Certificate of Motor Insurance will suffice. Our other motor policies such as Fleet, however, will not automatically insure you when driving abroad. To check that you have the cover you need before travelling, please contact Member Services on 01872 277151 or speak to your local Insurance Inspector .  Further information on Green Cards, and the countries in which it is required, can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Motorinsurance/DG_067624 Image source: dennis on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/taking-your-car-abroad-this-year/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/june/taking-your-car-abroad-this-year/ Tue, 07 June 2011 14:11:00 Stephens Scown http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/may/landowners-turn-to-rooftop-energy-generation/ A Blog by Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewables at Stephens Scown solicitors . An increasing number of landowners in the Westcountry are turning to small-scale rooftop energy generation.  At Stephens Scown we think it could be the start of a new phase in solar development activity and believe that many farmers are taking advantage of roof-space on both traditional and modern buildings that would otherwise be unproductive.  Most installations at this stage appear to be barns close to potential grid connection points, as the process for getting planning consent for these circumstances is generally more benign than for larger-scale proposals for green fields.  When considering using this type of energy generation that are a whole host of issues that property owners need to give careful consideration to.  For example what are your current electrical requirements and will the installation service your needs sufficiently? Generated electricity cannot be stored and - particularly in the case of dairies - during the winter it is likely that most electrical requirements will be during dark/dusk hours when there is no sunlight to produce electricity.  Leasing roof-space for a solar power installation can take even more thought than constructing a ground-mounted system on a Brownfield or Greenfield site. Not only will you need to consider how to set it up you also need to think about what will happen at the end of the lease, for instance will you have the right to keep the panels or will you be obligated to remove them and return them to the installer?  In a commercial context, the implications may be less than in a residential one but getting the right professional advice from surveyors, valuers, structural engineers and solicitors and insurers is still important.  It's worth remembering that anything which results in a permanent structure, or any alteration to a building that materially affects its external appearance, may require planning permission. If the development is covered by permitted development rights, it will not be necessary to get permission.  Permitted development rights apply to domestic micro-generation equipment including the installation, alteration or replacement of solar PV panels on buildings or on land within the curtilage of a dwelling. Detailed restrictions do apply but there are conditions to these rights, and they don't apply universally, so need to be carefully considered in each case.  There are a lot of practical implications to think about too, including whether the roof is fit-for-purpose for an installation, access, standards of workmanship and accreditation, health and safety and fire risks, future plans for the building and whether you're able to personally use some of the power generated, as well as selling to the Grid.  Legal implications might also include deciding responsibility for the maintenance of the fabric of the building, interaction with neighbouring properties, additional rights from third parties and negotiations with developers.  Stephens Scown has a Beginner's Guide to rooftop solar power - email renewables@stephens-scown.co.uk to request a copy.  For more information and advice about renewable energy and micro generation, contact Sonya Bedford at Stephens Scown. Visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk or call 01392 210700. Sonya Bedford is Associate and Head of Renewable Energy at Stephens Scown. Sonya specialises in the agricultural sector helping farmers and landowners with acquisitions and disposal of farms and estates; farming tenancies and partnerships; land management and diversification. She has experience acting for landowners in the renewable energy field in particular options with wind farm developers and sustainable development.   Image source: pixor on www.flickr.com http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/may/landowners-turn-to-rooftop-energy-generation/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/may/landowners-turn-to-rooftop-energy-generation/ Tue, 31 May 2011 11:10:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/april/children’s-farm-rides-on-tractors-and-trailers/ Do you operate a farm based holiday and/or leisure related business? If so, as part of this business, do you provide farm rides for children who are visiting or staying at your farm? As your insurer, we need to be informed of the arrangements you have made to prevent accidents to children. Remember that children have only a limited awareness of risks - being both physically and mentally immature.  Therefore a greater duty of care applies when dealing with them.  Never break the law by carrying children under 13 years old on a tractor, self-propelled agricultural machine, or a machine mounted on, towed or propelled by a tractor or other vehicles. Children under 13 years old may only legally ride on a trailer - or on a load carried by a trailer - if there are adequate means, such as edge protection, to prevent them falling from it. You should adopt the same standards if you carry older children. Adequate adult supervision should always be provided, and a responsible person should travel on the trailer to control and help the children. The driver should not carry out this task as well as his driving duties. Useful information on the safe carriage of passengers on farm trailers is provided by the HSE ( www.hse.gov.uk ). http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/april/children’s-farm-rides-on-tractors-and-trailers/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/april/children’s-farm-rides-on-tractors-and-trailers/ Thu, 14 April 2011 10:20:00 Mitch Portman http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/april/farm-fire-safety-–-what-every-farm-owner-needs-to-know/ Every year thousands of farm buildings are completely destroyed by fire, and large amounts of stock, straw, hay, farm machinery, chemicals and even livestock are lost.  Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service attends around 36 farm fires every year, and, on average 1,700 buildings throughout the UK are destroyed annually.  Cornish Mutual is teaming up with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service to advise farmers on how to avoid fire causing devastation on their farm.  To start with, you must, by law, carry out a fire risk assessment of your farm buildings under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If you have five or more workers you must record the findings. If you do not, you could face a fine or two year prison sentence and perhaps lose your business.  There are five steps to completing a fire safety risk assessment:  Identify hazards, including sources of ignition, sources of fuel and dangerous substances Identify people at risk, including your employees, anyone near your buildings and emergency services personnel responding to a fire Evaluate the risk of fire occurring and the risk to people if it does. Remove fire hazards and remove or reduce risks to people Record your findings and actions taken  Prepare an emergency plan and inform everyone who works on the farm of it  Once this is done you have fulfilled your legal obligation. However, there are still further steps you can take to minimise the risk of fire on your farm.  These steps include; Clearly labelling all fuels and chemicals and storing them securely Cleaning and servicing all machinery regularly Baling and stacking hay when it's dry to prevent spontaneous combustion Clearly identifying and maintaining fire-fighting equipment.  Regular reviews of your risk assessment should also be carried out.  More information on fire prevention can be found in the fire safety advisory booklet published by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and Cornish Mutual to help farmers comply with fire safety laws.  If you would like a copy of the booklet, visit Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service's website , email enquiries@cornwall.gov.uk or call 0300 1234 100. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/april/farm-fire-safety-–-what-every-farm-owner-needs-to-know/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/april/farm-fire-safety-–-what-every-farm-owner-needs-to-know/ Mon, 04 April 2011 15:48:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/march/80-of-businesses-closed-due-to-a-fire-never-re-open/ Did you know that at least 80% of businesses that are forced to close as a result of fire never start up again often because they have no business interruption cover? Following the tragic events of September 11 2001, many small commercial businesses in the area surrounding the Twin Towers in New York went out of business. It was not the direct losses that forced them under as most of them had property insurance but the fact that they were unable to withstand the loss of income that came with shutting down for an extended period of time.  Small businesses in New York may seem far removed from those found in the Westcountry but the implications of a disruption to business are very similar. Imagine a clothes shop that suffered fire damage. Buildings and contents insurance would cover the repair of the building, replacement fixtures and fittings etc, but what about the staff wages and lost business as people go elsewhere to purchase their clothes whilst repairs are being made. It would take a long time for that shop to build its business back up to the pre-fire level. Businesses operate to generate a profitable return or at the very least to recoup the expenses they incur. Any business expenses which are unable to be terminated immediately (such as salaries), or do not  reducein direct proportion to a reduction in sales (such as rent), can put a financial strain on a business and erode net profit or turn a break-even situation into a loss.  So when making business plans, business interruption insurance is an important consideration as it provides an indemnity against a trading loss arising from incidents like fire or flood.  If you would like further information on Cornish Mutual's business interruption insurance , please contact your local Insurance Inspector  or the Truro office on 01872 277151 . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/march/80-of-businesses-closed-due-to-a-fire-never-re-open/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/march/80-of-businesses-closed-due-to-a-fire-never-re-open/ Wed, 16 March 2011 15:12:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/february/reasonable-care-–-what-does-it-mean/ One of the basic principles of insurance is that an insured should always act as if they are not insured. This effectively means that you should take all reasonable precautions to avoid any loss or accident. Cornish Mutual recommend you do the simple things, like locking your doors and windows when you are out and taking extra care when applying heat. For example you would be unwise to use welding equipment in a hay barn. However if you did, we would - as your insurer - expect you to take reasonable precautions to avoid sparks setting light to the building or its contents. The wisest thing would, of course, be not to weld in the hay barn at all. You would not burn waste in there, so it seems sensible to avoid any form of heat in such a combustible environment. Here at Cornish Mutual, we have a surveyor who visits our Members to check that any risk is acceptable for insurance purposes. He is charged with seeking to eliminate risks which could give rise to a loss under any of our insurance policies and may make some requirements or recommendations to improve the risk. As insurers we understand that, occasionally, some of our requirements can be seen as impractical but we are always prepared to discuss these with you and will be prepared to come to an acceptable compromise where it is possible. However, some of our requirements, especially those concerning Health and Safety issues, will be determined by the law and we will only be asking you to do something which the law requires you to do anyway.  In such circumstances a compromise may not be possible. For example lifting equipment such as fork lift trucks will need to be inspected at regular intervals and failure to comply could lead to an unnecessary claim and a possible prosecution. It is all common sense really, coupled with knowing what legal responsibilities you have.   Nevertheless, there will always be the odd occasion when something goes wrong and that is when we would expect to assist our Members by dealing with any claim as quickly as possible. Information on all insurance products offered by Cornish Mutual can be viewed by clicking here . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/february/reasonable-care-–-what-does-it-mean/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/february/reasonable-care-–-what-does-it-mean/ Mon, 28 February 2011 09:30:00 Safety Revolution http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/february/winter-safety-issues/ A blog by Nick Hunkin, Senior Client Service Manager for Safety Revolution Ltd and Dairy Management Systems. In winter the risk of accidents - especially those associated with slips, trips and falls - dramatically increases.  Even in the most regulated of situations, the risk of accidents can never be totally avoided but statistics show that organisations which take health and safety seriously - for example monitoring and assessing risks, introducing safe working practices and training their staff in good safety practice - enjoy a vastly reduced incidence of accidents, both great and small, and minimal risk of legal action from enforcing organisations like the HSE.  Health and safety applies to all businesses including those employing contractors and self-employed people  - ignorance is never a defence in a court of law.  All employers must make provision for the health and safety of their employees.  This includes a safety policy which should be relevant to the organisation's activities and be up to date. The safety policy should include the following; Risk assessments - a documented record of the specific risks associated with a task or activity within a job of work.  First aid arrangements - Regulation 3 of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (Code of Practice) states "an employer shall provide, or ensure that there is provided, such number of suitable persons as is adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for rendering first aid to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work".  Fire and emergency arrangements including fire risk assessments where appropriate.    Associated with the above are safe working practices - documented safety instructions detailing how to go about a specific task or activity each time it is undertaken, for instance driving a tractor or operating a chain saw.  Where organisations are dealing with potentially dangerous chemicals, a COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) policy and risk assessment should also be put into place.  In the event of a serious accident or fatality, providing all the above has been well documented and kept up to date, the employer can then demonstrate that maximum due diligence had been applied and that everything possible had been done to avoid the incident. This should avoid avoid potentially distressing and costly litigation and all the ramifications associated with it.  The employer will also be able to give their liability insurer a much stronger hand when it comes to defending potential employee or public liability claims against them.  Nick Hunkin is a Senior Client Service Manager for Safety Revolution Ltd and Dairy Management Systems - a specialist national company providing a complete health and safety service exclusively to farms and estates across the UK.  He can be contacted on 07795 385218, or by emailing n.hunkin@dairymanagementsystems.co.uk .  http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/february/winter-safety-issues/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/february/winter-safety-issues/ Mon, 21 February 2011 12:10:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/home-and-contents-insurance-–-things-you-should-know/ It's fair to say that everyone's personal circumstances, valuables and possessions will change at some time or another and making sure that you have the right level of insurance cover is important, otherwise you could find yourself underinsured should the worst happen. Get your sum insured right - it's important that you have the right level of cover to make sure you're able to reinstate everything should you need to make a claim. It's a good idea to make an accurate assessment of what your home and contents are really worth. Insure your home for its rebuild cost, not its market value - your buildings insurance 'sum insured' must reflect the full rebuild cost of your home, not its current market value. If it's a listed property, work will often need to meet special Grade requirements and insurance claims could work out more expensive - employing specialist craftsmen and using traditional materials could increase the cost of rebuilding. Reflect home improvements in your sum insured - house extensions, new kitchens and bathrooms should be included when renewing your home insurance as they increase rebuilding costs and therefore the sum insured. Also if you've fitted solar panels or other energy saving devices to your property you should make your insurer aware. Review your policy on a regular basis and update your contents - keep a check on expensive items like flat-screen TVs, music players, laptops and jewellery. Gold prices have increased significantly over past years, so it might be worth valuing your treasured items again and making sure they're covered. Also think about your clothes, shoes, hobbies and sporting activities - do you have expensive gear stored away? If you're a collector, you may also want to think about how much it would cost to replace your valuable or rare items. And don't underestimate the cost of replacing carpets, curtains and other fixtures and fittings - essential items we all take for granted, but the costs soon add up if they have to be replaced. Buy home and contents cover at the same time - the average cost of a home and contents policy is £237, but it could work out a lot more if you buy them separately or from different companies. Buildings insurance covers the fabric of the building while contents insurance covers your belongings and everything inside. Usually by combining your cover means there's only one excess to pay if you were to make a claim. Don't go on price alone - everyone's home, possessions and circumstances are different so choose the cover you need and make sure you compare like-for-like. If you have specialist requirements, contact your insurer direct. Tell your insurer about security measures - you may well benefit from fitting approved window and door locks, installing and using burglar alarms or joining a neighbourhood watch scheme. And make sure you tell your insurer about past claims - you need to let them know if you've previously made a claim because it avoids potential problems later on. If you withhold information, knowingly or unwittingly, you might run the risk of a future claim being invalid. If in doubt, always speak to your insurer. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/home-and-contents-insurance-–-things-you-should-know/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/home-and-contents-insurance-–-things-you-should-know/ Wed, 26 January 2011 12:57:00 Mitch Portman http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/preventing-burst-pipes-this-winter/ If December's cold snap and heavy snowfall is anything to go by, severe winter weather is becoming ever more common in the Westcountry. Harsh, wintery conditions are usually followed by a big thaw and in turn, a number of insurance claims for burst pipes and flooding. Whilst the result of flooding can be devastating to the property owner concerned, problems can easily be avoided by taking some sensible precautions beforehand - it certainly pays to be prepared. Most instances of burst pipes are caused by insufficient insulation. So what can be done to avoid frozen pipes in the future? Here's our advice and few tips to help: Make sure you insulate your loft and the sides of your water tanks properly, as well as insulating all your pipes. This will not only avoid damage, but keep heat in and reduce heating bills. Check to see if you're eligible for a grant to install insulation - visit http://www.governmentinsulationgrants.co.uk/ or contact your local council for advice. If the building is left unoccupied over the winter months then it is wise to turn off the water supply and drain any tanks, pipes or heating systems to ensure there is no water left in them to freeze. If you're going away, ask a friend or relative to check on your home and make sure pipes haven't burst or frozen. Make sure you know where the stop tap is and check regularly that you can turn it off easily in an emergency - you never know when you might need to access it. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the weather this winter is a little kinder to us all, but if not, make sure you've taken a few steps to stop the worst happening. Image source: Velo Steve on http://www.flickr.com/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/preventing-burst-pipes-this-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/preventing-burst-pipes-this-winter/ Tue, 18 January 2011 16:24:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/workers’-accommodation-–-your-duty-of-care/ If you provide temporary accommodation for seasonal workers, you should be aware that current health and safety legislation imposes a duty of care on you to provide safe working conditions which includes worker accommodation.  Here are a few pointers to help you consider if your safety standards are adequate; Good practice requires that the accommodation units should be at least 20 feet apart to reduce the risk of fire spreading from one unit to another. All gas appliances should be inspected annually by a GasSafe contractor. Electrical installations and portable equipment (including heaters) should be checked periodically. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need to be installed. These should preferably be mains wired, with Lithium battery back up. This should avoid the need for daily inspection and the need to  replace batteries that may have been removed by the tenants. Smoking inside the units should be banned, but it is appreciated that this is difficult to control. A small powder fire extinguisher or fire blanket should be provided in each unit. If steps are required to access the units, these should be stable and in a good state of repair.  Hand rails may be necessary if the access door is located well above ground level. If gas cylinders are used they should be stored safely and securely well away from the accommodation units and any work traffic routes. Insurers will expect the above issues to be addressed, and you may also find that your local authority will wish to visit and inspect the units you provide.  In addition other parties, such as labour organisations that provide you with temporary workers, may wish to inspect the units to satisfy themselves that any accommodation provided for their workforce is properly maintained and safe to use.  It is, therefore, sensible to ensure that you are complying with the regulations and that you maintain a file of relevant documentation to show that appropriate checks have been carried out as required. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/workers’-accommodation-–-your-duty-of-care/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2011/january/workers’-accommodation-–-your-duty-of-care/ Tue, 11 January 2011 16:41:00 Coodes Solicitors http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/the-single-payment-scheme/ A blog by Kate Theophilus, a Member of the Coodes Rural Team The Single Farm Payment Scheme (SPS) was introduced in 2005 to replace (with the exception of milk quotas) existing support schemes.  In an attempt to simplify what is a complex system new European Regulations containing various amendments to the scheme came into effect on 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010.  Set out below are a few small examples of where changes have been made, it is not intended to be a comprehensive list. Some basic definitions The definitions of "a Farmer", "a Holding",  "Eligible Land" and "Agricultural Activity" have been amended/widened to simplify matters. Included under the definition of Agricultural Activity is the process of 'maintaining the land in good agricultural and environmental condition'. The Ten Month Rule Previously, to qualify for the SPS, the land had to be 'at the farmer's disposal for at least 10 months of the year.' The 10 month period began on a date chosen by the farmer between the 1st October and the 30th April of the year preceding making a claim. If no date was chosen, then the default date was the 1st February. This process resulted in it being possible for the farmer to have two different start dates for the 10 month period for different parts of the same holding. The new Regulations abolished the 10 month rule with effect from the 1st April 2008 and replaced it with the requirement that the land had to be 'at the farmer's disposal at an "appropriate date." DEFRA chose the "appropriate date" as the 15th May in each year. Therefore provided a farmer has at his disposal on the 15 May the land in question, he can make the appropriate claim. As an application has to be received by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) by the 15th May each year, the effect is that a farmer need only have the land at his disposal for one day in order to make a claim. National Reserve* Any National Reserve entitlements not used for a period of two years will be forfeited to the National Reserve. Previously it was three years. The rule requiring entitlements allocated from the National Reserve not to be transferred during the first 5 years and the need that they must be used in each of those 5 years has been abolished. In 2009 National Reserve Entitlements commuted to normal entitlements. Set-Aside Set-Aside entitlements have been abolished and converted into ordinary entitlements, they have a lesser value due to the fact that they do not attract a historical element. The Need to be a Farmer at point of Transfer The transfer of entitlements previously required the Transferor and the Transferee to be farmers at the date of the transfer. This caused problems for farmers who were retiring bearing in mind the transfer does not take place until 6 weeks after the appropriate RLE1 Form is lodged with the RPA. As a result therefore, since 2009, the RPA now only insist that the Transferee is a farmer at the relevant time. The effect of this is that it has done away with the need for a series of short term agreements involving leasebacks and farming contracts which were previously used to protect the Transferor's status until registration with the RPA was complete. Percentage sale without land The previous requirement that the transfer of entitlements without land could only be effective if 80 % of the overall entitlement holding had been activated has also been removed. Cross Compliance In addition to satisfying certain criteria to obtain payments, farmers also have to carry out obligations relating to the environment and animal welfare. This is known as 'Cross Compliance.' Concerns arose as a result of the abolition of Set-Aside that cross compliance may not be met. This is an area which is still under review and further details are awaited. That said there are some new categories under the current cross compliance regime, one of which is the need to comply with legislation relating to water abstraction and licences granted under the appropriate legislation. Modulation The first €5,000 of any claim remains exempt. Basic Compulsory Modulation remains at 5% but there is an additional Compulsory Modulation of 2% introduced in 2009 rising in steps of 1% per year to 5% in 2012. In addition there will be additional modulation for those receiving payments of more than €300,000.00 who would lose a further 4%. Voluntary Modulation Regulations have  been amended so that for every 1% increase in Compulsory Modulation, Voluntary National Modulation is reduced by 1%. Minimum extent of land for a claim The new Regulations require member states to introduce a minimum level for an acceptable claim and as from 2010 within the UK, the minimum area of land for which an acceptable claim can be made is 1 hectare. This is an increase on the previous level. Finally Payments under the SPS are a valuable asset to farmers and landowners alike.  Therefore careful consideration should be given as to the ultimate destination of entitlements in the event of letting land or death.  Entitlements do not attach to land but are an asset in their own right and if not dealt with in a tenancy agreement or a will may not end up where the owner of the entitlements intend.  It is always advisable to seek professional advice.    * The National Reserve is in effect a "pot" of entitlements set up under the scheme to support farmers whose business changed during or after entering the scheme, which as a consequence reduced their entitlements. The existence of the Reserve enabled those farmers to apply for entitlements from the "pot" so as to increase the amount of entitlements they had. It also enabled new entrants to farming who may have land but no entitlements to obtain some, especially if they are unable to buy any on the open market. These are known as National Reserve Entitlements.   Kate Theophilus is a Commercial Property Solicitor and Partner in Coodes' St.Austell branch.  Kate specialises in all types of Commercial Property law and is up to date on all issues and regulations in and relating to the commercial property sector.    Cornish Mutual accept no responsibility or liability for the content of guest blogs http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/the-single-payment-scheme/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/the-single-payment-scheme/ Thu, 30 December 2010 09:30:00 Philip Wilson http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/keeping-your-driving-licence-legal-–-photo-identity-cards/ When was the last time you looked at your photo card driving licence? Perhaps you use it if asked for identification, but otherwise, you don't really take it out of your wallet? Well now's the time to do just that, as thousands of motorists are at risk of being fined £1,000 by unwittingly driving without a valid licence. Many people have not realised that the photo card driving licence, introduced in 1998, is required to be renewed every 10 years to make sure that the photograph remains a true likeness of the licence holder. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) do send reminders to people who need to update their photo, but it is always best to check the expiry date just in case your reminder gets lost in the post. To find out whether or not your licence needs updating, see section 4b of your photo card.  More information on driving licences can be found at the DVLA website: www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/keeping-your-driving-licence-legal-–-photo-identity-cards/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/keeping-your-driving-licence-legal-–-photo-identity-cards/ Mon, 27 December 2010 09:30:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/is-insurance-the-best-policy/ With many Westcountry companies still looking to reduce their overheads in a tough economic climate, Ian Metcalfe looks at ways to do this while not compromising on necessary insurance cover…. It's tempting to try and shave a bit off the bottom line to save on expenditure, particularly if you run a small business. Many people view insurance as a necessary evil but if you cut back and you need to make a claim you could find you are underinsured or, worse still, have no cover in place. A good insurer or insurance broker will seek to understand your business and help you decide what cover is best for you. At Cornish Mutual we make sure that you do not have unnecessary cover and will discuss covers we think you should have. The decision as to whether or not you have them is, of course, yours. It can, understandably, all get confusing on occasions so here are a few tips to consider: Review your insurances regularly, at least once a year but more often if your business is changing or growing - just because you have insurance for one activity does not mean that you are automatically covered for another. In addition, adding new buildings or moving premises is something you should tell your insurers about. Failure to do so could lead to there being no cover in place in the event of a loss. Make sure you pay your premiums on time. If you fail to do so your policy will lapse and Murphy's Law dictates that a loss will occur before you realise you have not renewed the cover. This could prove very costly and, at worst, could put you out of business. If you are looking to save money consider carrying a higher excess. If your policy has a standard £100 excess your insurer is likely to give you a premium discount if choose to carry £250. This means you will have to pay the first £250 of any claim during the year but you need to weigh this up against the likelihood of a loss and the premium saving. What about Business Interruption insurance ? Okay, you are covering your buildings, machinery and stock.  If there is a serious fire you will get those replaced. However, what happens to your business whilst this is being done? Your customers will still want goods to carry on their businesses and are likely to get them elsewhere. Will they come back to you once you are back in operation? What happens if you lose a machine that is in short supply and will take six months to replace?   A competent insurance provider will talk you through these issues and others and offer a solution to help you keep your business in operation. Consider the need for cover on all assets. Would you want them replaced as new or would a second hand replacement be acceptable?   If it is the latter then you can take indemnity cover which makes allowance for wear and tear. Ensure your sums insured are adequate for full replacement.   Underinsurance is a serious problem. If you have a building which will cost £100,000 to rebuild but you only insure it for £50,000 you will almost certainly only get 50% of any claim paid as you are only paying 50% of what the actual insurance premium should be. It is advisable to keep sums insured up to date and ask your insurer for them to be index-linked annually. Of course this only really works if the original sum insured is adequate in the first place. Make sure you have adequate public liability cover and consider the implications of corporate manslaughter - a company director has unlimited liability and can be fined or imprisoned for companies causing death and serious injury. Consider reducing cover on low-value vehicles to third party fire and theft or even just third party only. In the case of employers' liability and motor third party insurances, there is compulsory insurance legislation to be taken into account.  Operating without these covers where you need them will make you eligible for prosecution. Involvement in a claim for either could mean the loss of your business or bankruptcy. And finally, make sure you use an insurance company that's properly regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). There will be a number of other things you can do to keep insurance costs down and there will almost always be another insurer who will offer lower terms than your existing provider.  However unless you do things properly you can find that the cover you end up with is cheaper because it does not give you all the cover you need. It pays, therefore, to spend time looking for alternatives and being satisfied that your new provider understands your business and gives you the cover you need. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/is-insurance-the-best-policy/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/is-insurance-the-best-policy/ Mon, 13 December 2010 00:00:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/guide-to-letting-property-part-11-of-11-insuring-your-let-property/ Buildings insurance Cornish Mutual's buildings insurance can cover you against the usual dangers to a domestic building like loss or damage due to flood or fire damage, together with other things you may not have thought of such as accidental damage. We will also help you to make sure you are insured for the cost of rebuilding your property should the worst happen. Contents insurance Our contents insurance covers loss of or damage to contents in your property by a range of causes - from theft, fire and accidental damage to malicious persons. This includes cover for contents in the garden and replacement locks following the theft of external door keys. Loss of rent insurance Having a property unavailable to rent can have serious financial consequences. We can provide cover for loss of rent should your property be uninhabitable due to loss or damage. You are able to decide the maximum period you believe your property would be uninhabitable and the loss of rent this would cause. Employers' Liability insurance Employers' liability insurance is compulsory by law for most employers. Employees include working directors and casual or sub-contracted labour e.g. cleaners working in your let property. Your legal liability arising in connection with your let property business for injury to your employees can be covered for up to £10,000,000. Employers' liability insurance means that in the event of injury to an employee, for which you are held responsible, you will be protected. Public Liability insurance Automatically included in the policy, you will be covered for legal liability arising in connection with your let property for injury to any person who is not an employee or damage to their property up to a sum of £2,000,000 plus costs and expenses. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/guide-to-letting-property-part-11-of-11-insuring-your-let-property/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/december/guide-to-letting-property-part-11-of-11-insuring-your-let-property/ Mon, 06 December 2010 16:10:00 Stephens Scown http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/november/solar-parks-–-getting-started/ A Blog by Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewables at Stephen Scown solicitors In the past few months I've been inundated with requests to help with arranging heads of terms with developers looking to create a "solar park" on land, particularly in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Below are a few pointers for those considering entering into an arrangement for a solar park on their land: Don't give into pressure - despite the relatively tight timescales, make sure you take proper professional advice before entering into a binding agreement - preferably even before signing non-binding Heads of Terms. Consider initial 'options' carefully - be aware that some of the terms on offer are quite miserly - at Stephens Scown we've seen an option fee as low as £100 quoted. The commitment, if the initial Option is taken up, will be for a 25 - 50 year Lease (or possibly even an outright sale) and such a long-term commitment should not be entered into lightly, or without proper remuneration. Bear in mind future improvements in solar technology when agreeing your share of the revenues - it is desirable not only to receive a simple rent under a Lease for your land but also to obtain a share of the revenues - or royalty - from the sale of electricity generated on the site. A balance will need to be struck, but bear in mind the possible improvement in efficiency of the equipment on-site which may generate more power in years to come than the initial equipment is capable of doing. A simple rent will not provide proper remuneration in a scenario where replacement equipment is generating, say, a third more electricity than the initial equipment was capable of doing. Lessons can be learnt from the increasing use of mobile phone mast sites, sometimes without an increase in remuneration. You may also be able to negotiate a supply of electricity to your own property, often for no cost. Be aware of any future development you might want to carry out on your land - often the leases and option agreements will include restrictions on developments to be installed on land adjacent to the site and which could have an effect on the performance of the solar PV arrays*. In some cases there's a blanket restriction on development on all land owned by the landowner. Think about what will happen at the end of the Lease period - who will remove the equipment and to what extent will it be removed at all? Take professional advice on the potential tax implications - for example, you may already have your plans in place for mitigating Inheritance Tax, but granting an Option for a 'solar park' (as they're known) will impact on that, with reference to (where you are a farmer) the removal from agricultural use of some of your land. Consider the implications on any stewardship schemes you have in place - consent from Natural England will need to be obtained to changes to any current schemes. Mortgage - if your land is mortgaged to a bank you will need to get their consent to enter into long leases or sales. Having said all of this, you shouldn't be put off by any of the proper considerations set out above. There are exciting opportunities for landowners, particularly in southern England where the solar resource is at its greatest. Where these fit in with your general plans, such opportunities should be seized, with a view to converting them into a 25 year income stream. *A solar PV array is a solar panel. PV (photovoltaic) cells convert light into electricity. Sonya Bedford is Associate and Head of Renewable Energy at Stephens Scown. Sonya specialises in the agricultural sector helping farmers and landowners with acquisitions and disposal of farms and estates; farming tenancies and partnerships; land management and diversification. She has experience acting for landowners in the renewable energy field in particular options with wind farm developers and sustainable development. Visit http://www.stephens-scown.co.uk/specialist-sectors/40/renewables to download a specialist guide to solar energy for farmers and landowners. Cornish Mutual accept no responsibility or liability for the content of guest blogs  http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/november/solar-parks-–-getting-started/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/november/solar-parks-–-getting-started/ Mon, 22 November 2010 10:15:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/november/guide-to-letting-property-part-10-raising-rent-and-possession-proceedings/ There is a formal procedure in place if a landlord wishes to increase the rent of a property. This procedure is designed to protect the interests of the landlord and the tenant. This procedure does not stop individuals negotiating a rent increase at the beginning of a new term of tenancy agreement and also does not prohibit the inclusion of a future increase in rent clause within the tenancy agreement provided the future increase is set out. If a landlord applies for an increase in rent the tenant can either: Accept the increase and make arrangements for the increase in rent to be paid, or Request a rent assessment committee (a panel of 2/3 people independent to the parties involved) to review the increase. Possession proceedings for Let Property To avoid tenants being evicted or harassed by landlords, it is a legal requirement that a court order is obtained prior to enforcing any right to possession of the property. This process does not apply to Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Housing Act 1988 - Section 21 In an Assured Shorthold Tenancy the landlord has the right to possession at the end of the period of tenancy agreement. The landlord must serve 2 months notice of the intention to claim possession to all tenants living in the property. Housing Act 1988 - Section 8 Section 8 of the Housing Act 1988 is applicable when the landlord wishes to claim possession of the property prior to the end of the fixed term agreed in the tenancy and outlines 17 reasons under which possession of a dwelling can be claimed. The landlord must serve notice of the intention to seek possession via the prescribed form before proceedings can begin. This notice should include the grounds for requiring possession. The landlord will be required by the courts to provide evidence of the breach of the tenancy agreement. Squatters A squatter is deemed a person occupying a property without the permission of the person entitled to possession of a property. Court proceedings may be taken against a squatter and they must vacate the premises within 24 hours of receiving an Interim Possession Order (a fast track process for regaining possession of your property). It is important to note that this fast track process is only able to be used if the landlord makes a claim for possession within 28 days of the date that they first gained knowledge that the property was being occupied without consent. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/november/guide-to-letting-property-part-10-raising-rent-and-possession-proceedings/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/november/guide-to-letting-property-part-10-raising-rent-and-possession-proceedings/ Tue, 02 November 2010 14:55:00 Winter Rule http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/don’t-bequeath-a-renewable-problem/ Due to the government's current desire to increase generation of electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar farms and wind turbines, there is a rush to secure suitable sites which meet the requirements of the national grid, planners and the weather. Owners of these valuable locations have a lot to consider. They can either develop and operate the facilities themselves or, much more likely, let the land to an operator. In deciding whether to allow development of the land in this way there are many commercial and financial issues to consider -  including inheritance tax issues.   For most landowners in Cornwall the land on which development may take place is currently in agricultural use and so will qualify for agricultural property relief (APR) and if necessary also business property relief (BPR). If the landowner develops and operates a facility (such as a solar farm) then, BPR will be available. However, that won't be the case if the land is let. The inheritance tax position is quite complex and will depend on the specific circumstances of each case. This is in part because of the need to look at all the farming and landowning activities "in the round" as required by the Farmer and Balfour court cases. Indeed the Balfour decision was confirmed by the Higher Tax Tribunal in August this year. These cases show that it is possible to let land and for it still to qualify as part of an overall agricultural business. However, for this principle to apply, the letting activity must not be the pre-dominant source of income. For those landowners looking to put up a relatively low level wind turbine then the income generated will not be that great and APR and BPR may well be available. So far so good, but the scale of the new solar farms and/or wind turbines now being proposed means that very significant rental income will arise. This is likely to mean both an increase in the value of the land and a loss of the inheritance tax exemption (APR or BPR) on the land. With this in mind, action should be considered before planning permission is obtained and preferably even much earlier than that. The land could be put into trust or given to the next generation to minimise the impact of the loss of APR/BPR status. However, this is likely to mean that the current owner will not be able to benefit from the income generated and this may not tick the box as far as the landowner's requirements are concerned. There are some other planning options to get round this but bespoke tax planning advice is the order of the day. For more advice, contact John Endacott on 01872 276477 or email jendacott@wintterrule.co.uk . John Endacott: Tax Partner John Endacott is a Tax Partner at Winter Rule LLP - a firm with specialist knowledge of both the tourism and agricultural sectors. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/don’t-bequeath-a-renewable-problem/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/don’t-bequeath-a-renewable-problem/ Thu, 28 October 2010 11:49:00 Alan Goddard http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/don’t-get-caught-short-this-winter/ Shortages in hay, corn, straw and silage this year have led to astronomical price increases. This is partly due to the fact that it has been a very poor growing year and partly because feed has been in short supply. Imagine the cost of replacing your crops should the worst happen and you experience a farm fire this winter. With prices so high, an event like a farm fire could prove devastating. You would be unable to produce the crops again yourself, and sourcing feed and bedding from merchants (who often charge delivery fees) will cost you considerably more. If your farm buildings are destroyed by fire, you will need to clear the site and re-house your animals quickly - and you may need to employ contractors to help you get this done. The use of contractors will of course add to your overall cost, and deals on farm buildings never seem to be available after a farm fire. It is therefore important that you have the right amount of insurance cover. Our advice is to review your Insurance Policies on a regular basis, so you can make sure your cover is sufficient to include the cost of all your produce and buildings. It is your responsibility to get this figure right; if it is too low, you will be underinsured - resulting in claim payouts which do not reflect the value of your property. A few extra pounds on your premium really could save you thousands in the event of a claim. Don't forget, your local Insurance Inspector will be more than happy to visit your farm to check that your sums insured are appropriate; call our Head Office on 01872 277151 to arrange an insurance review, or contact our Insurance Inspectors directly. You can find their details at www.cornishmutual.co.uk . http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/don’t-get-caught-short-this-winter/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/don’t-get-caught-short-this-winter/ Tue, 26 October 2010 10:18:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/guide-to-letting-property-part-9-of-12-noise-and-nuisance/ It is a criminal offence to create noise and nuisance that result in others being unable to enjoy their home environment. Statutory nuisance Examples of statutory nuisance include: Excessive noise e.g. parties, social gatherings Noisy pets Dumping of waste that results in vermin being attracted to the area Toxic fumes being emitted from a property such as smoke e.g. bonfires Requirements of the landlord To avoid nuisance caused by the property being in a poor condition, it is the landlords duty to keep the structure, exterior and other parts of the property in a state of repair and give tenants the benefit of quiet enjoyment of the property. Allowing the property to fall into poor condition detrimental to health can constitute statutory nuisance. Requirements of the tenant It is a tenant's responsibility to take care of the property and ensure that activities carried out by themselves and visitors to the property should not cause damage to the dwelling or disturbance to those living nearby. If this responsibility is not upheld the landlord may apply to court for possession of the property. Noise Noise is the most common form of nuisance incurred by residents. If the noise is created by the tenant or visitors of the tenant these issues are usually dealt with directly by the landlord under the terms agreed in the tenancy. Landlords are able to apply for possession of the property if noise becomes a problem. If noise is being created by nearby neighbours then these issues are best taken up with the individuals involved to ensure that they realise there is a problem as they may be unaware that they are causing a disturbance. If these problems continue a complaint should be made to the local authorities' environmental health department, who are obliged to investigate any complaints. If the problem is deemed to be a statutory nuisance then the local authority has seven days to try to resolve the problem prior to issuing an abatement notice. If further problems occur then court and police proceedings may be sought. Eviction due to Noise and Nuisance If a tenant is causing a disturbance by noise and nuisance to nearby residents and the local community then the landlord is entitled to seek a court order to evict the tenants. It is illegal to evict a tenant without a court order. The Housing Act 1996 has made it easier to evict tenants who cause noise and nuisance through ground 14: 'The tenant or someone living with or visiting the tenant is causing or is likely to cause a nuisance to neighbours or visitors to the area, or has been convicted of using the property for immoral or illegal purposes, or has been convicted of an offence in the local area.' For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/guide-to-letting-property-part-9-of-12-noise-and-nuisance/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/october/guide-to-letting-property-part-9-of-12-noise-and-nuisance/ Mon, 11 October 2010 17:15:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/september/guide-to-letting-property-part-8-of-12-the-obligations-for-repair/ Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 landlords have the following obligations: To keep in repair the structure and exterior of a dwelling, inclusive of the drains, gutters and external pipes. To keep in repair the installations within a dwelling for the supply of water, gas, electricity - not including other fixtures, fittings or appliances for making use of gas, electricity or water e.g. kettles. To keep in repair the installation in the dwelling for heating of the property and heating water. 'Keep in repair' means that the premises must be kept to the standard of repair as at the outset of the tenancy agreement. If the property was not in good repair at the beginning of the tenancy agreement then the landlord is required to put the dwelling into a good state of repair. If the tenant is in breach of his or her duty to act in a tenant-like manner, the landlord will not be responsible for any repair required as a result of this breach. If alterations are made to a property e.g. the installation of a central heating system, without the direct permission of the landlord, the landlord will not be responsible for any repair or problems arising from this installation. The landlord is not liable to repair or rebuild damage caused to a let property as a result of fire, flood etc. The landlord is not responsible for the state of repair of anything belonging to the tenant. Notice Written or verbal notice must be provided to the landlord of a defect relating to the property so that they are able to action repairs. The tenant must allow the landlord a reasonable amount of time to carry out the required repairs (a reasonable amount of time is dependent on the type and extent of the disrepair). Accessing the property to carry out repairs When under an implied covenant to repair the property, by giving 24 hours written notice, the landlord or any person authorised in writing by him may enter the property to view the condition of the property and the current state of repair during reasonable hours. The tenant must afford the landlord reasonable facilities for access for the execution of any repairs which the landlord is entitled to carry out. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/september/guide-to-letting-property-part-8-of-12-the-obligations-for-repair/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/september/guide-to-letting-property-part-8-of-12-the-obligations-for-repair/ Mon, 20 September 2010 11:49:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/guide-to-letting-property-part-7-of-12-safety-regulations-for-your-let-property/ The seventh part of our guide to letting property covers safety regulations for your let property. Landlords are responsible for ensuring that their property meets the latest relevant safety standards. The landlord should make sure onsite inspection and testing is performed where applicable to appliances within a rented property. An up to date formal record of these should be kept. Gas Safety  All appliances in a rental property must be checked on an annual basis by an engineer registered with the Gas Safe Register. The tenant must be provided with the inspection certificate and records should be made accessible by the landlord at all times. If an appliance becomes defective within the rented property it must be replaced immediately. Instruction manuals for all gas appliances should be made available to the tenant at all times. Furniture Fire Safety The Furniture and Furnishing (fire) (safety) Regulations 1998 set out regulations for fire resistance levels for domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings manufactured after 1950 (carpets and curtains are not included). These regulations do not include furniture manufactured prior to 1950 or reupholstered furniture manufactured prior to this date. All new furniture (barring mattresses and bed bases) must carry a permanent label stating accordance with these regulations. Product Safety Regulations Landlords are responsible for showing due care and attention to the general safety of their tenants whilst in their property. Instruction manuals for items used in the property e.g. televisions should be made available to the tenant. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/guide-to-letting-property-part-7-of-12-safety-regulations-for-your-let-property/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/guide-to-letting-property-part-7-of-12-safety-regulations-for-your-let-property/ Mon, 23 August 2010 09:23:00 Stephens Scown http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/renewable-energy-–-opportunities-for-members/ A Blog by Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewables at Stephens Scown solicitors. Farmers and landowners in the South West should think about the opportunities being presented with the growth in renewable energies . Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewable Energy at Stephens Scown, says as fossil fuels get more expensive and renewable energy gets cheaper, people could earn an extra income off their land, "It's a very sensible thing to do, especially when subsidies are looking more uncertain with 2012 looming." The main forms of renewable energy are wind power, hydropower, solar energy, biomass, biofuel and geothermal energy. She adds; "Renewable energy's ideally suited to rural areas and if you're looking to diversify, mitigate climate change and earn an extra income then it may be the way forward. This is a development area that landowners can explore very seriously." Once the renewable infrastructure is built, the wind and sun and the earth itself provide fuel that is free, in amounts that are effectively limitless. Sonya says, " Wind turbines are now a much more common sight than they were and wind power operators are on the look out for more land that's suitable. Landowners have an opportunity to earn additional income for each turbine they have on their land and can provide landowners with a regular income, generally for no additional labour or expense, usually for a period of 25 years or more." The arrival of feed-in tariffs means there is in the next few years an opportunity for profit to be made by generating electricity through photo-voltaic (PV) panels on barns/houses or commercial building roofs - the same can be said for wind turbines. She adds, "Increased electricity generation also means more farms and estates can be completely self reliant when it comes to their energy needs." For more advice, contact Sonya Bedford on 01392 210700 or email  s.bedford@stephens-scown.co.uk Sonya Bedford is Associate and Head of Renewable Energy at Stephens Scown. Sonya specialises in the agricultural sector helping farmers and landowners with acquisitions and disposal of farms and estates; farming tenancies and partnerships; land management and diversification. She has experience acting for landowners in the renewable energy field in particular options with wind farm developers and sustainable development. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/renewable-energy-–-opportunities-for-members/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/renewable-energy-–-opportunities-for-members/ Fri, 20 August 2010 09:54:00 Alan Goddard http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/chiefs,-pirates-and-cherries-support-dig-down-south-west…/ Sounds ominous doesn't it? Chiefs, Pirates and Cherries, I'm talking of course about the Exeter Chiefs, Cornish Pirates and Bournemouth football club. It's great that all three clubs have come out in support of the Dig Down South West campaign recently. We had a great day with the children at Topsham School near Exeter and some of the players from the Exeter Chiefs . Tom Johnson, Neil Clark and Mark Foster all came along and helped the youngsters to harvest some of the vegetables they've been growing through the initiative. They got stuck in and were really interested in what the school had been doing. It was really nice to see! We've put some of the best photos from the visit on the Dig Down website. In the last month or so, we've also been getting some superb pictures from the schools involved in Dig Down, showing what they've been up to and some of the cracking fruit and vegetables they've managed to grow. Of course, we're edging ever closer to the school summer holidays so everyone's been really busy over the last month. Further west from Exeter and the children at St Meriadoc Primary School in Camborne, Cornwall received a visit from some of the players from the Cornish Pirates this month. On a hot, sunny day Laurie McGlone, Ian Nimmo and Rob Elloway turned up to take a tour of the school vegetable garden and see what's been grown. As well as these two particular visits, AFC Bournemouth's Captain, Steve Fletcher wrote personally to five schools in Dorset to show their support and encouragement for Dig Down South West. They also sent some goody bags to the schools involved, which I think is a really kind and thoughtful gesture. It's really encouraging that all these busy sports professionals have taken time out of their busy schedules to visit the schools and see the children first-hand. I always think that whether it's a rugby or football player, they can act as excellent role models for the youngsters and inevitably the children look up to them. Quite often they're influenced by their sporting heroes and so if they can help to impart wise words about healthy eating and exercise it can only be a good thing for the children. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/chiefs,-pirates-and-cherries-support-dig-down-south-west…/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/august/chiefs,-pirates-and-cherries-support-dig-down-south-west…/ Tue, 03 August 2010 11:45:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/july/guide-to-letting-property-part-6-of-12-part-“p”-building-regulations-(electrical-safety-in-dwellings)/ The sixth part of our guide to letting property covers Part "P" of building regulations, relating to electrical safety in dwellings. From 1 January 2005 work on electrical installations in certain areas of a property must be carried out by someone currently registered with an approved Part P self-certification scheme. Failure to comply with regulations can result in a maximum fine of £5,000 and or imprisonment. • Part P Building regulations refer to fixed electrical installations. • All electrical work involving a new circuit being installed must be carried out by a "competent person" or notified to building control, which will then inspect the circuit for safety. • Small jobs such as replacing plug sockets do not need to be reported to building control.  It is however recommended that these are checked by a "competent person" in order to ensure safety. • All electrical installations within a dwelling including small jobs must follow the principles of BS 7671, the British Standard for electrical installations. A "competent person" is deemed as someone registered with a Part P self-certification scheme. Electrical Regulations • The landlord must ensure that the electrical supply to the property, electrical equipment and appliances are safe. • All new appliances to be used within the property must carry the 'CE' mark certifying them as safe. • Instruction manuals or clear instructions for all electrical items should be provided to the tenant to ensure safe usage. • Newly installed plugs and sockets must comply with the appropriate British Standard. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/july/guide-to-letting-property-part-6-of-12-part-“p”-building-regulations-(electrical-safety-in-dwellings)/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/july/guide-to-letting-property-part-6-of-12-part-“p”-building-regulations-(electrical-safety-in-dwellings)/ Tue, 06 July 2010 10:16:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/guide-to-letting-property-part-5-of-12-energy-performance-certificates/ The fifth part of our guide to letting property covers the fundamental aspects of Energy Performance Certificates. Since 1 October 2008, whenever a self contained home is let to a new tenant an Energy Performance Certificate is required.  These certificates provide information on the current energy efficiency of a home and make recommendations on how improvements could be made. Your Energy Performance Certificate and recommendation report must be made available free of charge to a prospective tenant no later than: • When a viewing of the property is conducted. • When information is provided by a landlord as a response to a request for building information from a prospective tenant. • If none of the above occur, before entering into a contract to let the property. The certificate is valid for 10 years.  If a new certificate for a property is obtained during this time then the most recent only will apply. The only person that can produce an Energy Performance Certificate is an accredited energy assessor. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however anyone acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/guide-to-letting-property-part-5-of-12-energy-performance-certificates/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/guide-to-letting-property-part-5-of-12-energy-performance-certificates/ Thu, 24 June 2010 13:23:00 Alan Goddard http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/popping-out-and-planting-up…/ So, now the gardens have been delivered, our region's primary schools have been busy planting up and tending their baby vegetables. The Dig Down South West campaign continues to be a tremendous success with both children and adults alike. We're reliably informed by some of the teachers involved in this project that there was much excitement when the Rocket Gardens were delivered to the 50 schools across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset at the end of April. Since the last blog post about the initiative, there's been lots of activity and we're really pleased to have heard from so many of the schools who've been keeping us updated on their progress. The dedicated website for Dig Down has been inundated with lots of great photos of the children, parents and staff getting to work outside. We also had some lovely 'thank you' letters from the youngsters at Biscovey Junior School, near St Austell. In the last month, we've been fairly lucky with the weather - there have been plenty of dry and sunny days for the children to get outside and get their hands dirty. Although it was a wet and muddy day when the pupils at Mylor Bridge Primary near Falmouth started planting up, we also hear it was very productive with raised planter beds being filled before the children stopped for a cake and biscuit break afterwards! At Kinson Primary near Bournemouth, one teacher told us it's made a fantastic contribution to their school garden and the children were very excited to have the opportunity to plant, grow and harvest a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. In Somerset, at Wrington Primary School, the students have been enjoying having their lessons outside. Janet Manning told us eating more healthily, getting more exercise and fresh air and showing children how they can grow their own food is something they will remember into their adult life. It won't be long now before some of the crops are ready for harvesting and the children are enjoying the fruits of their labour, so to speak! We'll keep our fingers crossed there'll be some bumper crops to look forward to and will, of course, keep you posted along the way. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/popping-out-and-planting-up…/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/popping-out-and-planting-up…/ Thu, 17 June 2010 16:17:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/replacing-your-driving-licence/ Have you changed your driving licence recently? Did you check it carefully when it came back from the DVLA? If you didn't, you should do so now. Stories continue to circulate that people who have sent licences in for a change, such as new address, have been getting them back with a category missed off.  This is due to clerical errors at the DVLA but the consequences of driving without an appropriate licence can be serious (and expensive) and the DVLA may take some time to correct the matter. To complicate the issue even further the DVLA introduced a testing system for trailers and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for all drivers passing their test after January 1997.  People passing their test prior to this date got the trailer entitlement automatically but only until their licence expiry date.  Most licences expire when the holder reaches age 70 and drivers are finding that the entitlement is being removed.  You may therefore find that your new licence excludes C1, C1E, D1 and D1E.  If you need any of these after age 70 you will probably have to reapply and undergo a medical at your own expense. It is important that you check any new licence as your motor policy only gives cover where the driver holds a valid licence to drive the vehicle.  If the licence is wrong it is possible that a claim will not be dealt with or, if it is, that you may be asked to pay for all or part of the claim after it is settled.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/replacing-your-driving-licence/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/june/replacing-your-driving-licence/ Wed, 02 June 2010 16:28:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/may/guide-to-letting-property-part-4-of-12-protecting-a-deposit/ The fourth part of our guide to letting property covers the fundamental aspects of deposits.   The Government's Tenancy Protection Scheme came into force on 6 April 2007 stipulating that any money taken at the beginning of an assured short hold tenancy agreement for a deposit, or on the understanding of it being a deposit must be 'protected'. Failure to protect a deposit will lead to the landlord being ordered to repay to the tenant three times the amount of the original deposit. Within 14 days of a deposit being received from a tenant the following information must be made available on the way in which the deposit is being protected: • Contact details of the deposit scheme in which the deposit is protected • Contact details of the landlord responsible for the deposit • How to apply for the release of the deposit • Information pertaining to the purpose of the deposit Tenancy Deposit Schemes There are two forms of schemes in place to protect a deposit: Custodial • The landlord places the money into the scheme where it is held until the end of the tenancy agreement and subsequently returned to the tenant. • Placing money in this scheme is free of charge. Insurance-based • The landlord keeps the deposit and pays the insurance scheme to insure against the landlord being unable to pay any deposit money owed to the tenant at the completion of the tenancy agreement. Repayment of deposits Upon completion of the period of tenancy agreement the landlord should check the condition of the property and any owned contents and agree the amount of the deposit to be repaid to the tenant. N.B. It is the responsibility of the tenant to return the property in the same condition in which they took it on. The agreed amount of deposit should then be returned to the tenant within 10 days. The Resolution of Disputes If the sum of deposit to be repaid cannot be agreed there will be a free service provided by the scheme chosen to protect the deposit. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however any one acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/may/guide-to-letting-property-part-4-of-12-protecting-a-deposit/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/may/guide-to-letting-property-part-4-of-12-protecting-a-deposit/ Tue, 25 May 2010 16:24:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/may/guide-to-letting-property-part-3-of-12-assured-tenancies/ Having looked at the main types of residential property lettings  and Tenancy Agreements , the third part of our Guide to Letting Property looks at Assured Tenancies; What is an Assured Tenancy? Assured Tenancies were introduced by the Housing Act 1998.  They cover the majority of residential property lettings barring certain exceptions including holiday lettings, agricultural lettings where more than 2 acres are included with the property and letting of property in which the landlord is resident. The Housing Act 1998 - Key points for Assured Tenancies • Unless the tenancy is for a duration in excess of seven years, the landlord is responsible for keeping the property in a habitable condition in accordance with relevant local health and safety regulations. • The tenant is required by law to pay for water, fees arising from sewerage and council tax. • The landlord is entitled to ask the tenant for a security deposit at the outset of a rental agreement.  This can be for any amount as long as the tenant is in agreement.  If this figure exceeds two months' rent then the tenant has the right to sublet to a subtenant, unless stated otherwise within the rental agreement.  Types of Assured Tenancies There are two forms of Assured Tenancy: Assured Tenancy • The tenant has the right to remain in the property unless the landlord can give grounds for possession e.g. a need to return to the property, or the tenant does not pay their rent. • The landlord does not have an automatic right to return to the property when the tenancy comes to an end, as is the case with Assured Short hold Tenancies Assured Short hold Tenancy   • Short hold Tenancy agreements are the most common of tenancies and are for a fixed period of time. • The landlord has the right to regain possession at the end of the term of agreement subject to giving 2 months notice that possession is required. • Possession of the property will only be awarded to the landlord following a six month period. For useful sources of information on the letting of property please visit our Let Property Information page. Please note that this article is meant only as a guide to some of the pertinent issues related to renting property in the United Kingdom. It is based on Cornish Mutual's current understanding of the law however any one acting on the advice contained in this guide is deemed to have satisfied themselves of the correct legal position by having contacted and involved the relevant knowledgeable person or organisation. http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/may/guide-to-letting-property-part-3-of-12-assured-tenancies/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/may/guide-to-letting-property-part-3-of-12-assured-tenancies/ Fri, 07 May 2010 11:04:00 Paul Haddrell http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/what-you-should-do-if-you-have-a-motor-accident…/ When you have an accident, it's probably one of the most stomach churning, sickening feelings that you get isn't it? It's just that moment when you hear and feel the crunch of the car. The best we can hope for is a scrape or minor bump, but as we all know, motor incidents can result in injury, property damage or worse. We hope that we never have a motor incident or have the displeasure of having to deal with the consequences which can be both costly and time-consuming.  In a motor incident, our thinking is not always crystal clear and many of us are unsure about what we need to do afterwards. If you've had a car incident or even if you've not had one, you'll want to know what the right things are to do, hopefully if, not when, it happens. At Cornish Mutual we're dedicated to getting our Members back on their feet as quickly as possible following a claim. To try and help with this process, we've put together some tips here: •  Gather information - Note down as much information about the incident as possible.  It's also a good idea to get as much information as you can about the third party, name, address, name of insurer and vehicle details including registration number. •  Take photographs - Many mobile telephones now enable you to take photographs and can therefore be used at the scene of an incident.  If you can, take photographs of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicles or any property. •  Don't discuss liability at the scene - Our first instinct can sometimes be to say sorry, even if it wasn't our fault.  Making an unwarranted admission of fault may prejudice the future handling of any third party claim so it is advisable not to enter into discussion at the scene of the incident. •  If urgent repairs are needed on your car - Make sure that the repairer keeps the damaged parts in case they need to be inspected at a later date. •  What if my car has been 'written off'? - As soon as you know your car's been declared a total loss (write-off) and is going to be scrapped or moved, make sure you remove all your personal belongings. This will help reduce any potential storage costs incurred and will safeguard your property. Unpleasant as it might be, the reality is that, at some point, most of us will experience a motor incident. It's about being prepared and knowing what to do.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/what-you-should-do-if-you-have-a-motor-accident…/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/what-you-should-do-if-you-have-a-motor-accident…/ Wed, 31 March 2010 10:00:00 Mitch Portman http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/diversification-–-the-importance-of-keeping-your-insurer-in-the-loop/ Diversification has become increasingly common over recent years with farmers and the wider agricultural sector looking to supplement their incomes through the introduction of a wide array of new business ventures - from farm shops to the conversion of farm buildings for commercial letting purposes.   With these new ventures inevitably come new risks as the business moves from farming to alternative commercial activities.   It is therefore vitally important to keep insurers informed at all stages of diversification to ensure that new activities are covered.  This can be particularly helpful at the planning and development stages when insurers can give a different perspective on the risks that diversification projects take when considering insurance cover. Here are my suggestions on of the types of insurances you may wish to consider when diversifying your farm business. Liability Insurance It is important to check that the business description on your insurance policy matches the activities that you are going to be carrying out.  There may be an extended need for liability cover with your new activity, for example does your current home or agricultural insurance give you sufficient cover for people being on your site in connection with your new venture? Employers Liability cover will also be required if you intend to bring in expertise or employ people to support your project.  This will also apply if your existing staff help out with your new venture.      Buildings and Use The change of use of a building can have a significant impact on the way your insurer views the risk.  If you are using redundant farm buildings for storage there could be an increase In the risk associated with that building due to the nature of goods stored or activities undertaken. For example, there may be an increase in the fire hazard due to storage of certain goods.  Other issues to consider when diversification leads to people visiting your farm may include: • How will visitors gain access to your property. If driving, where will they park?  • How will they be kept separate from your farming activity? • Children are inquisitive, if they are going to be on site, do you need to limit their access and if so, how are you going to go about doing it? These are all factors that your insurer will need to be aware of.  You may find that your insurer can advise you on certain aspects of risk management, or suggest where this information/ advice is available. Cost Widened business parameters may lead to a need for alternative insurance cover with associated costs.  By involving your insurer at the outset you can gain an understanding of the possible cost implications of diversification and budget them into your business plan. Understand risk Make sure you balance risk against economic considerations.  There are potentially varying levels of cover available and your insurer will be able to advise you on the appropriate level suitable for your new venture (or those covers required by law). You are free to choose the level of protection that you wish for your business. For example there are insurances which provide access to legal expenses cover, with help lines for issues such as employment law; these can be a useful resource if you are planning on employing others to work on your new venture. Diversification can be financially and personally rewarding when carried out effectively, however the ramifications of poor planning or not understanding the risks involved can be huge.  Creating an ongoing dialogue with your insurer will mean you can proactively tackle these risks, ensuring that your insurance cover suits your developing needs.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/diversification-–-the-importance-of-keeping-your-insurer-in-the-loop/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/diversification-–-the-importance-of-keeping-your-insurer-in-the-loop/ Fri, 26 March 2010 16:00:00 Mitch Portman http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/branching-out-a-checklist-for-farm-diversification/ Having endured a sustained period of economic instability, many modern businesses - farms included - have been forced to reassess their position going forward. While times have been tough, it's nothing that farmers haven't been through before. Major incidents from BSE to foot and mouth mean that farm owners have been dealt crushing blows before. A lot of those who came out the other side did so because they managed to identify ways to supplement their traditional income by branching out into new areas. Diversification has helped many a farm battle through troubled times and it's become an increasingly valid option for those owners who wish to bring in extra revenue. But it's not an easy step to take; those who do have such plans need to ensure they have planned meticulously and covered all the bases. Simply deciding to diversify is not enough - finding the right gap in the market and then executing a well-prepared strategy is essential. With that in mind, here are a few points to consider: Play to your strengths If your farm has buildings that are currently going unused, think about how you could use them efficiently to branch out. Successful diversification often hinges on putting existing assets to good use - it makes good economic sense to go down that route. Take an inventory of your unused resources as one of the first stages of forming initial ideas. Fill that gap Get out there, do your research and find out what the local area is crying out for - if you can find a way to meet that demand then you're halfway there. By canvassing locals for products and services they feel are lacking in your area you'll be generating the best possible ideas for diversification. Stay engaged By keeping new business ideas in your sphere of personal interest, you'll ensure that you won't get bored with the venture six months down the line. Try and find a viable business opportunity covering a subject you have a genuine passion about. It doesn't matter what it is; if you're fully committed to making it work with a long-term strategy and a burning desire to succeed then the chances are you're off to a great start. Get inspired Do some research in to what has made for successful farm diversification in the past. Read up on case studies and draw some inspiration. That's not to say that you should copy a business idea wholesale, of course; what works elsewhere won't automatically be right for you. Check your cover The protection afforded to you by insurance is incredibly important, so if you are looking to change the direction of your business be sure to check with your current insurer that the policy cover provided is compatible with your plans. If it is not, your insurer will be able to discuss with you the insurance cover that you will require going forward with this new venture. Take these points into account and there's no reason why a well-planned diversification plan can't pay dividends. Finding a potential area of business that excites you personally and looks likely to fill a much needed gap in the market is the key to a prosperous future.   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/branching-out-a-checklist-for-farm-diversification/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/march/branching-out-a-checklist-for-farm-diversification/ Fri, 12 March 2010 09:12:00 Ian Metcalfe http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/february/cut-costs-not-cover/ During a recession businesses inevitably look to become leaner and cut costs wherever possible - but in the long term some savings could prove to be a very costly decision.  You may view insurance as a necessary evil but if you cut back on your insurance cover (and it can be very tempting to try and shave a little off the bottom line if you run a small business), you may find that when it comes to the crunch and you need to make a claim you could run into trouble and find you're underinsured or, worse still, end up in front of an industrial tribunal. Here are a few simple points to consider when reviewing and purchasing business insurance cover: • Shop around . Remember, however, that whilst headline prices for those competing for your business can be appealing, you need to be confident that any new supplier will match or exceed the service standards of your current provider - make sure you are comparing like for like. • Check your cover . Get a second opinion and look at your options. The important thing is not to allow crucial cover to lapse and to make sure that you have everything you need but are not underinsured. • Know your needs . Have an idea of the cover that you need, and just as importantly, the cover that you don't need. This will enable you to confidently discuss matters with your existing or potential insurer. Whilst they are the experts, that does not mean you should take what they say without question or challenge. • No two businesses are the same . Remember that whilst 'off the shelf' insurance packages may be appealing, the cover that you require needs to be tailored to your own specific needs and requirements. • Make sure the insurer you choose understands your individual circumstances . Any competent insurance provider you choose to work with should, before they do anything else, understand your approach to risks and the extent of your willingness to retain some of those risks before providing their indication of insurance terms to you. More information on the insurance that Cornish Mutual offers can be found on our products pages or by calling 0845 017 5513   http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/february/cut-costs-not-cover/ http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2010/february/cut-costs-not-cover/ Tue, 23 February 2010 10:00:00