Dairy farming these days feels a bit like life in a prison, so to use a Monopoly analogy, it’s like being sent to prison over and over again if you go around the agricultural committee over and over again.
Unfortunately, we also don’t have a get-out-of-jail-free card, so we’re working hard to explore other options.
Until now, we have had a consistent dairy business, but in a rapidly changing sector we need to get out of our comfort zone and find alternative sources of income.
See also: Opinion – Farmers are climate change scapegoats
About the author
cas morley
Cath Morley grew up on a mixed livestock farm in Derbyshire. She currently lives and works in the dairy sector in Lancashire with her husband Chris Halhead. They milk her 150 cows with her three robots and raise all replacement heifers in-house.
I’m full of ideas – I’ve thought of them all, from the sublime to the ridiculous. The current, more conservative plan is to convert the beautiful old stables, currently disguised as calf pens, into three holiday homes. That’s stage 1.
The second phase includes a swimming pool, spa, and a host of family-friendly farm and nature activities.
That’s pretty ambitious, but I’m not going to do anything average. In a highly competitive market, you need to stay one step ahead of your competitors.
Our first throw of the dice was a very positive pre-application visit.
Surprisingly, no problems were discovered and the planners (who were clearly enjoying a sunny jaunt from the office) said everything would go very easily.
Move forward three squares, I thought.
How wrong I was! The whole process is very slow. Our architect submitted a complete application and it has been almost 6 months.
Every time I tried to move things along, I ended up having to pay someone else for another report that wasn’t requested in the first place.
An absolute masterclass in kicking the can down Old Kent Road.
By the way, if there is no decision after 6 months, I am entitled to get my planning fee back under the government’s planning guarantee and will definitely pursue this if things drag on further. intend to.