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Help the MacLeod family maximize revenue and comply with new legislation by preparing a multi-year farm plan. Identify affected areas, land use options, management techniques, and revenue potential. Address environmental conservation and economic aspects with detailed financial statements.
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Farm Consulting Assignment MacLeod Family Farm The Balance Between Revenue And The Environment
Welcome to the farm of Ken and Donna MacLeod. • This farm has been in the family for four generations. • The farm is 440 acres • 135 acres of mixed woodlands • 270 acres of traditional potato land • 20 acres of poorly drained land • 5 acres of farm buildings • 10 acres of cottage development has been approved • The MacLeod’s have decided to stop farming and use their land as their “RRSP”. • The farm has been well managed for many years but rules and regulations are changing!
Traditional Land Use and Farm Rental Potential • The farm covers some 440 acres of which 270 acres are currently in agricultural production. • The potato land can be rented at $1000/ac/yr. • Grain land can be rented for $400/ac/yr • Hay land can be rented for $200/ac/yr • Pasture can be rented for $200/ac/yr
Farm Woodlot • The woodlot covers 135 acres • 90 acres mixed and hardwood forest • Most is mature • 45 acres white spruce • Most is mature to over mature • A stream running into a river moves through the mixed wood stand. • The forest buffers an adjacent 10 ac cottage development from pesticide drift, manure smells, noise, and airborne soil. • Provincial wildlife abounds among the forest with many Island species represented. • The hardwood area is part of a Scenic Heritage Road. The McLeod’s have not signed a protection agreement but they have left the trees standing for now.
Poorly Drained Farm Land • The poorly drained lands cover some 20 acres • Used for pasture and hay. • Some of it could be drained and converted to row crops. (productivity is low-medium) • This wet land provides habitat for several species of amphibians. • It is a breeding place for mosquitoes • The cost of drainage is $1500/acre. • The cost of converting it into a pond/lake is $2500/acre.
Pertinent Farm Legislation • Land Protections Act • Individuals can only own 1,000 acres • Companies can only own 3,000 acres • Agricultural Crop Rotation Act • Cannot grow crop lands with 9% or greater slopes without taking conservation measures • Cannot plant a regulated crop (potatoes) on the same piece of land more than once every three years • Environmental Protection Act • Buffers protect waterways from soil runoff and pesticides • Must establish min.15M field buffer along any stream • Buffer raises to 20 m for lands with greater than 5% slope • Must leave a 20M forest buffer along streams and rivers.
High Sloped Lands • Of the farm’s 270 acres of agricultural lands, some are categorized as having slopes of 9% or greater. • some are 12% or greater • This means that the McLeods must implement soil conservation strategies to meet their retirement needs.
Options • Remove land from row crops • Terracing • Creating hedgerows and buffer zones • Using cover crops • Growing alternate crops • Converting farm or forest land to other uses.
Your assignment! • In order to help the MacLeods’ maximize their economic return from their lands and comply with the new legislation, your Consulting business has been asked to prepare a multi-year Farm Plan which: • Identifies the areas which are affected • Identifies the MacLeod’s land use options for each area • Identifies the type(s) of land use management techniques they should use. • Identifies where these options & techniques should be used.
Presentation • This project will be done individually. As the head of a consulting business, your assignment will be to present a plan that outlines the realistic revenue potential of the farm (approx. numbers should be used). Any debt incurred should be addressed with a payment schedule. • The conservation and concerns of: air, water, soil, forest, and wildlife should also be addressed with corresponding financial statement.
Evaluation Environmental – 50% Water, Soil, Air, Forest and/or Wildlife Conservation plans must have specifics and costs Must follow Provincial Regulations • Economical- 50% • Assets and Revenues must be stated • Any loans must be supported with repayment plans • All projections must be realistic • Choices must be rationalized
Presentation • Three/four classes will be given to work on this assignment. • You will have access to a laptop for research purposes. Utilize it to find innovative ideas to gain revenue and new, modern conservation methods. • Each project will have a name for their Consulting Plan. • We are going “old school”. No slide presentations. All your work, including farm maps, will be done on flip chart paper. • Presentations will begin Wednesday. Approximately 10 minutes will be given for each group (questions will follow). A draw will determine presentation order.