Baron de Rutzen Award: Pembrokeshire farmers urged to apply
The Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society is on the lookout for the county's most progressive farmers who can demonstrate their use of the latest technological methods to promote sustainable agriculture.
Tim Johns, president of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, said: "We are looking for local Pembrokeshire farmers, under the age of 45, who can demonstrate their farm's use of the latest technological methods to promote progressive, sustainable agriculture.
"They also need to show consideration for the environment and habitat sensitivity on their farm as well as present an aesthetically pleasing example of farming in the county.
"The competition welcomes all those in the livestock and arable sectors to enter."
Last year, the award was won by Andrew and Jane Phillips of Windsor Farm, Lamphey.
The couple farm 1,100 acres, with 3,000 breeding sheep and lambs.
They also have a herd of British Blue cross Limousin suckler cows sired by a Limousin bull, and all calves are sold as weaned.
The arable side of their business includes 80 acres of winter and spring barley, mostly used for stock consumption, with the surplus sold.
They grow 150 acres of maize, used in a Totally Mixed Ration (TMR) for their sheep, with the surplus sold to dairy farms.
The Baron de Rutzen Trophy was created in memory of Baron John Fredrick De Rutzen, who was president of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society in 1936.
The third baron served in the Welsh Guards and died, aged 36, in 1944.
This year's entrants must be fully practising farmers within Pembrokeshire and under the age of 45 years on January 1, 2025.
Entries can either be by nomination or direct application online on the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society website.
The closing date for nominations and applications is noon on Monday, June 30, 2025.
For more information and to apply, visit the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Delay in Glasgow planning applications due to staff shortage
Glasgow has the second highest cost per planning application in Scotland, a report has found. The local authority charges £12,259 while the Scottish average sits at £6,679 per application. Despite this, a backlog of cases is building up, leading to concerns about applications being dealt with in time, members of the city's scrutiny committee heard. READ NEXT:Glasgow's drug consumption centre is working says health secretary During the meeting, councillor Ken Andrew, who chairs the planning committee, told fellow councillors that the council was struggling to recruit and maintain staff in their planning department. Councillor Andrew also said that this was causing an increase in the amount of time it was taking to review applications. There are two types of applications, local applications which can be anything from a shop front, a house extension or a change of property use of less than 5000 sq m of new floorspace and major or national application which is generally bigger than the thresholds already listed. Local applications generally have a two month determination timescale and if discussions are going well the council can agree an extension for making a decision. READ NEXT:Gangland violence 'out of control' John Swinney is told after Spain shootings However, if there hasn't been an agreement about an extension of time to determine then the applicant can submit an appeal called an appeal against non-determination. Major or national applications generally have the same principles but the council has four months to reach an outcome before the applicant can appeal. During a recent scrutiny committee councillor Ken Andrew explained some of the difficulties. He said: 'My understanding is that what has been happening in planning is that the planning team have struggled both to recruit and maintain staff. 'A decision was made to restructure how the planning function was managed to try and keep hold of the staff we had managed to recruit. 'What we have seen is this blip and this increase in the amount of time it has taken to get planning applications through and in front of the committee so it is an issue that is being managed. 'I am sure it will be interesting for the committee to get a better level of information than I am able to give you here.'
STV News
9 hours ago
- STV News
Planning applications backlog as council struggles to recruit staff
Concerns have been raised over the amount of time it is taking to process planning applications in Glasgow. Glasgow has the second highest cost per planning application in Scotland, a report has found. The local authority charges £12,259 while the Scottish average sits at £6,679 per application. Despite this a backlog of cases is building up, leading to concerns about applications being dealt with in time, members of the city's scrutiny committee heard. During the meeting, councillor Ken Andrew, who chairs the planning committee, told fellow councillors that the council was struggling to recruit and maintain staff in their planning department. Councillor Andrew also said that this was causing an increase in the amount of time it was taking to review applications. There are two types of applications, local applications which can be anything from a shop front, a house extension or a change of property use of less than 5000 sq m of new floorspace and major or national application which is generally bigger than the thresholds already listed. Local applications generally have a two month determination timescale and if discussions are going well the council can agree an extension for making a decision. However, if there hasn't been an agreement about an extension of time to determine then the applicant can submit an appeal called an appeal against non-determination. Major or national applications generally have the same principles but the council has four months to reach an outcome before the applicant can appeal. During a recent scrutiny committee councillor Ken Andrew explained some of the difficulties. He said: 'My understanding is that what has been happening in planning is that the planning team have struggled both to recruit and maintain staff. 'A decision was made to restructure how the planning function was managed to try and keep hold of the staff we had managed to recruit. 'What we have seen is this blip and this increase in the amount of time it has taken to get planning applications through and in front of the committee so it is an issue that is being managed. 'I am sure it will be interesting for the committee to get a better level of information than I am able to give you here.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
The 5 hidden legal red flags that could derail your property purchase
Buying a house requires a lot of paperwork and though you'd hope a good conveyancer would highlight any problems, you'll probably want to triple check the details yourself. The challenge? Those certificates and deeds can feel like they're written in a different language, with pages upon pages of jargon to sift through. To help buyers spot any iffy-looking issues, Andrew Boast, property expert at SAM Conveyancing, has shared the most common red flag warning signs that might be nestled deep in planning records. That freshly painted garden fence might look appealing, but if it doesn't match the legal boundary or covers parts of the land that aren't registered, it could pose questions over ownership. And if you're looking to sell up yourself, this could cause delays for all parties. Naturally, boundaries aren't always abundantly obvious during the viewing process, and asking about them might not always feel appropriate. But as Andrew says, you should 'never assume the physical layout matches the Land Registry title.' You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. 'Check for discrepancies early, especially with annexes, shared access, or extra parcels of land and question anything that doesn't line up,' he explains. Drawn in by the extra space from a home's flashy loft conversion, kitchen extension or even a garden room? The stars in your eyes might see extra storage space – or even an idyllic WFH set-up – but it's important to check the work was done properly. If planning permissions have been skipped you might encounter issues down the line, whether as a buyer or a seller. According to Gov UK, buildings will likely need planning permission if something new is being added, a major change is being made (such as an extension), or if you want to change what it's used for, which is all worth keeping in mind. 'If a seller can't provide certificates, it's worth investigating further,' Andrew warns. 'You might be taking on an unregulated structure without even knowing it. If they don't exist, your solicitor needs to know immediately.' It's not just renovation certificates that you'll need: major upgrades like fresh windows, boilers or even electrical systems all require official paperwork. These might include a FENSA certificate (the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme, which proves new windows and doors meet legal standards) or simply a Gas Safe record. As Andrew says, a lack of documentation in this area could indicate that the work was a DIY job and might not meet safety regulations. Down the line, this could come with extra costs for buyers, particularly if the work wasn't done properly. 'Certificates aren't just a formality,' Andrew explains. 'They prove the work was done by someone qualified and meets legal and safety standards, and without them, insurers and lenders may raise concerns.' If you've realised at the viewing that your property actually shares a driveway with the neighbours, or even if the garden path has a third-party right of way, this could complicate your path to home ownership. Andrew notes that these rights don't always appear in estate agent listings – particularly if they're on a casual basis – but they still matter, and could cause legal implications if they're not formally documented. In his view, if 'someone else can legally access your land, you need to know upfront.' 'It might affect how you use your property or what you're allowed to build in the future, such as extensions or outbuildings,' he adds. The more you know. These days, it's common for leasehold flats and even houses to come with ground rent and service charges, but these can sometimes become 'hefty' if they rise over time. Homeowners under leasehold agreements – which are commonly seen in flats and shared ownership schemes – do not own the land their property sits on outright. And so, they need to make an extra rental payment to the freeholder (sometimes known as a landlord), who does. An agreement will always outline the amount of time a leasehold agreement is in place for – but in Andrew's opinion, anything 'under 85 years' should be 'flagged immediately.' More Trending 'And if ground rent doubles every decade, that's more than just a red flag, that's a serious affordability issue,' he explains. Feeling anxious about these legal red flags? Don't panic. Just make sure you ask the 'right questions' and take care to 'instruct professionals who will investigate them properly.' Andrew notes that you 'don't have to spot all of this yourself' as 'that's what your solicitor and surveyor are for.' View More » The earlier you raise any concerns, the better, as it'll then be 'easier to fix them before they delay or derail your purchase, and protect your investment.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I live in a mouldy flat because other landlords won't accept me MORE: Map reveals the 5 cheapest London postcodes where properties cost less than £300,000 MORE: What I Own: We bought a £315,000 home at 23 and 25 after three years of saving
