By The Manager, Bruce Hamilton

The new year has brought an incredible volume of rain. So far at the office we have recorded 350mm. Last year we only recorded 1,000mm and although it seemed to rain all summer the average was only slightly up. Despite this the Spring sowing is going well between the snow showers and potato planting is just starting. 

The battle with HMRC over self employed farm workers has moved on. They have withdrawn the special status Rings had. However we have found that if you go into a contract to supply/demand  labour from a member's business and you allow substitution then HMRC are happy for this to be a self employed job. For more details see our guidance letter and our full guidance.

Our opening times are now Summer times and are very rigid. 7.308.00 am to 5.00 pm Mon-Fri .Saturday mornings 8am to 5pm. We are not contactable outwith these hours but please leave a message.

The 2008 Handbook is now out with prices having to rise across the board. Labour has gone to £10 and 120hp Tractor & Man £18.50. This is necessary in order to continue meeting demand and still falls well below the real cost of fully employing a farm worker and giving him a cottage.

The Annual Accounts for the year to 31st Dec 2007 have been audited and we made a profit of £8,000 after tax, having turned over £5.8m. This puts us in a very strong position to continue helping the farming community in 2008.

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