Government establishes more support for tenant farmers

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Tenants will be at the center of the government’s work to grow and support the rural economy thanks to new measures announced to support the long-term sustainability of the tenant sector.

The measures, announced in response to the independent rock reviewAgree with key recommendations from the review and include a new Farm Tenure Forum that will work to consider the unique challenges facing the sector, facilitate more collaborative landlord-tenant relationships, and help shape farm policy.

This will be co-chaired by Julian Sayers and will provide regular feedback to the government, strengthening Defra’s relationship with the sector.

The government will also launch a Request for Evidence this summer on the proposal for a Tenant Farming Commissioner in England, considering the benefits this could bring and how it might work in practice.

This builds on actions we have already taken to help tenants benefit from our Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes and a consultation launched in Budget on potential inheritance tax reforms, in line with recommendations from the revision.

Agriculture Minister Mark Spencer said:

“I would like to thank Baroness Rock and her team for their work on the review which underscored the vital importance of the tenant farming sector and the action needed to help it prosper.

At the heart of his review was a call for the government to listen to the voices of tenants and for us to remove barriers to accessing our agricultural scheme.

That’s what we’re delivering, both through the measures announced today and the progress we’ve made in recent months, and I look forward to working with the rental industry to ensure we’re meeting their priorities going forward. ”

Baroness Kate Rock said:

“I welcome the government’s commitment to the leased farm sector and its willingness to focus on how Rock Review’s objectives can be met.

However, I would have liked the response to fully acknowledge all of the Review’s findings, particularly with regard to the increase in new riders being inserted into Farm Business Leases, and on lessees engaging in diversified activities.

While I welcome the new Forum on Farm Tenure, it must focus on implementing the Review’s findings if it is to be successful.

I would like to thank the Secretary of State, the Minister for Agriculture and Defra for their proactive engagement throughout the Rock Review and their commitment to working together for a thriving leasehold farming sector.”

The Rock Review was published in October 2022, led by Baroness Rock and the Tenancy Working Group, with input from all parties in the leasing industry, including tenants, landlords and agents.

Outside the EU and free of the bureaucratic common agricultural policy, the government is determined to design a fairer system that works in the best interests of British farmers, including the tenant farming sector.

The announced measures build on significant progress in the delivery of environmental land management schemes since the publication of the review, with tenants benefiting from more flexible options and schemes.

The sustainable agriculture incentive scheme, for example, has been designed to be as accessible as possible for tenants, who can apply without landlord consent and sign shorter agreements of three years that can be terminated without penalty.

Meanwhile, around half of the 22 successful projects in the first round of the Landscape Restoration Scheme involve tenants working with other farmers and land managers, and work continues on how Administration can be made simpler and more flexible. del Campo to make it work better for tenants. .

A consultation and trial call is also underway to explore possible tax changes, including changes to inheritance tax relief that could help encourage tenants to take part in environmental land management schemes.

The announcement comes along with continued government support for tenants and the agricultural sector.

This includes more than £168 million in grants made available to farmers this year to drive innovation, support food production, improve animal health and welfare and protect the environment, as well as speed up launch. of the Sustainable Agriculture Incentive.

Most recently, the second round of Landscape Recovery was launched last week to support up to 25 more projects to protect and restore thousands of acres of English landscape.