NFU urged to back TFA vision for tenant farming

The Tenant Farmers Association has encouraged the NFU to endorse the TFA’s "2020 Vision for Agriculture" as the NFU gears up to host a conference later this week aimed at looking into the future of the tenanted sector in agriculture.

TFA National Chairman Jeremy Walker said "The TFA’s 2020 Vision for Agriculture from the perspective of the tenanted sector was produced last year following extensive consultation with tenant farmers up and down the country. It covers the main issues of current concern for tenant farmers including CAP reform, the sustainability of the landlord/tenant system, the farming ladder, the place of farmers in the food chain and the future of county council smallholdings".

"Given the objective of the NFU’s conference is met within the pages of the TFA’s report, I would hope that the NFU would publicly endorse the TFA’s approach rather than coming up with another statement covering the same ground. It is important that the NFU and TFA work together to support and enhance the tenanted sector. As a particular example, with CAP reform very much in everyone’s minds, it will be important to achieve an outcome which protects the tenanted sector by ensuring that support is only received by active farmers and is not capitalised into the cost of farming land," said Mr Walker.

"The TFA this year celebrates 30 years of specialist advice, information and support to the tenanted sector of agriculture in England and Wales and no other body is able to give the dedication and focus to farm tenancy issues that the TFA provides. Every day the TFA looks at all the issues affecting agriculture through the eyes of the tenant farmer and ensures that tenants receive relevant advice and that policy makers understand the implications for tenants which arise from the decisions they make," said Mr Walker.

"The TFA acknowledges the NFU’s status, strength and its ability to speak on behalf of the broad interests of the farming industry but we believe that the TFA and other specialist organisations can support it by providing a dedicated focus on sector specific issues. Rather than trying to replicate what we do already, we should be looking at ways of working together which reduces duplication, saves costs and increases impact for the benefit of all concerned," said Mr Walker.