Tenant farmers have urged Defra in delivering its Clean Air Strategy to understand the “unique challenges” facing those who do not own the land they farm.
The government's new Clean Air Strategy to tackle air pollution in the UK looks at new regulations to be introduced for farmers to tackle ammonia emissions.
Announced on Monday (14 January), it highlights ways for farmers to tackle ammonia emissions through new funding and the introduction of new regulations.
But the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has concerns Defra may move “too quickly” in implementing new legislation without consulting farmers who do not own the land upon which they run their businesses.
On many tenanted holdings, the fixed equipment is owned by and is the responsibility of the landowner. =
Any requirement to upgrade or improve fixed equipment must provide a mechanism to allow tenants and other types of farmer occupying land that they do not own, to oblige their landlords to carry out any necessary work of repair, upgrade or new investment.
TFA Farm Policy Adviser, Lynette Steel, said: “There is no doubt that the agriculture industry must play it’s part in helping to reduce emissions however actions outlined in the strategy must not be imposed in a way which causes specific difficulty for the tenanted sector of agriculture.
“More widely, it is important that the Government’s actions do not have a detrimental impact on farm competitiveness, especially in these uncertain times.”
The grant aid being offered to assist with the necessary upgrading of fixed equipment is welcomed by the group, but warns that tenants may not be able to access this funding due to restrictions within their tenancy agreements.
Ms Steel added: “We have highlighted this issue in our lobbying around the Agriculture Bill, currently awaiting Report Stage in the House of Commons. We have tabled an amendment which would allow farm tenants restricted by their tenancy agreements to have a mechanism to force the issue with their landlords.
“To date we have not had a response from Defra to the amendments we have suggested. However, we hope that MPs will vote in favour of amending the Bill to ensure the tenants are not disenfranchised in any new grant making regime,” she said.
The TFA has also welcomed the links that are being made between the implementation of the clean air strategy and other environmental strategies such as water management.
