Unease in tenanted sector to be addressed at Yorkshire meetings

The climate of poor farm gate prices and the threat of delayed Basic Payment Scheme and agri-environment payments, there is “real anxiety” in tenanted sector, the National Farmers’ Union’s regional tenants’ adviser Lucinda Douglas said.

She said: “Having just attended the NFU’s national tenants’ conference, it’s safe to say there is some real anxiety in the air this year.

“Nationally we have been working to make sure all institutional landlords are well aware of the financial pressures on tenant farmers but it is still important for individual members to plan carefully the arguments they need to make when negotiating a rent review.”

To help tenant farmers manage the current situation, the NFU is staging a series of meetings, including one at Barnard Castle Cricket Club on Monday, December 7 at 7pm.

Two more will be held in North Yorkshire on Tuesday, December 8, at Skipton Auction Mart at 8am and at The Moors National Park Centre in Danby at 7.30pm.

The work being done by the NFU on behalf of tenants will be covered as well as changes to model clauses on repairs, alternative dispute resolution, succession and surrender, and tenancy re-grants.

The NFU’s rural surveyor Louise Staples and regional tenants’ representative Gordon Sedgewick will be at the meetings and the union’s rural surveyor panel firms will be on hand to offer advice.

To book a place at any of the meetings, contact the NFU’s North East regional office in York on 01904 451550.