New recommendations published to level the field for tenant farmers

The independent review was commissioned by Defra in January with the aim of identifying how to best support tenant farmers as part of the government’s ambition to drive growth and sustainability across the farming sector.

Chaired by Baroness Kate Rock, the Tenancy Working Group looked at the various issues facing the sector and produced recommendations addressing tenancy agreements, tenant-landlord relationships, and the complexity of environmental schemes to name a few.

The Tenancy Working Group was formed earlier this year to make sure new environmental schemes work for tenant farmers. Its members include landlords, tenants, agents and other stakeholders within the sector.

According to the report, the main pressures faced by tenant farmers stem from the phase out of basic payments and high levels of inflation that escalate input costs while commodity prices remain the same or decline. In addition, there are growing expectations for tenant farmers to deliver more for the environment, yet support is lacking.

The review conveys a clear message that tenant farmers hold an essential role in growing the rural economy, delivering environmental targets and maintaining food security. Since more than half of farmable land in England is tenanted, it is vital that these farmers have access to government schemes.

Reflecting on the report, Baroness Rock said: “This review provides a clear vision for the agricultural tenanted sector in England that Defra can and should adopt. The recommendations, when taken together, actively move the sector towards a position where tenant farmers operate resilient, successful, and thriving businesses.”

Baroness Rock explained some of the recommendations, such as changes to scheme design, can be more immediately adopted by Defra to help provide much-needed support to tenant farmers. Others, she said, are more structural and aim to improve long-term resilience in the tenanted sector.

Commenting on the review, environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena said: “The review is right to set out the importance of having a thriving tenanted sector if we are to deliver growth in our rural economy and unlock farmers’ potential to improve the environment. We will be looking closely at its recommendations.”

The government will publish a formal response to the review in due course.

Responding to the report, NFU tenants forum chair Chris Cardell emphasised the vital role agricultural tenants and tenanted land play in delivering food production and environmental targets. He said the NFU has long stressed the importance of collaboration between landlords and tenants to achieve greater productivity.

With regards to the recommendations, Mr Cardell added: “The NFU agrees with Baroness Rock’s Review that county council farm estates should be a key entry point for next generation farmers.

“The report is also right to urge Defra and regulators to ‘tenant-proof’ their schemes, policies and processes, ensuring they are a benefit to all farmers, including tenant farmers, and therefore wider food production and environmental protection.”

Mr Cardell said the NFU tenants forum is planning to examine the recommendations in detail shortly and urged the government to respond promptly to the review.

The full Rock Review and recommendations are available here.