This Week's Top New Bites
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Backward Step on Farm Tenancy Security
The TFA has expressed its disappointment that average lengths of term on farm business tenancies have declined as reported by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. The average length of all FBTs has decreased from 4.5 years in 2016 to less than 4 years in 2017. Excluding lettings of less than a year, over the same period the average tenancy length has fallen from 6 years to below 5 years. Worryingly, fully equipped holdings, which would be expected to be let for longer terms, have seen a reduction from over 14 years on average to below 10 years. 85% of farm tenancies let in 2017 had terms of 5 years or under. To obtain a copy of the CAAV report click here and to read the reaction from the TFA click here.
Are You on a Short Term FBT or Have You Just Lost a Short-Term Tenancy?
With the recent figures from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers showing that we have gone backwards in terms of security of tenure between the last 2 years, the TFA is looking to up its campaign on this important issue. If you are either on a short term FBT which you are worried about losing or you have just had to quit a holding because of a short-term tenancy please let us know. Contact Julia Meadows on events@tfa.org.uk.
Farmers Guardian Brexit Hub
TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn assesses the state of play on Brexit negotiations in light of recent events. Click here to read.
Will We See Simpler Farm Inspections?
A review group chaired by Dame Glenys Stacey, Chief Inspector of Probation, has recommended a major simplification of the way farming is regulated in an interim report just issued. The report lays most of the blame for the problems of the current regulatory system at the door of the Common Agricultural Policy and has highlighted the opportunity to do things differently once we have left the European Union. The Review, established by DEFRA, is due to complete its work by the end of this year. To read the interim report click here.
DEFRA Launches Review of Designated Landscapes
As part of the commitments made within the 25 year Plan for the Environment, DEFRA Secretary of State, Michael Gove, has asked Julian Glover, Associate Editor at the London Evening Standard, to carry out a review of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The purpose of the review is not to remove or diminish any protections, but to seek ways of managing these landscapes in a better way. For more information and to contribute to the review click here.
Welsh Government Proposals for a Post Brexit Agricultural Policy
The Welsh Government has set out detailed proposals for a new system for supporting farmers post-Brexit which combine an economic resilience scheme and a public goods scheme. The proposals are available for consultation and can be accessed by clicking here. Further details will be published in the spring of 2019.
Lets make farming safer #FarmSafetyWeek
Last year 29 workers lost their lives on farms across the country and in many cases, these may have been avoidable.
While farm safety should be a priority all year round, this week is Farm Safety Week (Monday 16th July – Sunday 22nd July). It is easy to get involved and be part of changing our industry’s safety record.
The TFA asks you to look at your farm and find one thing to change this week. Your change might be something relatively simple and cheap to do like tidying up the yard to remove rubbish that could be a fire hazard or wearing hi viz to make yourself visible and reduce the risk of being run over. For further advice about how you can implement farm safety practices click here.
AHDB launch impact calculator to help industry prepare for Brexit
A new online calculator has been launched this week which will allow farmers and growers to see for the first time how they may be affected by potential Brexit scenarios. The Brexit Impact Calculator allows individuals to input their own data and see what effects the different Brexit scenarios might have on their business.
The calculator is just part of a wider online tool list which looks at five key areas of the business covering topics from being efficient with resources to financial management and planning for the future. There is also a resilience check list which uses questions to identify areas of the business that may benefit from additional attention to ensure it is sustainable after Brexit.
The Brexit Impact Calculator can be found here, while the wider toolkit is available here.
Fodder Bank Reopens
The NFU have reopened its Fodder Bank to help its members find feed and bedding and allow them to sell any surplus they may have. For more details click here.
And Finally...
TFA Chief Executive spoke on Lincs FM Farming programme last weekend about the impact Brexit will have on the tenanted farming sector. To listen click here.