Taking to the helm of Scottish Land & Estates at a time when its membership face “unprecedented challenges”, new chairman Lord David Johnstone has announced he wants to make “significant headway” to ensure land continues to be made available to the tenant farming industry.
Underlining that he is “100% committed” to achieving a thriving tenanted sector, he took to his new post at the SL&E annual meeting in Perth by appealing to representatives from Scotland’s farming bodies to join a dialogue of cross-industry talks with SL&E.
Top of the agenda will be ironing out issues surrounding land reform, debate over the Government-led review of agricultural holdings, and concerns over CAP reform.
“Land-based businesses make a very substantial social, economic and environmental contribution to Scotland. But, more importantly, the overwhelming majority of Scottish landowners see themselves as part of the fabric of the local communities in which they live.
“Nowhere is this more clear than in the area of tenant farming.”
He said: “We are committed 100% to achieving a thriving tenanted sector and want to work with Government and industry to help make it happen.”
To that end, he said he has written to the NFU Scotland, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs appealing to meet and discuss whether progress can be made to deliver solutions of benefit to the tenant farming sector.
With “a big job” on the hands of the Agricultural Holdings Review Group, the new chairman said it makes sense that all those involved in tenant farming should be trying to make the process easier.
“We have supported the proposal suggested for an Office for Scottish Tenant Farming and recommended a mechanism to name and shame anyone, be it landlord or tenant, who are independently adjudged to have been involved in bad practice,” he said.
Conceding there are “differences” between organisations over how this might work, Mr Johnstone said he believes it is worthwhile trying to agree on a cross-industry solution that could be put to the Review Group.
“Of course there are areas where it would be difficult to achieve consensus, but I believe there is more unites the industry than divides it.”
He added: “Personally, I want to let land.
“I let a farm to a new entrant on an LDT last year, and I am looking at ways where farms that are currently let on short-term arrangements can be let with confidence on long-term leases that will enable tenant farmers to build their businesses.
“Landowners are heavily involved in farming, either operating their own farming businesses or letting land,” he added.
“We do have a role to play in driving forward agriculture, and I think it is better if everyone in the industry works collaboratively towards achieving a shared objective.”
Welcoming the new chairman’s commitment to talks concerning the tenanted sector, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has appealed for “honesty and openness” in recognising the many difficult issues which have been troubling the sector for many years.
STFA chairman Christopher Nicholson said: “I wish David well in his term as chairman in what will undoubtedly be challenging times as Scotland comes to terms and adjusts to what will be far-reaching reforms to our land tenure system.”
He said the STFA is always ready to discuss how progress can be made in reforming the tenanted sector but after 10 years of the Tenant Farming Forum the industry remains no further forward.
“If we are to make real progress the SL&E’s representatives must be prepared to recognise the deep-seated ailments which are damaging landlord-tenant relationships and holding the sector back.
“Rent reviews are a prime example, where landlords and their agents have steadfastly refused to consider changes to an out-moded rent review formula.
“A rent system which favours one side at the expense of the other cannot be fair,” he said.
“STFA looks forward to working constructively with the new team at
SL&E over the coming months and hopes that the new broom will signal a change in direction,” said Mr Nicholson.
“Clinging to the wreckage of an anachronistic land tenure system in Scotland is no longer an option, and landowners will have to engage positively in the process of reform if it is not to be taken out of their hands.”