Independent group created to ensure ELM benefits tenants
© Tim Scrivener A new Tenancy Working Group has been launched to provide independent advice to Defra about ensuring the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme works for tenants.
The group will be chaired by Baroness Kate Rock, a Conservative peer who sits on the House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy, and a director of a tenant farming business.
The news follows environment secretary George Eustice’s recent announcement about a dedicated review of how tenant farmers and tenancies can be better supported throughout England’s farm policy reform.
The ELM scheme is a key part of the country’s move away from the EU’s policy of direct payments based on acreage and towards funding for public goods.
See also: Tackling climate change: How to improve tenants’ role
Its capacity for supporting tenants – who are often unable or unwilling to join long-term schemes due to the prevalence of short-term and unsecure tenancy agreements – has been called into question by many farming groups, particularly the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA).
Tenancy Working Group main objectives
The group’s main objectives will reportedly be to provide independent advice on:
- How Defra can use the scheme design to facilitate participation of and benefits to tenant farmers in the government’s new ELM and related schemes
- What policy initiatives will secure the long-term sustainability of tenant farming in England
- How best to foster positive and long-term relationships between tenants and landlords
- Ways to minimise any potential loss of land from the tenanted sector to avoid damaging its resilience
- Why it might be necessary to look for new legislative or regulatory powers in the future.
A report will be published by the group later this year setting out the main conclusions and providing a set of recommendations to Defra.
Mr Eustice said the breadth of knowledge and expertise within the group would enable the government to identify and explore ways to make sure the new schemes work for tenant farmers.
TFA chief executive George Dunn said: “The TFA welcomes this initiative from Defra. It is incredibly important that tenant farmers can access the new schemes being developed to replace the Basic Payment Scheme, and at the same time we protect against the loss of land from the tenanted sector of agriculture.
“It is hugely important that the new working group is established quickly so that its recommendations can be built into the design of the Environmental Land Management scheme.
“However, it is also important that the working group looks longer term at issues which may need regulatory, legislative or wider policy change.
“We are particularly pleased that Baroness Rock has been appointed to chair the working group.
“Her appointment in itself demonstrates how seriously Defra is now taking this issue, and I very much look forward to supporting her in coming forward with sensible, robust and practical solutions to the problems we face.”