George Eustice backs new routes into farming

Inheritance as a main route into agriculture must be tackled, and alternative routes explored, said farm minister George Eustice today (Wednesday 20 November).

He was speaking at the Fertile Minds event for young farmers, organised by Farmers Weekly and supported by Tesco.
 
“It’s not healthy that inheritance is the main route into agriculture,” said Mr Eustice, “we’ve got to break down barriers”.
 
The minister said he was interested in exploring alternative routes such as share farming or joint ventures to make it easier for young farmers to set up a business or earn a stake in a farm enterprise.
 
Extending tenancies beyond four years was something he wanted to explore further, following the Future of Farming Review findings, but regulation, he added, was not an option.

Mr Eustice said he was exploring the possibility of inherited tenancies being extended to more distant relatives, such as nephews and nieces, with the help of the Tenancy Reform Group.

He said farming could learn from other industries that have been much better at rewarding staff with profit sharing schemes and share options as ways to incentivise their workers.

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See tweets live from the Fertile Minds event