We understand that approximately 30% of farmland in Wales is let. Let land is governed by the Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) 1986, the Agricultural Tenancies Act (FBT’s) 1995 or by informal agreements or grazing licences.
The Welsh Government launched the Agricultural Tenancy Reforms consultation on 9th April 2019. The consultation is looking for recommendations on how the current tenanted sector of the agricultural industry can be modernised as the current laws governing let land are perceived outdated or restrictive to modern farming practices. With the aim being to enable tenant farmers and agricultural landlords to become more resilient ensuring agricultural tenancies are fit for the future as the agricultural industry moves away from the Common Agricultural Policy.
The consultation document seeks views on areas for potential reform including (and as example); the removal of barriers preventing tenants erecting new buildings and fixed equipment, making tenancy successions less challenging and allowing tenants to enter into environmental land management schemes without being at risk of such areas being categorised as non-agricultural activities.
The Welsh Government are seeking responses from farmers in tenancy agreements, agricultural landlords and organisations which represent this sector. Baileys and Partners highly recommend that responses should be submitted before the closing date of 2nd July 2019.
Responses can either be submitted online
https://gov.wales/agricultural-tenancy-reform
or by email sent to: SLMenquiries@gov.wales
