Apr 15 2015
STFA CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO STOP CREATION OF A NEW GENERATION OF SLIPPER FARMERS
News Release
Scottish Tenant Farmers Association
9th April 2015
STFA CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO STOP CREATION OF A NEW GENERATION OF SLIPPER FARMERS
The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association is calling on the Scottish Government to take action to prevent the creation of another generation of slipper farmers. Concerns expressed by STFA over the robustness of the activity rules have been vindicated by recent evidence of a subsidy grab as landowners seek to maximise potential income from CAP payments.
Commenting on the situation, STFA Chairman Christopher Nicholson said: “ We have been receiving an unprecedented amount of calls over the last week or so from tenants and owner occupiers who are facing the loss of grass lets and/or single farm payment on seasonal grazing land to allow landowners to claim the payments themselves.
“Although there are some cases where agreements have been made between landlord and tenant balancing single farm payment claims and rent, there are many more where the grazing tenant faces loss of grazing and/or single farm payment without consultation or warning. This is obviously deeply disruptive to businesses with some farmers having to make alternative last minute arrangements for grazing their livestock whilst facing a loss of income.
“Many hill farmers who have traditionally rented hill grazings on an annual basis will be even harder hit. The new CAP regime, which will see some hill farmers receive substantial increases in their single farm payment, is encouraging landlords to take possession of the area payments on the land. This will be even more appealing to the landowner if the tenant continues to rent the land, often for the same rent, providing the necessary farming activity. Whilst this represents a bonanza for some landlords it is deeply damaging for the tenants who will face serious losses of single farm and LFASS payments putting hill farming on the cusp of viability.
“What is galling for so many farmers in this situation, is that landowners are acting on the advice of consultants and land agents who, before the ink is dry on new regulations, have been working hard to finds ways to exploit them rather than trying to help make the system work smoothly and target much needed support to those who deserve it instead of helping to create another generation of slipper farmers.
“With seasonal grazings representing nearly 15% of let land, this abuse of support payments will cause a severe leakage of land and public money to the undeserving and will have a serious impact on the livestock sector. This issue cannot be deflected by a no can do attitude on behalf of the government and must not be swept under the carpet.”