Defra has announced the appointment of Alan Laidlaw to the newly created role of commissioner for the tenant farming sector.
He brings 25 years of experience within the agricultural and land management industries, and Defra states that he will act as an impartial point of contact for tenants, landlords and advisors.
Working with Defra and the Farm Tenancy Forum, he will also promote the standards laid out in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice. This will include investigating complaints, tracking trends and reporting regularly on tenant-landlord relations.
Secretary of State Emma Reynolds said: “Tenant farmers are the backbone of food production and play a vital role in caring for our countryside – I visited a tenant farm this week alongside our newly appointed Commissioner Alan Laidlaw to see their work and discuss how he can better support them.
“Alan’s decades of experience in farming and land management make him uniquely placed to strengthen relationships and drive-up standards across the sector.
“This appointment will provide an impartial voice between tenants and landowners to promote best practice and foster fair, collaborative relationships as we deliver on our Plan for Change to back farmers and build a sustainable future.”
Mr Laidlaw added: “I am honoured to be appointed as England’s first Commissioner for the tenant farming sector, supporting this vital sector with the fair framework it needs to thrive.
“Having worked across farming, land management and the rural economy, I know how strong tenant-landlord relationships can drive innovation, resilience and shared success.
“I look forward to working with farmers, landlords and advisors to promote best practice, address challenges, and help build a fair, profitable and sustainable future for tenant farming in England.”
Industry response
The NFU praised the appointment, with deputy president David Exwood saying: “Congratulations to Alan on his appointment to a role which was a key recommendation within the Rock Review and will be crucial for improving fairness and collaboration across the agricultural tenancy sector.
“We met up yesterday on farm and, as a tenant farmer myself, I was able to lay out the stark realities of being a tenant farmer in the current climate. Extreme weather, price volatility, the family farm tax and uncertainty around future environmental schemes, particularly for those in the uplands, has left many tenants feeling vulnerable and low in confidence.
“These factors are making it extremely difficult for tenant farmers to plan, invest and maintain business viability, leading to frustration and a desire for more support and clarity from government.
“The NFU believes the Commissioner’s role must be fiercely independent and without bias to landlords or tenants, working alongside the Code of Practice and the Farm Tenancy Forum with clear guidelines in place to define exactly what can or cannot be done and at what stage to become involved in disputes. These are the clear tests on whether this appointment will be deemed a success.
“We look forward to working with Alan to ensure we have a resilient and fair tenanted sector in England, where tenant farmers are producing food, while driving economic growth and delivering the government’s environmental ambitions.”
Victoria Vyvyan, president of the Country Land and Business Association, also welcomed the commissioner.
“The CLA supports a vibrant tenanted sector and we welcome Alan Laidlaw into the role of Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector.
“It is crucial for the healthy future of the farm tenancy sector that the commissioner works independently, and is fair and balanced for landlords, agents and tenants. The role must have the resources to properly assess any cases that reach them.
“The Farm Tenancy Forum has done much to bring landlords and tenants to a better understanding and way of working, and we look forward to working with the commissioner in continuing this progress.”