Tenancies disputes a ‘poison’ claims union chief Miller

The importance of the tenanted sector to Scottish agriculture and the rise in disputes between landlord and farmer was foremost in the mind of National Farmers Union of Scotland president Nigel Miller yesterday.

Speaking at the union’s annual meeting in St Andrews, Miller said there was “poison pouring through the sector” and he was determined to sort out the current expensive and divisive systems.

“The industry is crying out for a speedier route to resolving cases and that should be with a fixed cap on the costs for those involved,” he said, adding that this was not an issue that should hang in the wind without time limits.

“I would expect to see significant progress in dealing with issues such as rent reviews, valuations at way goings and investments in tenanted farms within the next two years.

“There is real discontent in the sector and there are significant problems. If we want a vibrant tenanted farming sector then we will have to address these otherwise it will wither away.”

He wanted to see a road map for all those involved in the landlord/tenant sector so that disputes could follow an agreed formula towards a timely solution.

Miller referred several times to the Court of Session decision last week asking the Land Court to review its decision on the Fife farm of Moonzie. This was, he said, an example of how the present system could go off the rails costing a great deal of money to the extent that almost every tenant would be unable to afford to pursue any dispute.

Capped fees along with standardised evidence forms would help simplify the process as well as putting reasonable timelines into the system, he claimed.

He said that, while the Tenant Farmers’ Forum had made progress in dealing with some of the issues, there was now an added urgency to sort it out and the union wanted to drive the process forward.

The union president then turned his attention to animal health and suggested that a new body should be set up to take control of this vitally important aspect of Scottish agriculture.

He felt that internal Scottish Government cut backs were leaving the industry exposed at a time when there were a number of real animal health and welfare pressures coming down the track.

The recent arrival of the Smallenberg virus, which causes foetal damage to young stock, was a prime example of the type of danger that Scotland could face and it was doing so with reduced resources.

He listed others such as cattle psoroptes which could seriously damage the cattle industry if the infectious mite that causes mange was not kept out of the country.

There were also several pieces of EU legislation that needed proper scrutiny and response and that was why Scotland needed a strong animal health and welfare body.

He admitted that so far no direct approach had been made to the Scottish Government on the matter but he will have the opportunity today when cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead addresses union members