Henry Robinson CLA president

Robinson: This is a simple solution to one of the industry’s most pressing problems

Sharing a farm with a younger person could enable thousands more to start a career in agriculture, the CLA has said.

The organisation said that if a quarter of the country’s farmers aged over 65 entered a share farming agreement it would allow more than 3,000 new entrants to start working the land.

Launching its major new drive to encourage share farming at today’s Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, CLA president Henry Robison said: “This is a simple solution to one of the industry’s most pressing problems – that of an ageing profile.

“Share farming not only offers older farmers a way of reducing their workload while maintaining an income but also gives new entrants an increasingly rare opportunity to start a career in agriculture.”

Share farming differs from traditional contract farming as both parties share the risk and the profits on a pre-agreed percentage. The existing farmer simply provides a portion of his farmland for the partner to work.

Robinson added: “The problem with traditional farming arrangement is that a farmer is either in or out. Share farming provides a middle ground whereby an ageing farmer, who cannot afford to retire, can start to wind-down without having to worry about paying the bills.

“A share farming agreement really is very straightforward and we have produced an easy-to-use advisory handbook that guides farmers through all the basics they need to get up and running including a template agreement.”

CLA rural surveyor Jacqui Stoddart said share farming offers a real hope for the thousands of talented young people desperate to get into the industry.

“It’s a very exciting project for us and we have already started working with the Federation of Young Farmers to look at ways of pairing up older farmers with younger people in their area, who are ready and willing to work,” she said.

Environment secretary Owen Paterson said: “I share the CLA’s commitment to doing all we can to help aspiring people take up jobs in the industry. Share farming gives new entrants more opportunities to start a business and build up their skills drawing from farmers with many years’ experience.”

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