The NFU has called on farmers from across the country to support a group of tenant farmers in Staffordshire, after the county council announced proposals to sell off 123 farms.
110 farmers held a meeting led by NFU West Midlands policy adviser Charlie Coldicott, NFU rural surveyor Rob Sheasby and county farms liaison group chairman Graham Clay to determine how best to prevent the council from selling off the 8,500 acres.
NFU Staffordshire country chairman Mike Madders, who chaired the meeting, said that tenant farming is one of the few ways that young people can get into farming.
He said: “Some of the people affected will have put a lot of money into these farms - it’s not just their business but their homes we are talking about.
“Tenant farms bring in around £1m in total income for the council, with around in £450,000 profit, so economically it is important we don’t lose these valuable assets just to fill a gap in the county’s finances.”
Sheasby added: “I would urge farmers to write to Staffordshire County Council as part of the NFU’s lobbying campaign to show support for the farmers affected as well as remind the authorities considering this action they need to look at other alternatives to stem cash-flow shortfalls, rather than sell-off valuable farm land.”
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