Newsletter Archive

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STFA WELCOMES POSITIVE MOVES TOWARDS TENANCY REFORM

2012-02-15

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association welcomes the support for the tenanted sector expressed at the NFUS AGM by both president Nigel Miller and Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead

MOONZIE DECISION HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR CHANGE

2012-02-09

-- In releasing its long awaited verdict on the “Moonzie” rent case today the Court of Session has overturned the decision reached by the Land Court in June 2010. In his 41 page judgement Lord Gill has questioned not only the findings of the Land Court but also the changes made to the rent review provisions in the 2003 Act.

CAUTIOUS WELCOME FOR LANDOWNERS’ INITIATIVE

2011-12-01

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association welcomes yesterday’s announcement of the joint initiative by SL&E, NFUS, the Forestry Commission and the Crown Estate to encourage new people into agricultural and land based industries as a much needed positive step forward. For some time now STFA has been calling for opportunities for new entrants into agriculture and it is heartening to see that the land-owning organisations are at last getting together to assist a new generation of farmers into the industry.

STFA CALLS FOR TENANTS TO SUBMIT VIEWS TO PARLIAMENT

2011-11-24

-- The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) yesterday issued a call for views from organisations and individuals on the Scottish Government’s plans to amend legislation relating to succession and rent review.

STFA SPEAKS TO PARLIAMENT

2011-11-24

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has broadly welcomed the principles behind the EU Commission’s proposed reforms to the CAP. However, STFA told the committee that it had reservations over much of the detail which, if implemented, could have severe consequences to Scottish agriculture in general and the tenanted sector in particular.

TENANCY REFORMS - UNFINISHED BUSINESS

2011-11-01

-- The Scottish Government has today published the draft Agricultural Holdings Bill completing the unfinished reforms to tenancy law passed in the Public Services Reform Order earlier this year. This bill will allow grandchildren to inherit a family tenancy and will make adjustments to rent review provisions outlawing upwards only and landlord only initiated rent reviews. It also clarifies the effect of changes in VAT on rent reviews

STFA WELCOMES COMMISSIONER’S PLEDGE TO HELP TENANT FARMERS

2011-10-27

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has welcomed the news from Brussels that Commissioner Dacian Ciolos is taking a personal interest and is to look into the rights of tenant farmers under the proposed new rules governing SFP entitlements which come into force in 2014.

TENANTS GREET CAP REFORM ANNOUNCEMENT WITH OPTIMISM

2011-10-12

-- Tenant farmers in Scotland will breathe a collective sigh of relief at today’s unveiling of the EU Commisions proposals for the reform of CAP. In outlining the draft reform Commissioner Ciolos has addressed one of tenants’ major fears in signaling his intention to focus eligibility to SFP entitlements on activity on the land carried out by actively productive farmers.

STFA WELCOMES COMMITMENT TO REVIEW TENANCY LAW

2011-09-15

-- STFA welcomes the government’s commitment to revisiting agricultural holdings legislation during the next session of Parliament.

STFA WELOMES NEW ENTRANT INITIATIVE

2011-09-01

-- CAP reform, issues facing tenant farmers and opportunities for new entrants were discussed at some length today at a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead

STFA CALLS FOR A BALANCED DEBATE BETWEEN FARMING AND FORESTRY

2011-08-17

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has welcomed the news last week that the National Sheep Association has now been invited to take part in the new Woodland Expansion Advisory Group.

STFA CALLS FOR EQUALITY IN RENEWABLE REVOLUTION

2011-08-05

-- In welcoming the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs announcement of his intention to develop an Agr-Renewable Strategy STFA stresses the need for equal opportunities for tenants in the renewables revolution.

STFA CALLS FOR WIDER DEBATE ON TENANCY REFORM

2011-06-29

-- In responding to the consultation on the bill amending agricultural holdings legislation STFA has welcome the next stage in the long journey to allow grandchildren to succeed grandparents into the family tenancy and the outlawing of upward only or landlord only initiated rent reviews. STFA has also renewed calls for a thorough review of tenancy legislation particularly in regard to rent review provisions.

RENEWED CALL FOR LANDLORDS TO LET LAND

2011-06-28

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association is warning that prompt action is necessary if the tenant farming sector is to realise its true potential and arrest its decline. They are calling upon Scotland’s landowners, including the Scottish Government to rent out more land and to allow greater investment by tenants in their holdings.

CAUTION AND COOPERATION URGED IN RENT REVIEWS

2011-05-10

-- As the traditional May term date draws nigh, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association is urging its members to take good professional advice before agreeing to any rent increase.

STFA Holyrood Election Manifesto

2011-04-27

-- Helping new entrants into farming, encouraging the release of land on to the letting market and protecting the existing tenancies remain the main priorities facing the tenanted sector according to the manifesto.

TENANCY TWEAKS - A FIRST STEP IN REFORM?

2011-03-22

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to address the outstanding amendments to agricultural holdings legislation which could not be included in the Public Services Reform Order, recently approved by the Parliament.

TENANT FARMERS CALL FOR GREATER CONTROL OVER TREE PLANTING ON FARMLAND

2011-01-26

-- Tenant farmers in Scotland are becoming increasingly worried at the amount of land being lost to agriculture as a result of the Scottish Government’s tree planting targets and enhanced subsidy payments

STFA FRUSTRATION AT OPPORTUNITY MISSED IN LAW CONSULTATION

2010-09-28

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association is bitterly disappointed to learn from Scottish Government officials that, for technical reasons, it is not possible to bring about the promised changes to the law which would allow a grandchild to inherit a family tenancy from his grandparent.

URGENT WARNING ON INELIGIBLE LAND

2010-09-15

-- URGENT ! STFA is urging its members to pay attention to the warning issued by the Scottish Government today to take the time to check the detail of their Single Application Forms, submitted by May 17th this year, to ensure that they have excluded any “ineligible” land.

STFA CALL FOR AN END TO RENT FIASCO

2010-08-28

-- Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead has pledged to help find solutions to the problems of fixing farm rents. STFA believes that the current system of settling rents hasc become too complex, time consuming and costly and, as a consequence is failing the industry.

STFA – CALL FOR NEW FORESTRY FARMS TO ASSIST NEW ENTRANTS

2010-08-27

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has called for a more integrated and inclusive forestry strategy.

MIXED REACTION FROM STFA ON FORESTRY LEASE PILOT

2010-08-18

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) has expressed its reservations over a new pilot proposed by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) to encourage the planting of trees in Scotland through a 10 year leasing scheme

ENDING SLIPPER FARMING MAY BENEFIT NEW ENTRANTS

2010-08-09

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association has hailed Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead’s announcement today approving the recommendations in Brian Pack’s interim report on the future support for Scottish Agriculture as a step in the right direction. In particular, the STFA welcomes the government’s commitment to tighten the link between single farm payments and activity, thus limiting the scope for “slipper farmers”.

STFA GIVES QUALIFIED WELCOME TO RURAL PRIORITIES ANNOUNCEMENT

2010-08-04

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to explore the feasibility of introducing continuous assessment for processing small-scale projects. For some time STFA has been critical of the competitive nature of the Rural Priorities scheme and its’ points system which has disadvantaged small and medium size farming businesses and less ambitious projects.

Moonzie Land Court desicion has been appealed

2010-07-07

-- The wide sense of relief felt amongst tenant farmers at the reduced rent set by the Scottish Land Court on the rent review case on Moonzie Farm has been short lived. The news emerged this week that the Land Court’s decision on the case is to be appealed to the Court of Session by the landlord

STFA REACTS TO LANDMARK RENT DECISION

2010-06-03

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) has welcomed the long awaited landmark decision by the Scottish Land Court on the first rent review case before it for more than two decades

LANDLORD TOLD TO STOP WASTING TIME

2010-03-30

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) welcomed the news last week that a tenant farmer’s six year struggle to get his farm rent set by the Scottish Land Court has moved on towards a conclusion.

STFA URGES REWARD FOR FARMING ACTIVITY

2010-03-09

-- STFA responds to Pack Inquiry. Copies available on the website and fron STFA office

TENANTS GIVE MUTED WELCOME TO PACK REPORT

2010-01-21

-- The publication of the interim report of the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture in Scotland has received a qualified welcome from the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

TENANTS CALL FOR REFORM IN RENT REVIEWS

2009-12-15

TENANTS ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS BULLYING TACTICS IN RENT REVIEWS

2009-11-17

-- The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association condemns the bullying tactics being used once again to increase rents in the run up to the traditional term date of 28th Novemb

TENANTS REMINDED TO RE-REGISTER RIGHT TO BUY

2009-11-17

-- STFA is reminding tenants to renew their registrations in interest in buying their land as the 5th anniversary of the introduction of the pre-emptive right to buy approaches

TENANTS URGED TO STICK TOGETHER IN RENT REVIEWS

2009-09-29

-- Report on two rent review days held at Connachan Farm near Crieff and Longnewton Farm, St Boswells

NEW FARMS FOR NEW ENTRANTS

2009-07-31

STFA Helpline - Business As Usual

2009-06-30

-- STFA comments on Hamish Lean's move to Stronachs LLP in Aberdeen

STFA CALLS FOR TENANT AWARENESS

2009-06-30

STFA SUPPORTS REJECTION OF TOP-SLICING

2009-06-10

-- STFA SUPPORTS REJECTION OF TOP-SLICING AND WELCOMES POSITIVE STATEMENT BY CABINET SECRTETARY

NO ROOM FOR MAY RENT RISE

2009-05-22

STFA rejects use of Article 68

2009-05-14

TENANTS HAIL SUCCESSION VICTORY

2009-05-08

-- A tenant's success in the Land Court paves the way for easier assignation of tenancies

STABILITY AND SECURITY NEEDED IN TENANTED SECTOR

2009-04-15

Results of membership survey on tenancy change

2009-04-15

CAUTION URGED IN TENANCY REFORM

2009-03-05

LOCHHEAD SAYS NO TO MORE DE-REGULATION IN TENANCIES

2009-01-15

-- STFA directors receive assurances from Cabinet Secretary that he will nor de-regulate the tenanted sector further.

LANDLORD NOTIFICATION FOR SRDP CLARIFIED

2009-01-10

TENANTS’ FURY AT LAND AGENTS CLAIMS

2008-12-22

NO EXCUSE NOW FOR NOT LETTING LAND SAYS STFA

2008-12-17

RECORD NUMBERS OF TENANTS FACE LAND COURT

2008-12-09

TENANT FARMERS STAND FIRM

2008-11-17

-- STFA hits out at the attitude some land agents are taking towards rent reviews.

STFA announces launch of new deal with Terra Firma Chamber of advocates

2008-09-19

-- STFA announces launch of new deal with Terra Firma Chamber of advocates

STFA calls for action to repopulate hills and glens

2008-08-24

Tenants say no to greedy land agents

2008-08-12

Tenants advised to guard against turbulent times

2008-07-29

-- STFA reminds tenants of the importance of registering their right to buy land

STFA urges prudence in rent settlements

2008-07-14

STFA MAKES ITS’ POSITION CLEAR ON NEW ENTRANT ISSUE

2008-05-26

STFA says that increases in farm rents cannot be economically justified

2008-04-25

Land Court verdict ends a decade of anguish for tenant farmer

2008-03-20

-- A tenant farmer has finally won his case against repeated attempts to oust him from his tenancy

Minister Mike Russell reaffirms Scottish Government’s support for tenant farmers

2008-02-19

-- Report of address given by Minister Mike Russell MSP at STFA/s AGM dinner

Tenants voice concerns over tax break farms

2007-12-11

-- STFA is expressing its concern over increasing land purchase for tax break purposes

Call to close loophole in law

2007-12-03

-- STFA has written to Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead urging him to act to repeal the "two man rule" which allows landlords to prevent tenants inheriting small farms.

New entrants - Learning from the French

2007-11-04

-- France actively encourages new entrants into agriculture. We can learn freom their experience and adapt some of their ideas and incentives to the Scottish situation

STFA disappointment as farms held back from rental market

2007-11-04

-- STFA is dismayed and disappointed that six farms are to be let as grazing lets rather than provide opportunities for new tenants.

Scotland's Estates must contribute

2006-08-13

-- STFA is challenging Scotland's largest estates to make land available for new entrants to agriculture

Questionable Rent Settlement Claims

2006-06-15

-- STFA's response to claims made in press relating to farm rents

Tenants urged to take firm line with landlords

2006-02-28

-- Report on STFA AGM on 24th February. Chairman's message to members.

TENANT FARMERS GAIN FREE LEGAL HELPLINE

2006-02-22

-- STFA announces the launch of a new free legal helpline for its members povided by Blackadders of Forfar

Tenants need not fear release of support figures

2006-02-12

-- STFA gives its view on recent comments on the disclosure of Single Farm Payments

Land Court Decision

2005-09-23

-- The Scottish Land Court this week clarified the grey area surrounding subletting of farm cottages