We are dependent on food for our survival. Yet understanding of farming and the challenges faced by self-employed farmers is poorly understood by the public and, perhaps, government institutions, too.
East Anglia Bylines has been speaking with a first generation farmer of arable land and livestock. The farmer wishes to remain anonymous so we will call him Jack. Jack is a tenant farmer and he rents land, house and outbuildings from Norfolk County Council. The perception that farmers are fat cats driving around the countryside in their 4x4s may be true for a few, but is definitely not the case for many tenant farmers whose lives can only be described as precarious, as Jack explains.
Tenant farms – then and now
Tenant farms have a long history going back to medieval times. Many of today’s tenant farms came into existence after WWI. Between 1918 and 1922, a quarter of the land changed hands as the inheriting sons never returned from the war.
For those soldiers that did, tenant farming schemes offered a livelihood, work and rehabilitation. Government legislation encouraged councils to buy land. Norfolk County Council’s County Farms Estate currently extends to 16,795 acres of prime agricultural land. This is let to 136 tenants, 95 being farm tenants.
“I started out by renting parcels of land to farm livestock,” Jack explains, “but each parcel of land had a different landlord with different needs, and travelling between them became uneconomic. So, I was fortunate to be able to acquire our tenant farm on a 10-year lease.”
Jack’s lease was renewed for a further 5 years but now has only 3 years remaining. He understands that the council, like most land agents, will only renew for 5 year periods. However, in farming, that is too short a time to invest and make plans that are sustainable or profitable. “Our role is to produce food and be a custodian of the land,” he tells me. “I love it. It’s hard, with many 15-hour days, 7 days a week, but I don’t want to give it up.”
Were Jack to quit or be unable to pay the rent, he would relinquish 15 years of improving and investing in the farm. His is not a business he can sell. Worse, his family would become homeless as their house is tied to the tenancy. “Gone are the days, after WW1, when tenant farms had a three-generation contract,” Jack says.
The broken food production supply chain
Jack is adamant that farming should not be regarded in the same way as a company business. He feels their industry is not well understood by the public, accountants or government institutions.
“Farmers are self-employed. We are at the mercy of grain merchants, supermarkets, abattoirs, fertiliser companies, farm machinery sellers – each taking a profit. And of course, there is the unpredictable weather, animal welfare for us to consider, as well as environmental conservation work.”
He argues that with the cost-of-living crisis, it is understandable that many consumers can only afford cheap food. “But the farming supply-chain is utterly broken”, Jack says. “Farmers alone cannot pay the price for cheap food, and survive when everyone else is making a profit.”
Some industries are more equal than others
It is easy to understand a farmer’s frustration. Supermarkets are reporting huge profits. The government shows no intent to regulate supermarkets in such a way as to directly benefit UK farmers and ensure food security. As an example Jack suggests that supermarkets could be required to pay a percentage of their profits, equivalent to the percentage of their non-UK and ultra processed food sales, to a ring-fenced investment fund benefiting farmers.
Jack told me that in the past 5 years, the production cost of milk has risen about 35p a litre, and yet, farmers are receiving 4p less from supermarkets. “All farmers want is an equitable partnership. But the supermarkets say, ‘if you don’t want our contract, find another buyer’. But where? So farmers have to sell at a loss or give up dairy farming. No one wins.”
In spite of all the challenges, Jack’s passion for farming remains undaunted. His plea is for more understanding from the public and government. “Farmers need a fair market place, no farmwashing, and support to grow wholesome food that is affordable and nutritious.”
In the October budget, the government announced £2.4 billion for farming for 2024/5. They claim, “farming and food security are the foundations of our economy, our communities and our environment.”
Jack is sceptical about their true support for farmers. He points out that the government subsidised the very profitable energy utility industry to the tune of £9.1bn. Few complained, because he says “the money was cleverly dispensed via the public in the form of the £400 winter fuel allowance,” he points out. “It rather feels like Animal Farm. Some industries are more equal than others.”
The future?
Norfolk County Council states their County Farm Estate “provides significant income for the Council, which helps to pay for services and to meet our ongoing sustainable development commitments.” They also say their land is for affordable housing. Many councils have sold off their tenant farms. An example is Somerset Council, which sold 62 farms in in 2010, and since 2017 has made £24m from selling its farm estates.
With land prices having risen significantly, one cannot but wonder whether Norfolk County Council’s short-term approach to tenant farm renewals has more to do with future proofing their ability to sell the land for housing or to mega farming enterprises.
The demise of the tenant farmer is in the balance.
Norfolk County Council were asked to confirm the number of years being offered on a lease renewal to an existing tenant farmer. In their response they said: “We encourage new entrants when opportunities arise, in fact we had 4 new tenants starting in October,” and directed East Anglia Bylines to the County Farms Rural Estates Strategy 2023-2027. The strategy (pages 87-107) gives no indication of the length of lease Norfolk County Council is currently offering tenant farmers who wish to extend their existing tenancy.
