THE November and May "terms" are the two dates in the year when landlords traditionally can serve a notice to quit on their farm tenants, the mechanism that triggers a rent review.

Recently, the Scottish Tenant Farmers' Association (STFA) has accused landlords of seeking excessive rent rises and of using underhand tactics like leaving negotiations to the last minute. That puts pressure on tenants to settle rather than run the risk of expensive litigation in the Scottish Land Court.

Yesterday, one of the organisations that represents landlords, Scottish Land and Estates, hit back with its chief executive, Douglas McAdam claiming that farm rents, particularly for traditional tenancies with full security of tenure, are generally accepted across the industry as good value for money and warned against a "knee-jerk reaction" and an "uninformed debate" next week.

He went on to explain that the Moonzie appeal decision is not the reason farm rents may increase, adding: "The most significant factor in any negotiated change in rent is viability of agriculture which has enjoyed a particularly successful period across most sectors since 2008."

Mr McAdam said the overwhelming majority of rent reviews on agricultural holdings in Scotland are agreed between landlord and tenant without any form of arbitration.

The STFA would counter that claim by saying that tenants reluctantly agree rents rather than go to the Land Court.

Mr McAdam said: "There has been a lot of debate recently about rent reviews, particularly in view of the Moonzie decision.

"The evidence available for this year and last year shows that the Moonzie appeal has not had a destabilising effect on the tenanted sector in terms of rents. Rental levels appear to be determined more by other factors.

"The evidence from last year's reviews is that all but a handful of cases are agreed and the feedback we receive is they are agreed in a professional and amicable manner."

JOHN Swan sold 96 store bullocks in St Boswells on Thursday to average 205.6p per kg, while 92 store heifers levelled at 194.9p.

United Auctions sold 1745 prime hoggs at Stirling on Thursday to average 143p per kg (-25.3p on the week), while 221 prime lambs levelled at 189.2p (-14.8p).

There were also 520 cast ewes that sold to £122.50 for Texels and £70.50 for Blackfaces.

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers' Mart sold 5400 prime hoggs in Longtown on Thursday to average 152.1p, while 335 prime lambs levelled at 198p.

A larger show of 4881 cast sheep saw heavy, fat ewes £6 to £10 less on the week. Heavy ewes sold to £138.50 for Texels and averaged £81.13, while light ewes peaked at £83.50 for Blackfaces and levelled at £56.50. Cast rams sold to £148.50 for Charollais and averaged £101.33.