THE Tenant Farming Commissioner, Bob McIntosh, is advising landlords and tenant farmers to think carefully about the timing of rent reviews, given the current coronavirus lockdown constraints and uncertainty over future economic conditions in the sector.
Mr McIntosh said: "Landlords and tenants are advised to postpone rent reviews due this spring unless these are likely to be straightforward and can be concluded without the need for a face-to-face meeting.
"Many rent reviews will involve a need for a site meeting and inspection of the farm in question as well as comparable farms offered as evidence. It is important that no landlord, tenant, or agent feels pressurised to hold such a meeting until the lockdown arrangements are appropriately relaxed. If this means that a rent review must be delayed, this is a small price to pay to ensure the continued health of the parties involved.
“It is also the case that Covid-19 and Brexit are having, and likely to have, a significant impact on Scotland’s economy and the profitability of the agricultural sector. No one can predict with any certainty what economic conditions will look like in the sector in 12 months’ time.
“For these reasons, and the possibility of the introduction of a new rent review system this year, landlords and tenants are advised to think carefully about whether this is an appropriate time to conduct a rent review that is other than straightforward and uncontentious.’’
Market round-up
Messrs Craig Wilson sold 145 prime and cast cattle at its sale at Ayr on Tuesday.
Seventeen prime heifers sold to a top of £1,344 or 240p/kg for a Limousin to average £1,207 or 218p, while two prime bullocks peaked at 222p for a Limousin to average £1,431 or 211p. Two young bulls sold to 186p to average £1039 or 189p.
In the rough ring all classes were dearer again with 60 cast beef cows selling to £1,260 for a Simmental or 187p for a Saler to average 130p overall, while 49 cast dairy cows sold to £960 and 125p for two different Friesians to average 101p overall. Nine cast bulls were topped at £1,380 for a Simmental or 161p for a Charolaise to average 130p. Six clean OTM cattle peaked at £960 for a Friesian bullock and at 154p for an Aberdeen Angus heifer.
Five dairy cattle sold to £1600 for a Holstein Friesian heifer and to £1550 for a fresh calved cow.
C&D Auction Marts had forward a mammoth show of 2,268 lives of ewes and hoggs with lambs at foot at their sale at Longtown on Tuesday. The sale was topped at £130 per life for a Texel cross shearling with a Beltex lamb at foot.
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