Anglia Farmer


EDITORIAL


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Retirement scheme is no answer to age-old problem


L


Anglia Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares. Subscription is £18 a year (including postage). No responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for the opinions expressed by contributors. If you no longer wish to receive this magazine, please email your name, address and postcode as it appears on the wrapper to jade.soanes@micropress.co.uk


© Countrywide Publications 2020 Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Ltd, Suffolk. T: 01502 725800


ong-awaited government plans to help farmers retire with dignity will be welcomed by some producers – but many people will


feel they fall short. Published last month, the proposals will offer


farmers 2.35 times their annual basic payment to leave the industry – up to a maximum of £100,000. But few producers will receive anything like that amount. In fact, many people taking up the offer will


receive less than half the headline figure. That’s because the average basic payment is little more than £20,000. As one farmer said, it’s enough to buy a decent caravan, but nothing like a house. The aim of the scheme is to encourage the


next generation into agriculture. Younger farmers are more innovative and more productive, says the government. The basic payment will be phased out by 2028. The Tenant Farmers Association points out


that the proposals are a watered down version of the government’s original plan. When the reitirement scheme was first mooted three years ago, it was to be one of a package of measures


Contents


to revitalise farming. That said, the TFA acknowledges that even on its own it could be a catalyst for change – especially when combined with a “surrender payment” from a landlord to a farmer willing to relinquish a tenancy. Even so, the TFA says it needs to see full details. Why? Well, a retirement scheme is only


half the equation. We also need a scheme to encourage the next generation into agriculture. Younger farmers – especially new entrants – tend to have less capital and can be easily outbid for tenancies by established farmers. What is needed is a properly thought through


career structure for the industry. One that is balanced and benefits those seeking to carve a future in farming – as well as helping those who want to take a back seat. Unless such a structure is forthcoming, it


is hard to see how an exit scheme alone will encourage the widespread generational change within the industry that the government is so keen to achieve. Johann Tasker, Editor


OPINION Johann Tasker


Vol 41 • No 6 • June 2021


News .................................................................... 4 Arable .................................................................. 8 Profile: TC Shaw & Sons ..............................31 Harvest preview ............................................ 35 Sugar beet ........................................................49 Livestock........................................................... 57


Profile: Norfolk Wagyu Beef .....................59 Groundswell preview ................................ 63 Machinery ....................................................... 69 Property ........................................................... 72 Final Say ........................................................... 74


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