DURING a speech in Ryedale this week, the Government was reminded that it must not forget the needs of tenant farmers in its rush to reform agricultural policy.

Reg Haydon, chairman of the Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA), was in the region to address members at Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club, in Norton.

He said: "The major focus for our lobbying over recent times has been to ensure that the Government understands the particular issues faced by tenant farmers and not to develop policy on the assumption that all farmers are owner-occupiers.

"In our meetings with the Secretary of State and other ministers in DEFRA, I am pleased to report that there is a growing understanding of the tenanted sector and its specific needs."

Although Government policy encouraged farmers to diversify their sources of income and to consider agri-environment schemes, Mr Haydon said that it was often difficult for farm tenants to do these things because of the nature of their tenancy agreements and the legislation which governs them.

He added that the Court of Appeal had recently ruled that tenants holding agreements with their landlords which allow for agricultural activity only are restricted to growing crops and keeping animals.

"The main stumbling block," he said, "remains the definition of agriculture within tenancy legislation which is effectively over half a century old. This must be updated to the modern context if tenants are not to be left behind in the move towards multi-faceted farm businesses.

"The report of Sir Don Curry's Policy Commission recognised the problem here and we will expect the Government to come forward with proposals to revise the definition as soon as possible."

Updated: 09:39 Thursday, March 14, 2002