TENANTS and those wanting to move into empty farms are being urged by the Country Landowners Association to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Farm Business Tenancies.

The "freedom within contract" element helps land owners and tenants approve mutually beneficial conditions, including duration, rent and respective investment obligations of both parties within the agreement. The amount of land let under this type of tenancy has steadily increased, reports the CLA.

"In particular, the benefits offered by this form of tenancy are that they enable tenants to diversify their farm businesses and expand their economic activities to help secure commercial survival," said Yorkshire regional CLA director Dorothy Fairburn.

"We do, however, have worries. Within the tenanted sector there appears to be a widespread reluctance to seek consent from landowners for diversification projects, whereas those of our members with farms to let are very willing to look favourably on diversification plans such as workshops, tourism or growing organic crops."