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From the editor: Retirement remains the elephant in the room for agriculture
Having a plan in place for retirement and what you will do when you can no longer farm sounds easy in theory, but in practise it continues to be one of the thorniest issues facing the industry.
Ben Briggs
That is why this week’s statistics from a Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) survey makes such interesting reading regarding attitudes towards the proposed lump sum exit fee from Defra.
While this is a plan dreamt up in the corridors of Westminster and not yet subject to the litmus test of debate around a farm kitchen table, the fact a majority of TFA members in England expressed interest in the scheme suggests that retirement, and therefore succession, are being given serious thought.
The only slight note of caution would be the lack of interest for such a scheme in Wales.
For farming, however, the topic of retirement continues to be one which vexes the industry.
With many farmers having known nothing other than agriculture and often having no outside interests, the fact a civil servant thinks a lump sum and ensuing world cruise would suit them personally does not mean that will be mirrored on farms around the country.
And yet it is a subject Government, the industry and individual farmers really need to tackle with some urgency.
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Governmentally there is much that could be done to ease planning laws and enable, where possible, retirement properties to be built on farms and allow ageing farmers the chance to stay, quite often, where they have always lived.
Wider planning policies which facilitated the construction of retirement-style properties in rural villages and towns would also vastly benefit the tenanted sector in particular.
For agriculture itself, more match making schemes and focused efforts to pair up younger and older farmers would be a beneficial step but, most importantly, it is for those approaching the end of their farming careers to accept that a plan is needed.
Not only does hanging on too long hurt the younger generation waiting to come in, but the damage to the individual through ill health or diminishing financial reserves can be vast.
Managing your own exit is always better than someone, or unforeseen circumstance, doing it for you.
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