Page 24 - Yearbook 2020

AGRICULTURE
In conversation with Louisa Swanton & Michael Wear
2020 has been a critical year for the agricultural sector, agricultural specialist and Partner, Louisa Swanton, states. “All eyes have been on the Agricultural Bill which was making its way through parliament, the most signi cant piece of legislation for farmers for over 50 years.”
When we leave the EU, the Agricultural Bill (now the Agricultural Act 2020) will replace the Common Agricultural Policy with a new system of environmental land management which could determine the future of 70% of the UK land area currently under agricultural management. Louisa believes this change will affect both the public and private sector in a number of ways, as “over the next seven years farmers will move from direct payments based on the amount of agricultural land they manage, to a new system of environmental land management contracts, providing ‘public money for public good’.” This includes managing land and water in a way that improves the environment, enhances cultural or natural heritage, and supports public access, animal welfare and agricultural productivity.
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Louisa highlights that “the level of subsidy farmers receive under the Agricultural Act 2020 is likely to be reduced and the Act will generate signi cant implementation and ongoing administration costs for farmers.”
On a more positive note, Louisa explains that as “payments will no longer be linked to farming the land, this could potentially free up land and present opportunities for new entrants.”
Fellow agricultural property specialist, Michael Wear, adds that “the impact of the Act is dif cult to gauge at the moment and there are likely to be further changes given that it is so closely connected with the UK’s departure from the EU.”