The Tenant Farming Commissioner has provided recommendations to Scottish Ministers for a modern list of improvements to agricultural holdings. The recommendations include the addition of several new items and clarification of a number of items on the list.

These include works to farm houses and cottages, slurry stores, silage pits, equipment to mitigate pollution, and provisions for the use of renewable energy on farms.

Furthermore, the recommendations include provisions for any permissions, consent, contracts and restrictions (quotas) that the tenant may have acquired.

These changes will affect schedule 5 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. The Act sets out a list of improvements that may be eligible for compensation when the tenant leaves the holding.

“If tenants are to be encouraged to invest in a holding, it is important that the list of improvements eligible for compensation is regularly updated to keep pace with changing technology and agricultural practices,” said Bob McIntosh the Tenant Farming Commissioner.

Last update in 1948

The last time the current rules were significantly updated was 1948. It is hoped that alternations will be made more regularly in the future.

“It is important to recognise that modern technologies on farms are changing rapidly, and if the tenanted sector is to keep up-to-date then Schedule 5 will require reviewing on a regular basis,” said Christopher Nicholson STFA chair.