TENANT FARMER COMMISSIONER – FARMER ONLY MEETING – CUMBRIA

Join The Farmer Network and the Tenant Farmers Association for a discussion evening with Alan Laidlaw and Robert Martin.

In September 2025, The Government appointed its first ever English Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector. In England, 45% of holdings are either wholly tenanted or mixed tenure, and a third of all agricultural land is tenanted. For generations tenant farmers have formed the backbone of the industry particularly in the Northern counties and especially in upland areas such as the Lake District and the Pennines.

At the invitation of the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) working in partnership with The Farmer Network, Commissioner Alan Laidlaw is to attend an open meeting for Cumbria’s tenant farmers on 27th January. During the meeting, he will explain his role, his hopes and aspirations for tenant farmers now and in future.

Farmers will also be able to take part in a Q&A session during the meeting, and it is hoped that they will share any concerns, worries, current experiences and also examples of good practice that are enabling them to work well with landlords.

TFA National Chair, Robert Martin, who will be giving an update on the work of the association, says: “We held a similar meeting with the Farmer Network in the same room, almost two years ago and even though it was lambing time, the room was full, and the discussions with farmers were open and forthright. The tenanted farm sector has continued to evolve since then and we must keep the discussions going to ensure the Commissioner is fully briefed and up to date”.

Farmer Network Managing Director, Adam Day, will be chairing the Q&A session. He is looking forward to welcoming farmers to the meeting. He says: “This a tenant farmer-only meeting. We know that many tenants, particularly in the uplands are under pressure and facing an increasingly uncertain future. This will be a chance to share information with the Commissioner or just to listen to what others in the sector are saying and experiencing at present. I think it is a great opportunity”.

Registration opens at 6:30pm, for a 7pm start.

Important: This meeting is for farmers only and specifically tenant farmers. Numbers are limited so please CLICK HERE to book. Tea and coffee refreshments will be available and there will be a paid bar.