This blog is the full (unedited) piece, written by Robert Martin, TFA National Chair, for The Cumberland News and Westmorland Gazette, published on 28 March 2026.

In March, the TFA held its AGM and Executive Committee meeting. This gave me a chance as National Chairman to reflect on our lobbying work over the past year and to engage with the Executive Committee on our ongoing discussions with Government and our wider industry.

We were joined by Robbie Moore, the Shadow Farming Minister for the Conservative Party, who delivered an interesting presentation followed by a robust question-and-answer session. We are fortunate as an organisation to regularly host a strong line-up of guest speakers from the farming industry and Government, ensuring our committee is always well briefed on the issues that matter to tenant farmers.

I wanted to use this article to explain how the TFA works both nationally and locally. As with other organisations we have a national leadership team consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Chief Executive. We are extremely fortunate to have had George Dunn as our Chief Executive for 30 years. His depth of experience is extremely hard to come by in agricultural lobbying circles.

At our headquarters, our team of experts includes two in-house rural surveyors, a policy adviser, dedicated membership and administration team and a communications and events coordinator. Membership of the TFA provides access to expert advice from our surveyors and policy adviser, regular webinars, the full weight of our  continuous lobbying work and access to  an exclusive members  website that includes a rent data bank, latest business opportunities and comprehensive library of advice, case studies and template documents aimed specifically at those who farm land they do not own.

Our Executive Committee is made up of active farmers from across England and Wales. We meet quarterly, with each member providing updates of issues that have arisen in their area. These insights are invaluable when our team meet up with ministers, civil servants and other bodies like the RPA or the Environmental Agency. As the only organisation dedicated to representing the interests of those who farm land they do not own, such as tenant farmers, members or not, they benefit from the lobbying we undertake.

That raises a question I often ask: if you are involved in share farming agreements, grazing licences, contract farming arrangements or are a traditional tenant farmer, why not join us?  Membership not only strengthens your own position but also ensures the collective voice of the sector remains strong, informed and influential at a time when the industry needs it most. For a flavour of what we have been up to recently, our website www.tfa.org.uk showcases our work and will hopefully inspire you to join a community that speaks up for tenant farmers every single day.