Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) members responded to a survey on the impact of drought and disease pressures on farm business borrowing and access to finance. Their evidence has provided a clear picture of the financial challenges facing tenant farmers, and the TFA has shared the survey findings with DEFRA.

Half of respondents to the survey said they needed to increase borrowing because of the difficult conditions experienced over the past year. 85% needed additional borrowing of between £10,000 and £50,000, with more than half requiring at least £20,000. Accessing that finance is expected to be challenging. Nine in ten respondents seeking additional borrowing believed it would be somewhat or very difficult to secure. Tenant status was identified as a significant barrier: more than four-fifths said being a tenant farmer would make obtaining finance more difficult. There was strong support for Government action. A total of 81% of respondents said they would use a Government-backed interest-free business loan scheme if it were available.

The TFA will use the evidence supplied by members in its ongoing lobbying of Government and in highlighting the particular financing constraints faced by the tenanted sector of agriculture.