Farming industry welcomes Alan Laidlaw as new tenant farming commissioner

Mr Laidlaw has more than 25 years of experience in agriculture and land management, including more than a decade as part of the senior management team at The Crown Estate.

He grew up on a farm in south-east Scotland and spent his teenage years working on local farms to get a better understanding of how farming businesses operate.

He said: “That hands-on experience fuelled my passion for agriculture and gave me a deeper understanding of the land. It led me to study a land-based subject at university and start a career in farming.

“Since then, I’ve worked in auction marts, banking and finance, and held leadership roles in land management and investment. Most recently, I served as chief executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been a passionate advocate for the food and farming sector, and tenant farming lies at the heart of it.”

Mr Laidlaw explained that 45% of holdings in England are either wholly tenanted or mixed tenure, and a third of all agricultural land in England is tenanted.

“This means that when tenants thrive, the whole industry benefits. The tenanted sector has seen significant change over the last 10-15 years. Tenancies offer flexibility and lower capital requirements, helping tenants adapt and innovate.

“Having worked across farming, land management and the rural economy, I know how strong tenant-landlord relationships can drive innovation, resilience and shared success.

“I look forward to working with farmers, landlords and advisors to promote best practice, address challenges, and help build a fair, profitable and sustainable future for tenant farming in England,” he concluded.

‘Desire for more support and clarity from government’

NFU deputy president David Exwood congratulated Mr Laidlaw on his appointment and said that his role will be crucial for improving fairness and collaboration across the agricultural tenancy sector.

He added: “We met up yesterday on farm and, as a tenant farmer myself, I was able to lay out the stark realities of being a tenant farmer in the current climate. Extreme weather, price volatility, the family farm tax and uncertainty around future environmental schemes, particularly for those in the uplands, has left many tenants feeling vulnerable and low in confidence.

“These factors are making it extremely difficult for tenant farmers to plan, invest and maintain business viability, leading to frustration and a desire for more support and clarity from government.

“The NFU believes the commissioner’s role must be fiercely independent and without bias to landlords or tenants, working alongside the Code of Practice and the Farm Tenancy Forum with clear guidelines in place to define exactly what can or cannot be done and at what stage to become involved in disputes. These are the clear tests on whether this appointment will be deemed a success.”

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president Victoria Vyvyan added: “The CLA supports a vibrant tenanted sector, and we welcome Alan Laidlaw into the role of Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector.

“It is crucial for the healthy future of the farm tenancy sector that the commissioner works independently and is fair and balanced for landlords, agents and tenants. The role must have the resources to properly assess any cases that reach them.

“The Farm Tenancy Forum has done much to bring landlords and tenants to a better understanding and way of working, and we look forward to working with the commissioner in continuing this progress.”

‘This appointment will provide an impartial voice between tenants and landowners’

DEFRA explained that the commissioner for the tenant farming sector will promote the standards set out in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice, working closely with Defra and the Farm Tenancy Forum, the government–industry group that advises DEFRA on supporting and improving the farm tenancy sector in England.

His responsibilities include investigating complaints, tracking trends, offering guidance, and reporting regularly on tenant-landlord relations.

A spokesperson for the department said: “This appointment delivers on a key government commitment to support the tenanted sector, which manages a third of farmland in England, and secure a fair, profitable and sustainable farming future.”

Secretary of state Emma Reynolds added: “Tenant farmers are the backbone of food production and play a vital role in caring for our countryside – I visited a tenant farm this week alongside our newly appointed Commissioner Alan Laidlaw to see their work and discuss how he can better support them.

“Alan’s decades of experience in farming and land management make him uniquely placed to strengthen relationships and drive-up standards across the sector.

“This appointment will provide an impartial voice between tenants and landowners to promote best practice and foster fair, collaborative relationships as we deliver on our Plan for Change to back farmers and build a sustainable future.”

Read more political news.