We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.NFU 2010: County council farms at threat from public spending cuts
COUNTY council farms will come under increasing threat as councils look for ways to compensate for cuts in their budgets from central Government.
The stark warning came after the tenants’ meeting at the NFU Conference, where delegates heard that council farms in Norfolk, Cheshire, Gloucestershire and Devon were already part of reviews and restructuring.
NFU rural surveyor Rob Sheasby said Warwickshire was also due to start a review.
“Diminishing funding from central Government is forcing councils to look at their asset base to see what they want to keep. Defending the farm estate is a constant thing,” he said.
“We need to ensure councils see the wider benefits. We are trying to make local authorities think about the strategic value of their estate - what they offer beyond farming.”
There was also a worry that few county council tenants were being offered tenancies on larger farms owned by private landlords, which was stopping progress.
Speaking at the meeting, Meurig Raymond said Sir Don Curry had recently written to some large landlords asking them to consider giving county council tenants an opportunity to take the next step on the ladder.
