Calls for more support for Cumbrian tenant farmers
Over 60 of them were told last month to wind up.
After more than 60 tenant farmers were told to their contracts were coming to an end, the tenant farmers association is calling for more support to help farmers and land owners.
As it stands land owners are reportedly concerned over how their tax on the land may be affected, due to instability in Westminster, leading to more and more short term lets being offered to farmers.
Short-term lets don't allow farmers to plan for the future and means they rely on each year of their contract being a successful farming year, which isn't always the case.
In the north west tenancy farm land make up around 35 per cent of all farmed land, having a massive impact on jobs and the supply chain.
Chief executive of the association George Dunn said: "One of the biggest challenges is security of tenure. That's how long you have access to the land. You want to be able to balance the good years against the bad. If you are investing in your business you want to make sure you have the ability to repay that investment and get the benefit of that investment over a long period of time.
"Land owners are very nervous about their taxation. There's concerns over what a change of government may do in terms of the taxation environment. Sometimes landlords have the idea that they want to take their land back in hand, because then they have certainty over their tax position."
George believes a system where landlords let land for 10 years or more, they should then be able to lock-in their taxation position for that period, giving them and the tenant certainty.
If a solution is not found, George believes the impact could be catastrophic for the supply chain.
He said: "The multiplier effect is very high and very local. It includes vets, feed suppliers, fencing contractors... All of those are very very local to the farm. The business that our farms generate is also helping to generate business in the wider rural economy."