Farming Talk: Private property rights are worth thinking about

Like many, I was taking advantage of a recent dry spell to do some fencing and my thoughts turned to the thorny issue of private property rights – not just mine, but those of all farmers, and the potential threats to those rights.

My fencing is to keep stock in, not people out, but it will take more than posts and rails to ward off some of the latest threats to your ability to carry on with your business the way you wish. Surely farming should depend on seasons and markets rather than planners and politicians?

The biggest worry can be the looming spectre of compulsory purchase, which can range from a utility's wish to put pylons across your crops to the wholesale acquisition of your farm for a proposed infrastructure project.

Even though it may be years away, your property becomes blighted.

No-one would buy even if you wanted to sell, and your future plans have to change to take account of several possibilities – all of which distract from the day to day running of the business. Too often this uncertainty results in your sons and daughters deciding to leave the industry altogether.

If you are to protect your farm and its most valuable assets it is important to keep up to date with the myriad proposals, consultations and the wishlist of single issue groups, all of which may have a bearing on your ability to plan.

There are many who have an opinion about what you should be doing with your land and you must be prepared to defend your livelihood.

But keeping up with all the potential threats can be time-consuming and frustrating.

I don't need to tell farmers of the importance of sharing knowledge and working together, especially in communities.

But I would suggest that it is more important than ever to be a member of a trade association like the CLA, which will be aware of all the plans and proposals that threaten to affect your land.

We are also involved in securing realistic compensation for those who find themselves on the wrong end of 'progress', but this is the last resort.

As one member told me: "This farm is the result of four generations of hard work. No amount of money can compensate for that."

I often see what happens when things go wrong, and we have to fight on the back foot far too often, so I would urge farmers to seek advice early.

Then you can get on with producing food.

I can be contacted on 01785 284722 or caroline.bedell@cla.org.uk

Caroline Bedell owns a smallholding at Shawbury with husband Edward and is the CLA's Regional Director for the Midlands.