Family farm

Melanoma

My aunt's husband died quite young at age 49 and so the farm has been let out over the last 20 years.

What I am wondering is with the changes to grants and farming should she be applying for anything to maintain the value of the farm.

I am not a farmer and have no idea. She is not really able to ask for herself as she just leaves the farm up the the people that let it.

The farm is 30 acres and is being used for sheep and cattle.

Maybe you can point me to where to ask the question??

Manoffeeling

Is it the same people who rent it?

IrishLad2012

Melanoma wrote: »

My aunt's husband died quite young at age 49 and so the farm has been let out over the last 20 years.

What I am wondering is with the changes to grants and farming should she be applying for anything to maintain the value of the farm.

I am not a farmer and have no idea. She is not really able to ask for herself as she just leaves the farm up the the people that let it.

The farm is 30 acres and is being used for sheep and cattle.

Maybe you can point me to where to ask the question??

Sounds like the people who are renting it are probably claiming Single Farm Payment on this rented land.AFAIK the only way your Aunt could get any grant(SFP) on this land would be if she was actively farming the land.If she isn't interested in that,I would recommend she include the SFP in the price when renting it.Someone else may be better to advise you.

Belongamick

Agree with previous poster.

Your aunt is probably 69/70 years old and may be in a position to tell you if;

- The person renting it is taking reasonable care, looking after fences, the land is not overstocked, poached etc. Has she has a good tennant?
- Money is actually being paid, not some sort of minimum payment that was worth something 20 years ago but is worthless today. Is she being ripped off?

A local auctioneer may be able to give you an idea of renting that amount of land based on quality, demand in the locality.

Melanoma

The same people are renting for years. I think about 15 years ago there was a change from one brother to another as the first one got sick. He recovered.

The rent I think is 3600 a year. The land is 2/3 good on well drained soil and the back of the farm is on ground that is fierce wet up to June though grass grows on it.

The land is bordered by stone walls. The rest is ditches with some drains.

A few years ago there was a lot of bracken growing and the things with yellow flowers but the farmer has cleared some of them off.

The plan would be just to keep him renting away and if I am left the farm I'd just keep it going the same way. My aunt might need money for health care yet or leave it to someone else.

I know there are changes to the way grants will be awarded.

I guess what I am worried about is the farm subsidy going tot the farmer renting the land and then he could just stop renting it and keep the grant. Leaving the farm useless and my Aunt with no money for it.

If the grant will stay with the farm then I would not be worried. I think that is what an earlier responder said.

Thanks for your replies!:)

weekendfarmer

I seriously doubt the entitlements are in her name. If she was not actively farming for the reference year 2000-2003.

She probably has not even a herd number at this stage as the dept did a big clean up there a few years ago on extinct numbers.

If she has a good tenant leave well enough alone ... Land prices are increasing mad and any she is sitting on an asset worth close to 400k depending on part of country.

Key thing is make sure boundaries \ sheds \ land kept well and that all leases are signed (use auctioneer if not using already and pay him his 5%) and up todate. That way when she wants to move it she can quickly

Melanoma

Yea it was like 1990 or so the farm was last used, so more than like the land is now not entitled to any grants.

The tenant is a good local farmer with maybe another 60 acres.

I put in a gate for him last year and he helped me do it so there is safer access to the farm, the old entrance is close to a bend in the road.

Since then he is spreading slurry (safer to swing in) and I think the land is looking better. It was getting a bit worn looking. I just hated seeing the sheep walking down and kids standing out on the road to slow traffic. Now its just a two person job.

The solicitor takes care of the lease which is maybe just a standard thing.

Between water and insurance it does not make much money but she is on a state pension only so it helps a lot.

IrishLad2012

Melanoma wrote: »

I guess what I am worried about is the farm subsidy going tot the farmer renting the land and then he could just stop renting it and keep the grant. Leaving the farm useless and my Aunt with no money for it.

This will never happen,you sound to have a good tidy farmer there,he obviously has a need for the land when he is renting and that need will always be there.There is an old saying among farmers 'Never get rid of land because their making no more of it'