Dukes give sheep farmers lifeline

The Duke of the Buccleuch is supporting the scheme

Two of Scotland's largest landowners have agreed to help out struggling tenant sheep farmers by deferring their six-monthly rents.

The Duke of Buccleuch and his Borders neighbour, the Duke of Roxburghe, have taken the measure after sheep prices fell to their lowest level in 40 years.

The prices have collapsed since foot-and-mouth disease was found in Surrey in August.

Many tenant farmers were unable to afford the rents, due this month.

Roddy Jackson of Roxburghe Estates said the decision had been taken to give estate tenants until early January to pay their rents in recognition of "serious cash-flow problems."

We have a lot of very good tenants, and we want to keep them and retain those very longstanding relationships The Duke of Roxburghe

The Duke of Roxburghe, added: "We have been thinking about this issue for some time and there are clearly some big problems in the hills.

"We have a lot of very good tenants, and we want to keep them and retain those very longstanding relationships."

Buccleuch Estates has about 100 tenant farmers in a similar position and are prepared to wait until February for the rent cheques.

Richard Williamson, speaking on behalf of the Duke of Buccleuch, said: "We have had no direct approaches from tenants, but it is clear with the price of sheep so low there would be serious problems.

"Many of our tenants have been with the estate for generations; this is a mutual relationship that we wish to sustain.

Many sheep farmers cannot afford rents due to falling livestock prices

He added that any tenants with problems should discuss them with the estate.

Scott Walker, senior policy director with the National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland, welcomed the initiative.

He said: "This is a positive step and is the kind of flexibility that should be common in the landlord and tenant relationship, particularly in these exceptional circumstances. We hope that other estates can follow these moves."

However Angus McCall of the Tenant Farmers Association of Scotland stressed that hill farm rents must fall in line with declining incomes.

"If hill farmers continue to be squeezed then more stock will disappear with subsequent depopulation and the environment will suffer through under grazing," he added.