Survey of Agricultural Tenant Farmers

Ipsos were commissioned by the Scottish Government to carry out a survey of tenant farmers in Scotland. The aim of the research was to assess the nature of agricultural land tenure arrangements in Scotland and to identify and assess some of the issues faced by tenant farmers in Scotland. This included an examination of the proposal to grant those with agricultural tenancies secured under the 1991 Act the absolute right to buy (ARtB). 

The survey measured: the current level, nature and types of agricultural land tenure arrangements in Scotland; changes in land tenure since 2000 among existing tenant farmers; views on the future of the farming sector in Scotland; relationships with their landlords; views on the Absolute Right to Buy; and plans for the future of their business.

The survey complemented a number of other surveys, also conducted by Ipsos, with agricultural landlords and rural landowners who do not currently rent-out land, to support the Scottish Government’s Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review.

Download the full research report from the Scottish Government website.

Technical details

Postal and online surveys were conducted with 3,095 tenant farming business in Scotland, sourced from the Scottish Government’s agricultural census database, between 22 January and 10 March 2014. Results were weighted to reflect the distribution of tenant farmers by regional location and type of farm.