Survey of the Views of Owner Occupier Farmers on Current Issues for Tenant Farming
The Scottish Government commissioned Ipsos to carry out a survey of farmers who neither rent-out nor rent-in agricultural land. The aim of the research was to assess the nature of agricultural land ownership and to identify and assess the future intentions of agricultural owner occupiers and their views on renting-out land. This included an examination of the proposal to grant tenant farmers with agricultural tenancies secured under the 1991 Act, the Absolute Right to Buy (ARtB).
The survey measured: details of agricultural owner occupiers’ businesses; the current level and types of agricultural land owned in Scotland; changes in land tenure since 2000; views on renting-out agricultural land and the likelihood of renting-out land in the future; views on the future of the farming sector in Scotland; and views on the Absolute Right to Buy.
The survey complemented a number of other surveys, also conducted by Ipsos, with tenant farmers and agricultural landlords, to support the Scottish Government’s Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review.
Download the full research report from the Scottish Government website.
Technical details
The research comprised a postal survey with 337 landowners who do not rent-out or rent-in agricultural land in Scotland. Fieldwork took place between 11 June and 9 July 2014. Results were weighted to reflect the distribution of owner occupier farmers by region and size of farm.
