The union will welcome members from across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire on Thursday, 17 November.
The meeting, the first regional face-to-face tenants鈥� event since the Covid-19 pandemic, will focus on pressing industry business and sector news.
NFU members will be at the YFC Centre, near Hawford, at 6pm and be joined by guest speakers to discuss the current rental market, Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for tenants, and an update and advice on legalities.
Cereal and livestock farmer Jim Meadows, NFU West Midlands tenant group chair, welcomed members to attend the meeting.
鈥淥ne of the key prominent topics in the tenants sector over this past year has been Defra鈥檚 delivery of ELMs,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e have continued to contribute to the independent Tenancy Working Group, chaired by Baroness Kate Rock, to identify and address concerns for the tenanted sector through the delivery of ELMs and ongoing sector sustainability.
鈥淭he report from this working group was published last month, and I鈥檓 pleased the report has urged Defra and regulators to 鈥榯enant-proof鈥� their schemes, policies and processes, ensuring they are a benefit to all farmers, including tenant farmers, and therefore wider food production and environmental protection.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to say the NFU has now started making some headway with Defra in getting them to realise that SFI is simply not practical as it currently stands.鈥�
鈥淭he Rock report will also be on the agenda at the Hawford meeting.鈥�
Since its publication, Mr Meadows and other members of the NFU Tenants Forum have held meetings to discuss the recommendations and feedback.
Ali Parker, who leads on regional tenant issues, said: 鈥淲ith more than 60% of England鈥檚 farmed area being farmed by tenants, the sector plays a pivotal role in producing food for the nation and looking after the environment.
鈥淥ur members have a vital role in delivering this government鈥檚 food production and environmental ambitions, and in growing our rural economies.
鈥淲e are working with tenants and landlords to help build a vibrant, accessible and resilient tenanted sector.鈥�
To book a place at the meeting or for further details please contact the regional office on 01952 400500 or [email protected] by email.