News
Hugh Townsend has for 25 years been the country's "go-to" commentator on farm quotas and rural surveying issues affecting farmers. Having become the country's leading and most innovative quota agent he was broadcast to 3.8 million listeners on Radio 4's PM programme interviewed by Eddie Mayer on the 1st April 2015 – the Dawning of Europe without Milk Quotas, click here. More recently BBC1 interviewed Hugh Townsend on the future of farming following the Referendum, click here.
Hugh Townsend has over the years developed the most creative arrangements to promote an efficient market in farm quotas, in the early eighties developing leasing milk quota without land before the Milk Marketing Board introduced leasing for a part of the milk year.
He represented clients in leading legal cases defending transfers of milk quota and developed the new system of second TQ1 forms protecting the transfer of quotas with land.
In 1991, with Farmers Weekly he produced the first sale price index countrywide and started to publish farm quota sales and leasing graphs which are still published by Farmers Weekly and other publications and can be seen on our Milk Quota & Entitlements pages.
On BBC television he has defended dairy farmers who have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous inpiduals in the farm quota market and was again on television to comment on the "footballers buy milk quota" rumpus.
He regularly writes for Farmers Guardian and the South West's Western Morning News and our experienced team is sought after for their comments on farm quotas.
TCS – 04.06.14 – Entitlements & Naked Acres – 2014 Market Summary
It has now been a number of weeks since the 2013/2014 entitlement trading deadline, and only a couple of weeks since the SP5 deadline. We have now ‘caught our breath’ and are able to reflect on the six UK markets for both entitlement trading and hosting and naked acre letting; the English areas being; non-SDA,…
Read MoreFarmers Guardian – 23.05.14 – Recent milk quota activity
For those dairy farmers who lived through the volatile milk quota market of the 80s and 90s, the early demand for cover in the first few weeks of the final milk year before quotas are abolished in March 2015 was a reminder of days gone by. In the 80s and 90s the UK was regularly going over quota,…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 21.05.14 – Realising value of water vital if droughts increase
With the recent publication of the CLA’s ‘Enabling the Countryside to Thrive’, which sets out their vision for agricultural reform in Europe, which states an aim of “improving efficiency in the use of water while ensuring that land managers receive a fairer allocation”, we take a look at the impact of the upcoming decisions following…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 07.05.14 – Turning barns into homes becomes simpler
As a result of the Government consultation in 2013 on greater flexibility for changes of use, on the 6th April 2014 amendments to the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order came into force enabling agricultural buildings to be converted into residential properties via Class MB of the Permitted Development system, rather than having to…
Read MoreENTITLEMENTS – 16.04.14 – Market review – End of Season 2014
The entitlement markets for the 2014 Scheme Year saw a great deal of variation, both in respect to price fluctuations and levels of activity throughout the season, particularly in the Non-SDA market. With the 31st March milk quota transfer and 2nd April entitlement transfer deadlines now passed for another season, we would like to take…
Read MoreENTITLEMENT UPDATE – Entitlement Trading – Last Day Option – Trading extended to 2nd April
The RPA announced on the afternoon of Monday the 31st March that they will be date-stamping RLE1s received at RPA offices/sites up to the 2nd April, before sending them by normal post to their PO Box in Sheffield. Subsequently if they are received at the PO Box after the 2nd April deadline they will be…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 19.03.14 – If you want to convert your barns, get in fast
The Government intention to introduce new permitted development rights in England to allow the change of use of agricultural buildings for up to three dwellings has now been confirmed, but remains subject to the passing of the Statutory Instrument. Please note the “devil is always in the detail”. Under the Town and Country Planning…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 12.03.14 – Entitlement surplus? Think about hosting
As many readers will be aware the entitlement markets are now in full swing, however this year has seen a large surplus of Non-SDA entitlements on the market, perhaps not due to a greater quantity of entitlements available this season, but fewer buyers in the market. This has deflated the high prices seen towards the…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 26.02.14 – Be prepared for 2015 switch to Basic Payment Scheme
The new SPS 2014 RPA Handbook has provided more flesh on the bones for the CAP Reform. As we know the 1st January 2015 will see the Single Payment Scheme come to an end and the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) begin. There are two main points of this transition that will have an impact on…
Read MoreTCS Newsletter – 14.02.14 – February Entitlement Trading Update
non-SDA The entitlement market has seen some dramatic changes in recent weeks. Non-SDA prices have fallen, seeing some market variation between £240 and £265 per unit plus VAT. This reduction has been due to a surplus of entitlements on the market and purchasers holding fast at reduced rates. Vendors are now accepting offers at…
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