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.
Western 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…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 12.02.14 – Trade in milk quota still strong, despite its demise
The New Year is now fully underway and this is the busy paperwork season for us with milk quota, with this year’s deadline on the 31st March. I will resist commenting on the misquotes, misrepresentations and then further misquotes from these misquotes, in respect to the sudden increase in milk quota trading. Perhaps one needs…
Read MoreFarmers Guardian – 07.02.14 – Great shake causing a flurry in milk quota
The New Year is now fully underway and this is the busy paperwork season for us with milk quota, with this year’s deadline on the 31st March. I will resist commenting on the misquotes, misrepresentations and then further misquotes from these misquotes, in respect to the sudden increase in milk quota trading. Perhaps one needs…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 05.02.14 – Do your trading well before the April deadline
Following strong trading up to the end of 2013, January has continued to see a lot of activity in the market. Non-SDA entitlement trade remained at £300 per hectare to mid-January following the announcement of the roll-over of English entitlements at the end of October. This however led to an oversupply of vendors, which subsequently…
Read MoreWestern Morning News – 22.01.14 – Vital drop-in centres for Rural Payments Agency forms axed
After several months of correspondence with the RPA explaining the difficulties their decision to close the drop-in centres will cause, we now have confirmation that they will not consider running their drop-in centres for RLE1 forms in the week leading up to the entitlement transfer deadline on the 2nd April. This now puts pressure on both…
Read MoreTCS newsletter – 21.01.14 – 2014 Entitlement Trading Update
The end of 2013 saw strong trade for Non-SDA entitlements, with some purchasers achieving good rates before the English roll-over was confirmed. Prices continued fairly steadily in the first half of January 2014 at their post roll-over rate of £300 per unit plus VAT for Non-SDA, with Non-VATable entitlements making up to £340 per unit,…
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