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For over 38 years, Hugh Townsend has been the country's "go-to" commentator on farm quotas and intangible assets sold off-farm. 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.In 2016, BBC1 interviewed Hugh Townsend on the future of farming following the Referendum, click here. In 2021 he published the first book of its type “the UK Environmental Credits User Guide” , and more recently in 2024 ITV filmed at one of our BNG Habitat Banks which was broadcast on Monday 3rd June (click here) To view the uncut footage of the interview click here
Hugh Townsend developed the most creative arrangements to promote an efficient market in farm quotas, in the early eighties, including leasing milk quota without land, before the Milk Marketing Board introduced leasing for a part of the milk year. He has represented clients in leading court and arbitration cases successfully defending transfers of milk quota, and developed the new system of second TQ1 forms protecting the transfer of quotas with land.
In 1991, Farmers Weekly published the first sale price index from Hugh Townsend, countrywide, and started to publish farm quota sales and leasing graphs, which can be seen on our Milk Quota & Entitlements pages. Prices for intangible assets are still published weekly from this UK leading Brokerage House.
On BBC television, he has defended dairy farmers who have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals in the farm quota market, and was again on television to comment on the "footballers buy milk quota" rumpus.
In 1990, the firm held the first auction of sheep and beef quota making the market in these new intangible assets and is still the leading BPS entitlement broker in the UK regions following England abolishing their scheme in 2023.
The firm also now sells Biodiversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality units, Woodland and Peatland Carbon, in addition to Water Abstraction Licenses, and holds National Sales by tender every six weeks.
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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