SCATTERED throughout this edition, readers will find a range of stories relating to the opportunities for new entrants, which all follow on from last week’s story on ‘New land for new entrants’. For instance, this week we have the commendable Lantra awards and a SAYFC view on the subject.
However, we have to agree with Ben McClymont (SAYFC View, see right) that much of what we have heard from politicians so far is little better than empty rhetoric. A few state-owned acres here and there up for let with no steading is nothing more than the proverbial sticking plaster over the problem.
What is required is proper starter units including a house and a steading, backed up with appropriate new entrant incentives. And, most crucially, these incentives must be for ‘proper’ new entrants and not simply dished out to sons or daughters taking up their inheritance or expanding current family businesses.