TFA Celebrates Ten Years of Haydon
23/02/05

The Tenant Farmers Association celebrated the tenth anniversary in office of its National Chairman, Reg Haydon at its Annual General Meeting yesterday (Tuesday) in London.

Reg took up the reins at the TFA in the spring of 1995 just when the then Conservative Government was finalising the legislation that would introduce Farm Business Tenancies. One of his prime objectives as National Chairman has been to keep the Labour Party to its promise that it would review that legislation if and when it came power. His persistence has lead to the formation of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group which is now working with the Government to implement changes to the legislation.

TFA Chief Executive George Dunn, speaking at the TFA's AGM said, "Reg has been at the helm of the TFA through some of the most difficult periods for British agriculture. BSE, Bovine TB, Classical Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease and declining incomes have all been huge issues under his watch. Through all of this he has been determined to fight for the voice of the farm tenant to be heard and he has been successful in making that happen".

Reg has also had a major input into two Government White Papers for rural areas, two major reforms to the CAP, the report of the Curry Commission and a host of other policy areas. He has always sought to ensure that specific impacts on the tenanted sector are recognised and resolved.

"In his time he has seen out 7 Cabinet Ministers with responsibility for agriculture, 35 junior MAFF and DEFRA Ministers, 10 front bench opposition spokesman, 5 CLA Presidents and 3 NFU Presidents. He is well known to everyone in the industry as a staunch supporter of the farm tenant and the tenanted sector," said Mr Dunn.

Reg believes in maintaining a close link with the grass roots membership of the Association. He has demonstrated his commitment to that by travelling tens of thousands of miles meeting TFA members all over Great Britain. He uses those contacts to directly influence his lobbying at all levels of Government.

"Reg is truly one of the industry's greatest advocates. It has been a privilege to work alongside him for eight of his ten years as National Chairman. The TFA, the tenanted sector and our industry continues to be well served by this great man," said Mr Dunn.