S INCE the National Farmers' Union abandoned the tenant farm committee a few years ago, there has been a feeling that it should have stayed in existence.

With two organisations representing tenants, the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) and the NFU, many tenant farmers thought the industry would be better served if the NFU let the TFA represent their views.

When I was still involved with the NFU council, one of the most fiercely debated subjects was which organisation was best equipped to represent the tenant farmer's view.

Even going back to when Ben Gill was president, I remember my old mate Bill Dilks (who farms around 2,000 acres in Derbyshire, of which a large chunk is tenanted) fighting toe-to-toe with Ben over tenant farmers' issues.

Time has moved on and I am not sure how much has changed politically within the NFU.

The good news for tenant farmers is that the NFU and the Chatsworth estate are holding a major national one-day conference entitled "Securing the future of tenant farming".

It is worth bearing in mind that around two thirds of farmers in Britain are tenants. Even owner-occupiers like myself depend on renting in land from other farmers – making us tenants – so it is an important subject which is close to the heart of many of us.

I know Bill has been working steadfastly for some time now to raise the profile of the tenant farmer. To his and Chatsworth's credit, the 250 delegate places were sold out within hours of the conference being announced.

Chatsworth is a super venue to hold such an event and they probably have more tenant farmers on their estate than any other land owner in the country.

What I was pleased to see about the conference is the promise that the young farmers will be allocated time to have their say as to how the future of tenant farming should unfold.

Let's remember that for many enthusiastic young people, a farm tenancy is the only opportunity that many have to gain a step on the farming ladder. It is always important for any industry to concentrate on the young, who are the lifeblood for the future.