AN independent report into farm tenancies commissioned by Government is recommending chages.

And these changes "delight" the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) which says the report supports many issues raised by the association in its lobbying.

TFA national chairman Reg Haydon, said: "The results show that we were right to push. We have been saying that typically FBTs are too short, too restrictive, provide few opportunities for new entrants and benefit primarily those with existing farms with low rent and finance charges looking to expand."

To reverse these problems the report from the University of Plymouth argues for a number of legislative and policy:

- More flexibility for tenants to be involved in non-agricultural activities.

- Targeted tax changes encouraging landlords to let longer and with fewer restrictions

- Making it easier to restructure traditional tenancies without changing their legal status

- Targeted schemes for new entrants.

Updated: 09:24 Thursday, May 09, 2002