Share Farming Agreements

Share Farming Agreements operate where two parties jointly farm the same land. They will typically involve the owner or tenant of farmland entering into a contract with a working farmer.

The detail of a share farming contract is a matter for the parties but often includes the landowner providing farmland and buildings, fixed equipment and machinery, major maintenance of the buildings and his expertise, while the working farmer provides labour, field and mobile machinery and his expertise, other costs such as seed, fertilisers and feed are shared.

If there is any livestock enterprise then ownership of the animals is shared on the basis that each party owns a share in each animal, and each party is rewarded with a share in the produce of the farm which he or she is free to sell as he or she likes. Each party produces their own accounts and is responsible for their own tax and VAT returns.

Our Rural team can explore this with you and discuss the arrangements that each party in the agreement brings, to ensure a shared farming agreement is finalised that captures the essence of the contract and avoids any uncertainty and issues.