Keeping the farm in the family

Keeping the farm in the family is the theme of the first Members Forum at Duchy College being organised by Cornish Mutual this week.

Rural insurance experts from the company are hosting the event at Stoke Climsland, Callington on Tuesday 29 September at 7.15pm and are giving its Members the opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of the company.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the firm, which has offices in Exeter and Truro. Inspectors from Cornish Mutual’s team will be on hand at the event to offer help and advice to Members.

Alan Goddard, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our Members living and working in rural communities right across the South West to tell us how they feel about our service, the products we offer and the experiences they’ve had. We want to create a dialogue with our Members, particularly in the farming community.”

He added: “As a mutual organisation, it’s very important we give Members the opportunity to discuss issues with us. We have no shareholders and exist to provide our Members with the best possible service - our Members are at the heart of everything we do.”

Cornish Mutual is teaming up with law firm Coodes Solicitors for the event. Pam Johns, supervising partner at Coodes Solicitors, based in Holsworthy will be the guest speaker during the evening and will talk about protecting the family farm.

Pam specialises in agricultural and commercial property, wills, trusts and tax planning for agricultural and business clients. She is a member of the Agricultural Law Association and is married to a farmer.

Pam commented: “The needs of the rural community are quite diverse and so this joined-up approach will hopefully provide a one-stop shop with help and advice. Getting the right information about legal matters including wills, tax issues and trusts is really important in planning for the future.”

She said: “The rewards for family run farms can be big, both financially and emotionally so getting it right from the outset should be a priority. Common values, strong commitment, loyalty and stability are some of the positives of running a farm; however, there are legal issues which people must consider.”

Pam added: “How best to pass on your farm to the next generation may be one of the biggest challenges you will face. After all, the right decisions need to be made for you, your family and your business – balancing the needs of all three.”

Alan added: “From Pam, we’ll hear about some of the issues around keeping the farm in the family and how to plan accordingly. Clearly, there are a number of current agricultural legal issues which will undoubtedly have a significant impact on farmers and landowners in the region and it will be good to hear from a rural legal expert, her advice and views on them.”