Common Agricultural Land Disputes

Owning agricultural land and property requires legal safeguarding against common dispute issues related to flooding, defamation, boundary disputes, and many other factors.

Farmers are advised to seek legal guidance for effective ways to navigate these issues and ensure the resumption of an efficient and legally sound operation.

There are several legal issues that can arise for farmers and farming landowners, and it’s important to safeguard against them for a sturdy legal framework, they include:

• Flooding and water management: Disputes often arise over flooding caused by drainage systems, agricultural practices, or natural watercourses. Our services can help with mediation to settle claims for damages or preventive measures.
   
• Defamation: False statements about a farmer, their business or practices can lead to reputational harm, damaging business and causing financial losses. Farming methods, environmental practices, and animal welfare are among the areas linked to defamation claims, which we understand and navigate effectively.
   
• Trespassing: Unauthorised entry into farmland is a common issue, and can be acted on by individuals, groups, or even livestock from neighbouring land or properties.
   
• Sheep attacks and livestock concerns: Attacks on livestock - often by dogs - can result in disputes between farmers and dog owners or neighbouring landowners as it can lead to financial damages and conflicts over fencing responsibilities for protecting livestock.
   
• Fly tipping: Unauthorised dumping of waste on farmland often burdens farmers with clean up costs and potential environmental harm. Farmers often seek compensation for damages and clean up expenses.
   
• Boundary disputes: Disagreements over the precision of commercial property lines often arise between neighbouring landowners, leading to disputes over access rights or shared boundaries.
   
• Public right of way conflicts: Disputes arise when public rights of way cross agricultural land, especially if users stray off designated paths or cause damage. You may need assistance clarifying rights and proper signage installation or rights of way modifications.

Our legal advisers provide a range of legal services related to the above agricultural disputes, such as clarifying rights for the different parties involved, contract drafting, dispute resolution, dealing with negotiations and representing our clients in court environments.

Contact Mike Thornton, Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution team for more information on how to address agricultural disputes.