The former head of Britain's farming union yesterday spoke out against large-scale solar farms, declaring 'there's a huge amount not to like'.
Minette Batters warned they will continue to be built while her members faced uncertainty about the future of dairy and arable farming - and while wealthy investors are free to buy up large chunks of the countryside.
Ms Batters, the ex-president of the National Farmers' Union, also highlighted 'horrific examples' where tenant farmers are being booted off land for huge solar schemes so the landowner can make more money.
Ms Batters called for the next government to prioritise a new land strategy, so protections are given to traditional farming and its economic value is properly-acknowledged.
Ms Batters warned that solar farms will continue to be built while her members faced uncertainty about the future of dairy and arable farming.
She said she could understand opposition to solar farms - but also had sympathy for farmers cashing in on such projects because they provide a guaranteed, index-linked income for decades.
Ms Batters said that in some cases, farmers themselves have been forced to leave their farms to make way for solar farms if they are tenants of larger landowners.
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