Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Land Improvement Division: Registered Files, Farm Structure Policy and Improvement Schemes (BU Series)

Sections 27-30 of Part II of the Agriculture Act 1967 concern farm structure and farm improvement. The farm structure schemes were introduced to encourage the formation of larger and more viable agricultural units. The Farm Amalgamation and Boundary Adjustment Scheme (SI 1967/1608) made available grants to 'amalgamators' who increased the size of their units by purchasing adjoining or nearby land. The grants were paid towards the costs of effecting the purchase of land (e.g. legal costs) and to subsequent works or improvements to land and buildings.

The scheme similarly encouraged transfers of land aimed at more satisfactory boundaries. The Farm Structure (Payments to Outgoers) Scheme (1967/1609) offered, depending upon their age, either a lump sum or an annuity to 'outgoers' who relinquished occupation of small uncommercial units for the purpose of amalgamation.

Under the Farm Improvement Scheme (FIS) grants were paid of one-quarter of approved costs of providing or improving permanent fixed equipment and of making long-term improvements to agricultural land. The original scheme (authorised by the Agriculture Act 1957) was covered by the FIS series.