Steve Clayton said farmers had been expecting a change of landlord and not to lose their livelihoods
A tenant farmer says he is devastated at having to leave his farm so a council can sell off the land.
Herefordshire Council is to sell off about 40 smallholdings to save money.
Steve Clayton, a Rowlestone farmer, said the council had told tenants "no-one would be homeless" but some have been told to leave by September.
The Conservative-run council has said it needs the money to fund the "growing bill" for caring for elderly and vulnerable people in the county.
More on this and other stories from Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Mr Clayton, a farmer for nearly 30 years said he been told to leave by February, while other farmers were waiting to receive dates for when they must go.
He said the council could have better-run the "asset" and farmers felt "devastated" and let down.
Sheep on a tenant farm owned by Herefordshire Council, whose cabinet has agreed plans to sell off all its smallholdings
"It's a life-time's work," he said of his 145-acres farm which has 70 cows and 200 ewes.
"At the moment we just don't know where we are going to be next year."
The council has offered the tenants financial help to get professional advice on buying their farms. But Mr Clayton, who said his farmland may be worth £1m, was among farmers who said they could not afford to do so.
George Dunn, Chief Executive of the National Tenant Farmers Association, said the farmers had been treated unfairly.
"If you were selling a business you couldn't simply get rid of all your workers and then sell the business. Employment law would protect employees."
- Published4 December 2015
- Published10 November 2015
