The cost of contract disputes ran to nearly £700,000 in 2015/16 among members of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), it has revealed.

The NFU, which this week launched a Contract Checking Service, said problems were on the rise, with 91 cases referred to its Legal Assistance Scheme in 2014/15 and 100 in 2015/16, and more enquiries before signing contracts reaching its legal team.

NFU legal board chairman Trevor Foss said: “Contract disputes are an increasing concern for our members. The total cost of contract disputes for NFU members in 2015/2016 ran to an eye-watering £698,247, with the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme (LAS) contributing around £450,000 to help its subscribers with these costs.

“Ironically, many of these disputes could have been easily avoided or the costs significantly reduced by seeking professional guidance and support at the outset before signing on the dotted line.”