The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC) has announced the appointment of a new Regional Agricultural Manager in South Wales and the South Midlands region of England.  

David Bates joins the AMC team having previously worked for Lloyds Bank’s credit underwriting team. Here, he was responsible for supporting a diverse range of farming businesses, helping them to secure funding and advising on liabilities. 

David brings nearly four decades of banking experience to the role, along with a passion for farming and with close links to the countryside through his extended family.  

In his new role, which is effective immediately, David will head a team of agricultural sector experts that provide financial expertise, funding, and guidance to more than 1500 farming businesses across South Wales and the South Midlands, covering as far north as Aberystwyth and reaching across to Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

David, who lives in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire will also work alongside AMC’s team of 17 independent land agents who carry out the business’ loan application and valuation work, as well as 23 valuers in the region. 

Commenting on his appointment, regional agricultural manager for South Wales and the South Midlands, David Bates, said: “South Wales and the South Midlands is a key area of focus for AMC and I’m looking forward to working closely with local farming businesses and helping them to achieve their ambitions. Given the agricultural sector’s challenge of hitting net zero by 2040, we are currently working with an increasing number of farmers wanting to invest in renewable energy technology to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as those with wider ambitions to diversify their existing operations into new markets or to purchase new land or machinery.” 

Lee Baker, AMC’s National Sales Director added: “David’s appointment comes at a time when British farming is undergoing a period of uncertainty, with the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme, the unpredictability of the weather and volatility in commodity prices and costs. But against all this, we’re continuing to see a strong appetite from rural businesses who want to diversify and modify their operations to generate new revenue streams and so it’s essential that we continue to invest in our team. This senior appointment brings additional resource and expertise to AMC’s proposition in South Wales and the South Midlands as we look to support even more local farmers achieve success over the long-term.” 

The appointment marks a new era for AMC in South Wales and the South Midlands region, with David stepping up to lead the team following the retirement of his predecessor Martin Waite, who had been with the AMC for more than two decades.