new business

Dear all, This is my first post so please excuse if I muck it up. My Father-in-law has a dairy farm plus 600 ewes. His son (partner in farm) has decided he no longer wants to farm and us moving away. Father-in-law, let's call him Bob for ease, wants to scale down understandably. He is happy...

**Calling all farm owners/managers/assistants in Suffolk** ** Questionnaire on farm diversification in Suffolk** **Chance to win 2 bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne ** I am currently in my final year of study at Harper Adams University studying Rural Enterprise and Land Management. I am...

The shortlist for this year’s British Farming Awards has been announced in what has been described as a record-breaking year for the event. With the awards now in its sixth year, there are 15 categories open to entrants recognising the core farming sectors, as well as acknowledging the wealth...

Official statistics from Visit Britain, the Government’s tourism body, show that in the first nine months of 2017, there was a record 12.7 million visits to English regions outside London. People are waking up to what the British countryside has to offer, and it’s more than just a weekend in the...

Identifying opportunities in contracting The first step in identifying an opportunity is to know your region. Regions will have criteria that dictate what farming enterprises are suitable and therefore, what contracting opportunities may be present. The second step is to look at the issues that...

With fluctuating milk prices resulting in uncertain returns for many dairy farmers, July 2017 saw Jack Martin launch a new business, Tom Parker Creamery, to help spread risk and improve financial return. Jack’s ‘can do’ attitude and self-motivation means that the business he has developed...

When the Fairs family bottled their first batch of cold pressed rapeseed oil in 2004 they never envisaged that over a decade later they would be producing 520,000 litres and hillfarm oils would be a growing household name. In the beginning The story began in 2004 when Sam Fairs wanted to...

The Business Barn is bursting with free, business start-up guides written by industry experts on areas such as: Farm shops Campsites Boarding kennels Holiday cottages Livery yards Tree surgeons Microbreweries Bookkeepers Fencing contractors All business guides are free to view and use. Click...

The world’s first hands-free crop has produced a 30-bottle batch of Merywen gin flavoured with barley. Produced by North Star Distillery in North Wales, in conjunction with Harper Adams University, the Hands Free Hectare Gin is not for sale, but will instead be sampled by key sponsors and...

The desire to start an organic business drove Jan Billington to move her young family from London to South West England in 2002. But needless to say, what they were going to do when they got there and how they were going to make it work were unknown factors at the time. However, their flexible...

Young farmers in Wales hoping to benefit from a scheme offering a start-up grant of up-to £40,000 have until the 12 June to express their interest. The Young People into Agriculture scheme will support 150 young farmers looking to establish a new business off their own back or develop an...

Kelly Chandler, business owner and experienced wedding consultant, advises that engaged couples are turning away from perceived traditional wedding formula and instead are looking for something unique and fitting with their personalities... If you're looking for inspiration to start a new...

Buoyant mood among producers at Pig & Poultry Fair Pig and poultry producers are ready to embrace change, with a bright outlook ahead despite the uncertainty of Brexit, was the feeling among visitors to the British Pig & Poultry Fair last week. Producers flocked to hear industry experts offer...

The Business Barn is a free, online resource providing expertly written advice and guidance for diversifying farmers, rural business owners and landowners. If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for a new business venture, guidance on how to start a business or support with developing your...

If you'd like to start-up your own rural business, The Business Barn can help! Click here to get over 101 rural business ideas at your fingertips. Have you considered becoming a Virtual Assistant? Having worked in several industries in various roles, the exposure and knowledge gained during...

Hi all, We are planning to start processing and bottling our own milk (milking 18 Holstein-Friesians). We have an outlet for the milk ready and waiting, with potential of supplying cream and yoghurt in the future. We have a lean-to building off the tank room which we believe may be suitable to...

I am thinking of starting up a small pesticide application contracting business. I would be using a quad-mounted boom sprayer and trailing a weed wiper initially. I was also thinking of having a topper and harrow in the medium term for other work. I live in Northumberland and am putting myself...