Finding more land

[Jsmith2211]

Age old problem I’m sure.

Hello all, I’m in the position of wanting to increase my arable acerage but I’m not sure how to find the land. ideally after renting it as we can’t afford to buy it. Historically we had 400 acres, now down to 300 and soon to be 200 (largely grass) (due to building all those lovely houses…). Would ideally like to find 100-200 more arable acres to keep it a viable business. We have all the machinery etc we just need to find the land to rent! I don’t mind paying the going rate (even if it’s ridiculously high at the moment). What do people recommend, or does anybody fancy sitting back and letting someone else do the work! Contract farming agreements would work too but again no clue how you get in on them. Thanks

 

[Wesley]

Age old problem I’m sure.

Hello all, I’m in the position of wanting to increase my arable acerage but I’m not sure how to find the land. ideally after renting it as we can’t afford to buy it. Historically we had 400 acres, now down to 300 and soon to be 200 (largely grass) (due to building all those lovely houses…). Would ideally like to find 100-200 more arable acres to keep it a viable business. We have all the machinery etc we just need to find the land to rent! I don’t mind paying the going rate (even if it’s ridiculously high at the moment). What do people recommend, or does anybody fancy sitting back and letting someone else do the work! Contract farming agreements would work too but again no clue how you get in on them. Thanks

Is arable at the recent going rate in your area viable? I got my doubts about it this past season. I’ve heard some frightening figures of what people are willing to pay.
But to answer your question, speak to auctioneers & get your name on a mailing list for anything that becomes available. Also any land agents that are local.

 

[upnortheast]

Way to do it round here is to take the local land agents shooting or some similar counrty persuit

 

[teslacoils]

They will have a queue wanting to pay the going rate. To get some you will need to pay more than the others or offer something better.

 

[Nearly]

Way to do it round here is to take the local land agents shooting or some similar counrty persuit

Can they run fast enough to make it a sporting chance?

 

[warksfarmer]

Age old problem I’m sure.

Hello all, I’m in the position of wanting to increase my arable acerage but I’m not sure how to find the land. ideally after renting it as we can’t afford to buy it. Historically we had 400 acres, now down to 300 and soon to be 200 (largely grass) (due to building all those lovely houses…). Would ideally like to find 100-200 more arable acres to keep it a viable business. We have all the machinery etc we just need to find the land to rent! I don’t mind paying the going rate (even if it’s ridiculously high at the moment). What do people recommend, or does anybody fancy sitting back and letting someone else do the work! Contract farming agreements would work too but again no clue how you get in on them. Thanks

SFI has set rent levels. You’ll need to be in the region of £1000/ha.

 

[Case290]

There be a fair bit in 3-4 yrs I recon once the sfi anti farming incentive is over. Acres and acres of going in by the looks of it.

 

[robs1]

Is any of your ground arable ? If so could you buy in silage or perhaps maize to feed extra cattle, at least you can control quality and quantity that way, or perhaps b&B pigs , lots of ways to expand without paying silly money for extra ground that leaves little if any profit

 

[Yale]

Why not use the freed up time to diversify?

Surely it’s a better thing to not have all your eggs in one basket. Some kind of specialist contracting? Got any land suitable for carp lakes?

 

[Wesley]

Agronomists will also be one of the earlier ones to hear about ground becoming available as well if theres a decent/popular one you already use? Trouble is if its something someone else is giving up its very often because the rent is too much

 

[bluebell]

how you make money by renting land, with all the risks worries etc is way behond me? Who pocketed all the massive lump of money selling land for housing? What happens here in essex is the all ready large farmers sell a "chunk" for housing, then instead of paying a large amount of tax on that, "roll " the money into yet more land/ farms?

 

[HarryB97]

I wouldn’t waste your time renting land, especially with current prices and the last few terrible winters. Plenty of easier and more profitable ways to utilise that money! The easiest way is by word of mouth, if you currently have a smart farm and a decent reputation that’ll make it a lot easier.

 

[Jsmith2211]

SFI has set rent levels. You’ll need to be in the region of £1000/ha.

Surely nobody is paying that?

how you make money by renting land, with all the risks worries etc is way behond me? Who pocketed all the massive lump of money selling land for housing? What happens here in essex is the all ready large farmers sell a "chunk" for housing, then instead of paying a large amount of tax on that, "roll " the money into yet more land/ farms?

The landlords did, but we had cheap rent. Now it’s going, we need to replace it.

Already diversified etc.. trying to do a bit of contracting too to spread the machinery costs a bit but same issue picking up any work as finding land! Need a new combine but there’s no way we can justify it on the 60 acres of arable ground we will have left once this lot goes for housing (and offset crap).

 

[glasshouse]

Age old problem I’m sure.

Hello all, I’m in the position of wanting to increase my arable acerage but I’m not sure how to find the land. ideally after renting it as we can’t afford to buy it. Historically we had 400 acres, now down to 300 and soon to be 200 (largely grass) (due to building all those lovely houses…). Would ideally like to find 100-200 more arable acres to keep it a viable business. We have all the machinery etc we just need to find the land to rent! I don’t mind paying the going rate (even if it’s ridiculously high at the moment). What do people recommend, or does anybody fancy sitting back and letting someone else do the work! Contract farming agreements would work too but again no clue how you get in on them. Thanks

Did u give the building land away? Fbt’?
In that situation the tenant should get the ag value at least so they can buy equivalent land.

 

[egbert]

Age old problem I’m sure.

Hello all, I’m in the position of wanting to increase my arable acerage but I’m not sure how to find the land. ideally after renting it as we can’t afford to buy it. Historically we had 400 acres, now down to 300 and soon to be 200 (largely grass) (due to building all those lovely houses…). Would ideally like to find 100-200 more arable acres to keep it a viable business. We have all the machinery etc we just need to find the land to rent! I don’t mind paying the going rate (even if it’s ridiculously high at the moment). What do people recommend, or does anybody fancy sitting back and letting someone else do the work! Contract farming agreements would work too but again no clue how you get in on them. Thanks

'I don’t mind paying the going rate' .......that's probably a good starting point, when looking for land to rent.

I would say, unless it's within a very easy tractor journey, don't touch it.

 

[serf]

In that situation the tenant should get the ag value at least so they can buy equivalent land.

If it goes for building it Trumps the AHA and doesn't qualify for compensation does it ?

 

[Oscar]

Not sure where you are exactly in Somerset but here in West Somerset and going upto Bridgwater , you are always going to be up against the AD buisness at Cannington and they have deep pockets !!! Think the same is true near Ilminster at the other AD site .

 

[glasshouse]

If it goes for building it Trumps the AHA and doesn't qualify for compensation does it ?

Does in scotland
Unless they get PP for whole farm.
That is about to change.

 

[Wesley]

Not sure where you are exactly in Somerset but here in West Somerset and going upto Bridgwater , you are always going to be up against the AD buisness at Cannington and they have deep pockets !!! Think the same is true near Ilminster at the other AD site .

If he’s where I think he is he’ll be fighting against dairy farmers (especially the large number of the ones on the Blackdowns) who want maize land, AD plants, Fox’s Farm Service, Paul Coles (although maybe not so much now he’s stopped growing swedes & the Parris empire…plus all the other local farmers who have the same idea as him.

 

[David.]

Fair play for being young and keen, but I don't see the payday for you.