4 farmers tell us how they secured county council tenancies
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Farms Estate is the largest in England and Wales. Four farmers who have successfully secured a Cambridgeshire tenancy tell us about the process and offer advice for those applying for future tenancies.
They explain why they decided to apply for a council tenancy, what was difficult in the process and why they think they secured the tenancy.
See also: What it’s like to be a first-time farm tenant
Daniel Brown
Age 36
Farm Bulldog Bridge Farm, Littleport
Size 133.5ha
Type Arable
Status Starting five-year tenancy in October
Why did you decide to go for a county council farm tenancy?
I have been thinking for some years about how to get some land. The council farm system is perhaps easier for smaller farmers and they like people under 40.
When/how did you decide to apply for this farm?
I live on the border of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and I applied for three Suffolk County Council farms but wasn’t successful. When this farm came up with Cambridgeshire County Council I decided to apply. I didn’t think I had much of a chance.
What were the easiest and hardest parts of the application process?
I hadn’t got to the interview stage before so I didn’t know what to expect. There were two rounds of interviews and I had to know my facts and figures. I didn’t use an agent, so I knew them inside out.
The Cambridgeshire paperwork was easier than Suffolk’s because they give you a form to fill in so you know what they want to see.
Why do you think you were successful?
It was a blind process, so I don’t know how many people applied or what they did right or wrong. I had gone away and clarified the pitfalls from my first interview, which may have helped.
Do you have any advice for people applying for future tenancies?
Do your own cash flows and budgeting, or if you’re not comfortable doing it, sit next to the person who is doing it so they can explain it. Read about the subject.
What are your future plans and goals?
I just want to get started, get on a solid footing and grow crops off my own back and then hopefully if I have established myself properly in five years I’ll get an extension on the tenancy.
Nick Kiddy
Age 36
Farm Lynchets Farm, near Royston
Size 58ha
Type Arable
Status Starting five-year tenancy in October
Why did you decide to go for a county council farm tenancy?
It’s difficult to get on the ladder. This is the easiest way but there’s lots of competition for it. This was my eighth application.
When/how did you decide to apply for this farm?
I know the Cambridge ones come out in February and March so I kept an eye out for them and thought I’d give it one more go. This farm was the nearest to our home and a better size for me.
What were the easiest and hardest parts of the application process?
The hardest part was the interview, because I hadn’t been to that stage before. You feel like a Mastermind contestant with all these questions coming at you. The easiest part was working out the costings because you have to do that for any business.
Why do you think you were successful?
I looked at doing cover crops and they said they liked that. Maybe they just thought they’d give me a chance because I’d tried so many applications!
Do you have any advice for people applying for future tenancies?
Don’t give up, keep going at it, get your costings worked out – that’s the first thing they see – and you have got to sell yourself. I did get some advice from a land agent about what I should be paying in rent.
What are your future plans and goals?
It’s a starter holding for five years; hopefully after that I can move on to another holding. I’m quite limited with what I can do in five years, so I just want to show I can do a good job.
William Veal
Age 28
Farm Ransonmoor Farm, Doddington
Size 113ha
Type Arable and a small flock of Texel and Charolais sheep
Status Began five-year tenancy in October 2016
Why did you decide to go for a county council farm tenancy?
I started off in a starter holding with the council, which was a good step on the ladder, but this was a bigger lump of land with a few buildings; a good opportunity for expansion.
When/how did you decide to apply for this farm?
It came up with a few other farms at the time. I went to the viewing days and this one was a bit more local, a bit bigger, and had buildings and a yard.
What were the easiest and hardest parts of the application process?
The interview is not as bad as people think, but you have got to know what you’re talking about when you go in.
The paperwork is the hardest, with the budget and costings; it takes a bit of getting your head around.
Why do you think you were successful?
I had three years in a starter holding to prove myself and they looked at that and made sure I was getting on okay, so I suppose that all helped.
Do you have any advice for people applying for future tenancies?
Don’t give up at the first hurdle. The first one you apply for you’re probably not going to get so keep going. You haven’t got a clue what to expect at first.
What are your future plans and goals?
I hope to stay for the full five years and if I get a chance to carry on after that I’d like to. I want to continue expanding slowly as I can afford it.
Jonathan Roberts
Age 29
Farm Morleys Farm, Warboys
Size 133ha
Type Arable
Status Began five-year tenancy in October 2014
Why did you decide to go for a county council farm tenancy?
It was a good opportunity. My father had a farm, I wanted to reach out and do it on my own and this is a very good route in which to do it.
When/how did you decide to apply for this farm?
I applied in 2014 and it was the fifth farm I applied for. I was applying for two years previously. It was one of seven up for tender and it was actually the best one I have ever applied for and I was lucky enough to get it.
What were the easiest and hardest parts of the application process?
The interviews were difficult; it’s quite daunting to have to know the figures inside out. Luckily, I had a few years of experience, so I had a bit more knowledge on the subject.
Why do you think you were successful?
I didn’t really get any feedback; they just phoned up and said I had got the farm. It was brilliant news after trying for so long.
Do you have any advice for people applying for future tenancies?
Don’t underestimate it and the moment they say it’s yours, that’s when the hard work really starts and you have to follow through with everything you said you were going to do. It’s all really worthwhile. The first few years are really hard and you have to be committed to it. Your own farm has to come first.
What are your future plans and goals?
I’d like to renew my tenancy for 15 years and carry the farm on, take more land on to expand some of what we have been doing. I’ll have to go through the application process again next year to see if I can renew my tenancy.