I want to become an arable farmer. Can I get a grant or obtain set-a-side land from my government in England?

Question

I ask to get other minds thinking.

Answer 1

If you want to be a farmer, any kind of farmer, you need to either buy a farm, or have one handed down from your predecessors.

Set aside, is not land that's up for grabs, it's land that farmers are forced to take out of production, so as to satisfy EU regulations, and avoid the 'food mountains' of past times.

Set aside land still belongs to the farmer(s) who own it!!

If you're not from a farming background, then you are on a very steep learning curve.  It isn't just a matter of grabbing some land and sticking a few seeds into it!

Farming is bloody hard work, it pays bugger-all, and we're going out of business faster than a sand merchant in a desert.

Don't be fooled by the romantic numptification of rural life and farming in TV shows like "River Cottage" and "Jimmy's Farm" those pillocks haven't got a clue!  and they don't have to make it pay - the TV company pays for their input.

Farming is unforgiving if you get it wrong, it can be rewarding when you get it right, but if it's not in your blood - forget it!!

Remember that you will need to comply with,

DEFRA rules and regulations on disease control, animal movement orders, nitrogen sensitve areas, polution control, waste management etc etc.

EA rules on waste storage, surface water run-off and potential contamination, pesticide and herbicide usage, storage and control etc etc.

If you aim to keep livestock,

You must comply with animal welfare act 2006, shelter, movement, disease prevention, proper facilities for feed, water, transportation, and entertainment - yes, you'r not allowed to let your animals get bored! You must provide toys and stimulation for them. It sounds daft, but it is the law.

You will have issues around record keeping, for all of your activities, land work, animal work, and machinery operations, maintenance and safety.

You will also have to comply with HSE regulations regarding the safe working of your tractors, implements and static machinery, electrical equipment, fuel storage, oil storage (both waste oil and new oil).

And as yet, we haven't even scratched the surface!!

I don't want to put you off if you are genuine, but from your question - I don't really think you have a clue!!

I've been involved in farming for 34 years, and still haven't got it all tabbed! and now that I'm in the driving seat (since my Dad died) I'm just beginning to realise how much he had to contend with.  I can spend more time in the office than on the land - it isn't all fun and games I'm afraid!

Answer 2

You will have to buy or rent land. It is not given away nor apart from National trust and national parks or Council owed land is it owned by your Government, which incidentally is referred to as 'The' Government not 'My' Government, unless of course, you have your own private one

You deserve 10 points for the stupidest question so far today

Answer 3

to be honest if yahoo answers is the first place you thought of to ask that, then you probably arent cut out for it!...you need to contact the local authority for info on land and grants

Answer 4

No you need to buy land.

Answer 5

Set Aside land is set aside to prevent excess farming and large food surpluses. It is privately owned by farmers and they make a commercial decision about how much land to put into the scheme. They are paid, by the EU giving the UK government a grant, a fixed sum of money per hectare. During periods of farm surpluses, this is attractive but when demand for food picks up and prices rise, farming the land becomes attractive again.

If you wish to be a farmer, you have to buy or rent your own land. I'd recommend going to agricultural college first and getting a qualification in farm management. Finance for this can be obtained similarly to the way a university education is financed.

You can get into farming by being a tenant farmer first. Particularly if you work for a large land owner, like the Co-op (but I think they're only in dairy), there are fixed salaries and a career path. But if you want to own your own farm, you have to buy or rent the land to do it. I may be wrong but my understanding is that a tenant farmer is more like an employee, whereas someone who rents land to farm is a tenant but not a tenant farmer because the business is his, if not the land.

I'm not aware of any grants to take up farming.