Commercial farms appeal

Two arable farms hitting the market this month are likely to sell fast if the agents’ descriptions are anything to go by.

Vale Farm, Thoresway, in Lincolnshire and Balinroich Farm, near Tain, in Easter Ross are both described as highly productive units, with fertile soils split into big fields that suit modern machinery.

The Lincolnshire unit consists of 653 acres of Grade 2 and 3 land and a farmhouse plus paddock, lotted separately.

Soils are free-draining silty loams over chalk, producing big yields of combinable crops and sugar beet. Vale Farm’s five-year average for winter wheat is 10.48t/ha, and 55.32t/ha for beet, says Brown & Co’s James Walton.

“It is an exceptionally good farm,” he added. “It’s got everything for the commercial farmer, plus a shoot and a classic Wolds landscape.”

The sale is lotted two ways – the five-bedroom farmhouse, in the village of Thoresway, is guided at £750,000.

The land, mostly within 12 ring-fenced fields, plus a range of modern farm buildings, including 1700t of on-floor and bin grain storage, a workshop and general-purpose buildings, is guided at £4.75m, almost £7300/acre.

The price reflected the demand in the area, said Mr Walton. “Wold farms of this quality don’t come to the market very often. We are expecting a great deal of interest both locally and nationall.” (Brown & Co 01664 502 124)

Balinroich Farm has also produced some high yields, averaging 10.9t/ha of winter wheat and 6.2t/ha of spring barley in 2009, said Tom Stewart-Moore of agent Strutt & Parker.

The farm runs to 513 acres, including 477 acres of Class 2 arable soil split into nine fields and 30 acres of woodland. The land lies just 16-49ft above sea level and benefits from a relatively mild climate.

The farm, originally the home farm of the Allan Estate, also has a portfolio of properties. These include a seven-bedroom farmhouse, a four-bedroom garden house and six further cottages. The main house has vacant possession; all the rest are on short assured tenancies.

“This is a fantastic arable farm in an extremely fertile part of the country,” said Mr Stewart-Moore. “It has the added bonus of providing an attractive rental income, with the cottages generating £29,220 annually.”

The farm also includes a range of modern and traditional farm buildings, including almost 2300t of grain storage, a workshop and a traditional stone steading.

The farm is for sale as a whole for offers over £3.8m. (Strutt & Parker 0131 226 2500)