Chance to farm in Oz

A Western Australian arable business is set to tempt UK farmers fed up with red tape who are looking for a large acreage.

Roells at Yorkrakine, near Kellerberrin, about two hours’ drive east of Perth, is farmed on a minimum-tillage basis by owner Craig Gorfin using just one worker to help run the 9300-acre unit.

He grows about 8300 acres of wheat, barley, oilseed rape, lupins and field peas and said the three-year average wheat yield was 2.3t/ha (0.93t/acre).

Mr Gorfin, who is retiring due to a bad back, said the profitable farm, which is also fully fenced and watered for stock, would make a fantastic family home.

“There are lots of amenities nearby and a number of English farmers are in the area.”

The farm includes a fully air-conditioned four-bed house – temperatures can top 35C in the summer but average “only” 18C in July – and another four-bed homestead.

Alex Lawson of Savills, which is handling the sale in the UK, said even with the lower yields the £2.5m guide price made Roells very good value.

“For the same value as their own holding UK farmers can farm on a considerably larger scale, enjoying a better standard of living – free from the red tape of Brussels.”