IN BRIEF
IN BRIEF
• PART of its series entitled Helping You Achieve Success, Lloyds TSB Agriculture has published a guide on investing in and managing a new farm business. It is aimed at two types of newcomers to farmland: those who have surplus cash or assets and are looking to purchase, and those who are looking to take their first (or next) step on the farming ladder without investing in land.
"We hope it will show how new money and new blood can work together for the benefit of all involved," says Tim Porter, head of agriculture at Lloyds TSB.
Available free from local business managers or email (agriculture@lloydstsb.co.uk).
• ONE of the smaller organic farms among the clutch to come to the market this market has found a buyer.
Balsdon Farm, with 109 acres near Inkpen, Berks and a house with an agricultural tie, is under offer to a local purchaser new to farming.
Agent Strutt & Parker is "hopeful" the unit, valued at £750,000, will remain organic.
Considerable interest was shown in the IACS-registered pasture farm, but not principally for its organic status, says the firm.
A huge mail-out to certified organic farmers resulted in a poor response. *
• IACS-eligible arable land at Harbury, Warks was auctioned by Howkins & Harrison to average £2785/acre. The larger parcel, at 78.8 acres, went for £200,000; the remaining 14.47 acres for £59,000 (over £4000/acre). Both were bought be neighbouring farmers.
"Both were bought by farming buyers, but, unusually, with farming money," said auctioneer Tim Ball. "Most of the land we have sold in the past 12 months has been to farmers, but with non-farming money."