| Education
Students compete for unique share farming
agreement opportunity
Agriculture students from Moreton Morrell College in Warwickshire are being given the opportunity to compete to win a
sought-after shared farming agreement - meaning they could start their farming career at the age of just 18.
hared farming agreements are
where the landowner and a
farmer agree to work together
to share the farming of a piece
of land. They remain
independent businesses with
one providing the land and buildings and the
other providing the machinery and labour. This
type of agreement is being promoted by the
CLA (the Countryside Landowners’
Association) as a way of young people getting
their first foot on the farming ladder.
Ian and Jane Wenman from Ratley in
Oxfordshire contacted agriculture lecturer Josh
Letten at Moreon Morrell to discuss the
possibility of offering one of the students a
shared farming agreement for their 40 acres
and buildings.
Jane Wenman explained the reasons behind
their approach, “Unfortunately we haven’t had
the time to focus on the land, we both work and
it’s difficult to put the time and work in that it
needs. This opportunity would not only benefit
us but it’s a fantastic opportunity for one of the
students. We’d love to offer it to someone who
many not have the opportunity to purchase
land once they finish their course, this will allow
them to jump straight out of college and into
work.
“It will enhance the site for both of us, so it’s
S
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a win-win situation. We’re hoping we can pass
on our knowledge but we’ll also benefit greatly
from their experience and expertise.”
She went on to explain what they will be
looking for in the business plan, “Attention to
detail is very important, but we have very open
minds on what’s possible on the site. We won’t
be looking for the obvious, and would much
rather something outside of the box and
something a bit different. We’re open to new
ideas and can’t wait to hear what the students
have come up with.
“Commitment is a big thing, and a sense of
business would be important. It’s a fantastic
opportunity so we’re looking for someone with
great work ethic and the passion to take it on.
But overall it comes down to personality, we’ll
be working closely together so we need it to be
a great relationship.”
The students, who are all in the second year
of their two year Extended Diploma in
Agriculture, have recently been on a fact-finding
visit to the farm to help produce their business
plan. Adam, 18 from Harbury, said, “Today was
important to get some new ideas and build on
others I’d had before the visit. It’s been
beneficial because I've been able to rule out a
few of the ideas I had too.
Talking about the chance on offer, he said, “It
would be a great opportunity to start to my
career. My Grandad had a farm so it’s always
been a passion of mine. It would be
Tomamazing
Wood to
get into work straight from college, doing
something I really want to pursue.”
Kitty, 18 from Brinklow is also one of the
students bidding for the shared farming
agreement. She said, “At the moment, when I'm
not at college, I work on two different farms sheep, and pig and beef - and I really enjoy it. It
would be great to have this opportunity and it
would be the next step up to be able to have
the freedom to come up with my own ideas on
the shared farm.”
Josh Letten, agriculture lecturer said, "We'd
really like to thank the Wenman family for giving
our students such a unique opportunity to
begin their farming career. They are now
working hard on their business plans, which we
teach as part of the course, before submitting
them to the Wenmans for the final decision.
Whoever is chosen, the whole process has
been a really valuable experience for them as
they look to their future careers in agriculture."
The final decision will be made during May,
with the chosen student announced in June.
Moreton Morrell College offers agriculture
and countryside management courses. For
more information go to
www.warwickshire.ac.uk/courses or call 0300
456 0049.
May 2016 | Farming Monthly |19