Organic Futures blog

The Field and Lycetts run a competition called Young Rural Entrepreneur of the year. It was set up to showcase the best young entrepreneurs who are running a business in a rural area, or that benefits the rural economy.

It’s very refreshing to see a high profile competition for rural businesses - with TV programmes like Dragon’s Den and The Apprentice, the city lifestyle and cut-and-thrust of boardrooms is made to appear very attractive. Yet there are so many great businesses that are in rural areas - many of which are every bit as innovative, market-focused and customer driven as high flying city businesses…albeit with lower turnovers!

Last year the winners of the £10,000 cash prize were Ben and Charlotte Hollins of Fordhall Farm in Shropshire. The story of the saving of Fordhall Farm is an incredible one, a feat against all odds and it now exists as probably the best community land initiative in the country, whilst being a beautiful place and a profitable business. It is thoroughly inspiring and a worthy winner of the prize.

Young Rural Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 is now open for entries. The criteria are simple: you are eligible if you are under 35 and run a business with a rural theme in the UK. This is well worth entering…imagine what you could do with £10,000?

Click here for more details.

Here are the details of a fantastic event that is planned for this summer… places will sell out fast so be sure to secure yours asap (contact details at the bottom)….

Young Producer Weekend

Hankham Organics - 12-13th July 2008

Hankham Organics is situated near Pevensey in East Sussex and includes a 1.5 acre glasshouse. A wide variety of traditional and glasshouse crops are grown for a box scheme and wholesale market.

 This event is aimed at young and aspiring horticulturists interested in gaining a valuable insight into the workings of a viable commercial organic growing business. Miles Denyer and Peter Dollimore will host the day and their combination of practical and business skills will ensure this is an insightful and informative event. On Sunday morning there will also be the opportunity to have a walk around neighbouring Montague Farm, situated on the Pevensey Marshes (SSSI) and run by Martin and Gundrada Hole who produce and market their own organic lamb and beef. Montague Farm pride themselves on placing the needs of wildlife at the forefront of all that they do and consider themselves conservationists first and foremost. 

This is a fantastic opportunity not only to gain valuable technical insight but also a great chance for a social get-together with fellow horticulturists and producers - not to be missed! 

Please aim to arrive by 1.30pm on the Saturday. The walk and talk at Hankham will run from approximately 2pm-6.30pm with a break for tea at 4pm. There will also be an evening meal and field space for camping provided. Sunday morning’s farm walk at Montague Farm will run from 10-12am.

Cost: £30 to include farm walks, overnight camping plus evening meal and breakfast.

 ****Book early to avoid disappointment – places will sell out fast!**** 

For further information or to book your place, please contact: 

Jemima Roberts 01273 622620 / 07976 012713 jemimaroberts@hotmail.com  

Access to land is a huge issue for any new entrant to agriculture or horticulture. Unless new entrants happen to have a lot of money behind them (which is unlikely for any young business), prices of land are virtually out of reach of any new business.

Organic food attracts premium prices and it appears organic land does also. Whilst this is a positive in that the value of organic husbandry is being reflected in capital values, it makes it even harder for existing organic farms to be taken on by a younger generation.

Here are some illuminating figures from the Times online:

£3,500 Price of an average acre of farmland a year ago
£5,000 Price that an acre is close to fetching today
£7,000 Price today of an acre of prime arable land
£10,000 Rural market experts say this will be the cost of an acre within three years

Recent sales and valuations of organic farms show a trend in prices exceeding the £5,000 average by quite a margin. Small acerages (which have market potential for horsey-culture).

There is a clear need for some serious thinking from all parties involved in land management for some solutions to these issues. Without some intervention, land will continually be bought up by large businesses and as investments, perpetuating the trend in de-ruralisation and creating an ever-deader rural Britain.