The legacy of a young dairy farmer who died in tragic circumstances last year is set to live on as his father seeks a new entrant to farm the holding.
Owen Carlisle had built up a successful dairy business at Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire with his father, Egan, before he took his own life after struggling with mental health issues.
Mr Carlisle, who sold the milking herd after Owen’s death, has now turned to the Welsh government's Farming Connect Venture programme in his search for a first-generation farmer to farm the 160-acre holding.
Venture is an initiative designed to pair up landowners who are looking to step back from the industry with new entrants, offering funding for business planning and legal guidance.
Mr Carlisle is adamant that the farming opportunity must be offered to someone starting out in the industry.
“Owen came home to farm when he was 16 and I want to give that opportunity to another youngster, someone who is trying to get onto the farming ladder," he says.
“It is so hard for a youngster to get into dairy farming, the farm is set up as a dairy farm and I want someone else to benefit from what we have done here."
Well-equipped
Mr Carlisle’s parents had themselves come to Llainrhydwen, near Newcastle Emlyn, as new entrants with no family background in farming.
At one point the family was milking 140 cows and invested £80,000 in a 14/28 Waikato parlour.
In recent years, cow numbers were scaled back to 60 Montbéliardes, a breed that Owen favoured.
As well as the milking parlour, the farm is well equipped with a 3,000-litre bulk tank, cubicle housing for up to 120 cows, silage and slurry storage and a dedicated calf shed with a feed passage for rearing youngstock from birth through to turnout.
There is also accommodation – an annex to the farmhouse that would be suitable for a small family.
Mr Carlisle hopes he can get someone in place by September and, in the meantime, is growing silage to provide fodder for any livestock that might be at the farm in the winter.
'Grow into it'
Although the farm is 160 acres, he says the new entrant does not necessarily have to start with the entire acreage.
“There would be an opportunity to grow into it as some could be rented out for summer grazing until all the land is needed," Mr Carlisle says.
Since Owen’s death last June, the farm has been rented out for summer grazing and winter sheep tack and Mr Carlisle also retained 30 yearlings.
He doesn’t want to sell the farm but is ready to take a step back.
Although there has been interest from existing farmers keen to run it as a satellite farm, Mr Carlisle doesn’t want to go down that route.
Anyone interested in Mr Carlisle’s opportunity are advised not to contact him directly. Contact Farming Connect to express an interest and they will coordinate enquiries on Mr Carlisle’s behalf.
