Cumbria young farmers scoop award

Carlisle young farmers Michael Nelson and Steven Powley walked off with a major business development award at the year’s biggest countryside event - this weekend’s CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire.

The pair were winners of a National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs competition designed to find the young farmers best equipped to put together a viable farm business development plan.

Introducing the award, George Dunn, of the Tenant Farmers Association and chairman of the judging panel, explained that contestants had to put together a proposal for a real farm which would convince the judges – including bankers and professional agents – that they should be offered a tenancy.

Clive Beer, of Savills, said he had been impressed with the improvements in the level and standard of submissions and of the individuals coming forward.

"We have made this competition as real to life as we can because young farmers going after a tenancy have to understand that they are likely to be up against existing farmers with real working knowledge – so we test them to make sure that their business plans really stand up

Katherine Sealy, chairman of the NFYFC Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee, said clubs from all over the country had taken up the challenge laid down by government to up their game.

"Training and knowledge are essential parts of the future of the industry and modern farmers are going to have to be multi skilled. For young people who want to start farming, tenancy opportunities are becoming increasingly important and this competition is a great way of gaining experience in the best way to put together a business proposal," she said.