Buccleuch Estates is set to make an extensive range of farm land available to let on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfriesshire.
Almost 2500 acres of mixed use and arable land will be let in 17 lots, including whole farm units, land with buildings and bare land. The majority of the land will be let on short limited duration tenancies.
It will be broken up into different parcels for let to create only one “starter unit” – Clonhie, a 233-acre livestock unit that will be let on a 10-year limited duration tenancy.
John Glen, chief executive of Buccleuch Group, said: “The decision to cease our in-hand farming operation at Queensberry has enabled us to bring to the market a significant amount of land for let, which offers a range of opportunities for different farm enterprises.
“We hope that Clonhie Farm, in particular, will attract interest from potential new entrants to farming.
“We intend to let the unit for 10 years after which the tenant would move on, freeing up the farm for another tenant looking for a start in farming.
“We will also be letting multiple parcels of land which may be attractive to new entrants who require only land and farm buildings.”
The estate has added the caveat that, “should Clonhie Farm be let to someone other than a new entrant, the estate plans to bring an alternative starter unit to the market”.
Angus McCall, chairman of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA) told the Herald: “While I am pleased to see such a large area of land coming on to the market to let, I am disappointed that there is only one starter unit being offered.
This was a wonderful opportunity to have created several such units for new entrants to gain a foothold on the first rung of the farming industry.”
In addition to paying an open market rent, tenants will have to farm without the benefit of single farm payment, as the land is to be let as “bare land”, or land with no subsidy.
Tenants will not benefit from any new area payments that may be created by the current CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) reforms. EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos has stated his intention to introduce 2011 as the reference year for the qualification for the new area entitlements.
Market round-up
Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1011 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £80 per head and 188.5p per kg to average 170.3p. A good offering of 526 cast sheep was easily cleared with ewes selling to £86.50 for Lleyns and £66 for Blackfaces.
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 42 prime cattle forward at their weekly sale in Dumfries on Wednesday.
Heifers sold to 221.5p per kg and averaged 199.1p, while bullocks peaked at 205.5p and levelled at 197p.
In the rough ring there were 76 OTM cattle forward with beef cows averaging 128p, while dairy cows levelled at 111.5p.
Over in the sheep ring 1035 prime lambs sold to £76.50 per head and 191p per kg to average 170.2p.
The firm also had 523 cast sheep forward with heavy ewes selling to £86.50 for Texels and averaging £68.80, while light ewes peaked at £68.50 for Lleyn and levelled at £50.61.
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