First Time Farmers - Getting a Council Farm after Eight Years of Saving
In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle sits down with Welsh beef farmer Nathan Jones, who runs around 60 head of cattle, reared from calves of various breeds, along with a few pedigree Simmentals. He farms a 40 acre holding in Mid Wales rented from Powys County Council, after spending around six years on a dairy unit. Nathan, who shares his journey on social media as The First Time Farmers, explains how he and his wife, a full-time vet, finally secured a council tenancy. He explains why savings and hard work mattered in the tender and business plan process, and how the holding sits close to the grandparents' council farm where he first caught the farming bug. Nathan then walks through the first six months of the business: buying calves at Shrewsbury Market, which breeds have thrived and which, like the Friesian bulls, have tested his patience, the hard lessons of buying second hand kit, and his plan to keep cattle until nine to 12 months old before moving them on. He also talks about his years competing in Britain's Fittest Farmer, including reaching the final in 2024 and this year, where he finished eighth. Along the way he discusses the future of small livestock farms in Wales, the Sustainable Farming Scheme, his hopes of progressing to a bigger tenancy, his work across three beef and sheep farms, and practical advice for anyone entering farming without family land. The episode closes with quickfire questions and Nathan's message on farmers and the public understanding one another.🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok @mtf_podcast for more content.Link to newsletter sign up - https://www.ruralpodmedia.co.uk/newsletter/Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. 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