County farm estate brings in £734,000

A local authority says its county farms estate has brought in a net profit of £734,000 over the past year.

There are 63 tenant farms owned by Staffordshire County Council, covering about 6,500 acres.

They provide opportunities for new and progressing farmers as well as generating income for public services, the authority's bosses said.

Alongside the financial return, the estate has supported local food production as well as rural businesses and jobs.

The five new tenants have taken up holdings on the estate this year, while two existing tenants progressed to larger farms.

Edward Johnson, from Stone, grew up on a county farm where his father Philip is a dairy tenant and is now a tenant farmer himself.

He secured a starter dairy holding in June, and said he had a "huge passion" for the industry, which "isn't easy to get started in".

"Gaining this tenancy has meant I can start farming in my own right," he added.

Luke Greenfield and his partner Delyth are also among the new tenant farmers on the county's roster.

"We started farming at a smallholding in Cheshire and moved on to our council holding earlier this year," Mr Greenfield said.

The pair have 130 cows and 80 sheep and said they were looking forward to seeing how their "farming journey" progressed.

The council has been renting out farms since 1908, with a focus on livestock and dairy farming.

Martin Murray, acting leader of the authority, said buying a farm outright was out of reach for most, which was why the tenancies were so important.

"Our tenants represent the future of farming in Staffordshire, and county farms help lay the foundations for the next generation," he said.

More county farms were expected to become available to let next year, the authority said.

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