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. Our podcast disclaimer can be found below. Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the specialist rural podcast production agency. Disclaimer By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that RuralPod Media Limited makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general informational purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, RuralPod Media Limited does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Any third-party materials or content of any third-party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of RuralPod Media Limited. RuralPod Media Limited assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, RuralPod Media Limited makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. The views of the presenters, guests and any other contributors to this podcast are personal and RuralPod Media Limited or its sponsors, affiliates, employees or contractors, does not take any responsibility for these views. Such views are not the views of RuralPod Media Limited or any of its sponsors, affiliates, employees or contractors. RuralPod Media Limited does not verify the accuracy of the information contained in the podcast, and RuralPod Media Limited takes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the podcast. The informati