Cornish first generational farmers run their own farm

Despite the ever-increasing average farmer ages, high land values and well documented financial pressures Ed and Amy Whiteman have not let these deter them.

The first generation farmers, from Mevagissey near St Austell, took their chance to take the plunge and enter the industry three years ago.

Amy said: “My Dad was herdsman on a local dairy farm and Granddad was farm manager at the Caerhays Estate, so the bug for farming started from a young age. Ed has worked in agriculture for 10 years after studying agriculture at Duchy College.

“We talked of getting our own stock for a long time but realistically it wasn’t an option without having any land of our own, but when an opportunity arose in 2018 to graze some sheep alongside a local friend’s beef cows that was it, we were off

“We started our own flock by purchasing 14 Suffolk mule ewe lambs with some of our wedding money.”

The couple, who welcomed their son Sidney in 2019, sell most of their lamb through Treway Farm as an addition to their successful shorthorn beef and free-range turkey business.

The next step was securing their own 73 acre Cornwall Council farm near Gorran.

Amy added: “Since taking on Carvinick we’ve expanded our flock to 160 mainly Suffolk mule ewes with a handful of pedigree Texel and Suffolk ewes, we also purchased our first cattle since the move last September.

The couple have a flock of 160 ewes.

“We lamb roughly a third of the ewes at the beginning of January and the rest lamb from the middle of March when the weather is hopefully better.”

Ed and Amy’s plan is to build the number of ewes up to 200 next year and continue supplying quality grass-fed lamb direct to the public. Their aim is to secure another farm when their current tenancy ends.

But what advice would they give aspiring young farmers from their journey so far?

Amy advised: “Dream big and don’t give up. If we were asked at the beginning of 2018 where we’d see ourselves in 3 years’ time, we wouldn’t have contemplated that we’d be running our own farm.”

While Ed adds: “Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice, most people in the industry love to share their experience and offer a helping hand in tough or busy times.”

To find out more about lamb from Carvinick call 07800 638805 or visit www.trewayfarmturkeys.co.uk.