THERE aren’t many opportunities for new entrants to get into farming. Dairy farming is probably the area of least opportunity, so I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be entering a contract farming agreement this spring on a 180-acre farm near Scotch Corner with my good friends Ian and Margaret Walton.

Contract faming is still a relatively new concept to the UK, but is one of the few means by which we can get farming. Tenancies are fewer and further between, councils continue to sell off their assets up and down the country and those available are often not fit for dairying.

Furthermore, in applying for a tenancy, there is fierce competition from existing farmers and neighbours who have a proven track record and can simply spread their overheads over a larger land area.

Then there’s the issue of borrowing money. Don’t get me wrong, contract farming involves a massive financial commitment, but less than a tenancy would require, and it also (I hope) gives some support/mentoring from the farmer on site who knows the farm’s foibles and strengths.

Every contract is tailored to the requirements of the parties involved. From our perspective, the help and guidance of Greg Ricketts at Anderson’s Consultants has been invaluable.

In essence, the contract is between two parties, the contractor – myself – who supplies the cows and machinery, as well as labour and expertise, and the farmer, Ian and Margaret, who provide the farm, buildings and facilities.

The business is run through a Number 2 account from which feed, AI, and other costs are paid, while income into this account includes the milk cheque and surplus stock sales.

The farmer gets a farmer’s fee each month, while the contractor receives a contractor’s fee, and the profit from the year, known as the divisible return, is split between the two parties.

This is a rather simplistic version of the workings of the contract, but gives you an idea of the concept.

So why have I gone down this route? Well, basically, because I’m a dairy farmer/ cow girl born and bred.

I have been very fortunate to have always enjoyed the jobs I have had, whether that be in former lives in agricultural sales or editorial and advertising work to establishing, nearly six years ago, The Farm Organisation which is an all-encompassing agricultural marketing and consultancy business that continues to thrive and has serviced more than 200 farmers and businesses across the UK.

At the core of all this, though, has been my love for dairy cows – now’s the time for me to stop “talking the talk” and “walk the walk”, a challenge I relish, but one I know will be a steep learning curve.

Milking twice a day every day will be tying to someone who has travelled the world over the past 20 years, but in a weird way I just want to have a go for myself and stay put for a while.

So this venture has obviously been on the cards for a while. I have now had three weeks of 5am starts, many disasters – including a suspension from a barbed wire fence – and more highs and lows will no doubt follow.

I have bought 100 cows from the Carkin herd which Alistair Smith has farmed on the farm in a contract with the Waltons for the past five years and it’s now full steam ahead.

Herd health is one of dairy farming’s hot potatoes so it’s a big relief that I could strike a deal to buy stock already on the farm – used to the system and with all the benefits this should afford from a health, disease and disturbance/stress angle.

Having now also gathered together my other animals, my aim is to establish a closed herd relatively quickly, probably then using embryo transfer longer term to introduce new families and bloodlines.

I have spent more time than I ever want to spend again researching machinery, particularly tractors, over the past month.

I never envisaged myself test-driving tractors around industrial estates, but it’s been fun in a strange way.

I’m very happy with the 2010 MF5435 I have secured – fit for purpose with good visibility and as near a loader as possible but with a PTO.

We aim to run a simple system at Carkin, based on grass, grass silage and concentrates, so a new Foster Forage box is proving a useful asset.

Tractor skills aren’t my bag, really, but I’ll draw on my bale-leading experience from yesteryear and cornleading in Canada many moons ago. I don’t suppose I’ll have a wolf watch me turning hay as I experienced in Ontario in 1994.

With cattle breeding a particular interest, selecting semen was an easier decision to get my head around.

Mindful of milk going to Arla and the need going forward for more fat, I aim to tweak the existing herd, as from a conformation perspective, my predecessors have built a great herd.

I’ve always enjoyed showing but after borrowing the national debt, my focus in the beginning will be milk in the tank from 100 cows and the accompanying attention to detail, rather than the joy a couple of individuals in the show ring can bring me.

All of a sudden, I have taken more notice of the UK economy and interest rates than ever before. I sincerely hope, despite the supermarkets’ dogged determination to use milk as a loss leader, that we can sustain a sensible and business- sustaining milk price.

The terraced house I bought in 2003 has just been sold, which has released some capital and otherwise I have secured private investment, without the need to approach the banks.

However, monitoring my budgets and keeping a (bleary) eye on all costs and figures will be crucial. My latest benchmark is that annual semen costs should be no more than one per cent of annual milk sale income – any more and we are spending more than we need.

As a single woman about to embark on the dairy farming ladder, my challenge may be all the greater. Mr Right (a wealthy, good looking dairy farmer) might just be around the corner, but I’ve given up waiting and decided I’ll have to go it alone for now.

Beware all that know me, though. I will need my hand metaphorically holding over the coming months and I could be calling you for help and advice – please.