The County Farms Estate is vital in providing the first step on the farming ladder. Find out how they are funded, and aims.
It comprises of 40 farms and is spread over 2,000 hectares throughout Dorset. The first farm was acquired in 1911 in the parish of Marnhull.
A new Farms Estate Strategy 2026 to 2036 was approved by Dorset Council Cabinet Committee in October 2025.
Aims and objectives of the Farms Estate:
- support new entrants: to provide opportunities and support for new farmers committed to sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices and sustainable food production
- environmental improvement: to implement practices that conserve biodiversity, improve soil health and reduce emissions and
- good estate management: robust asset management of the estate, to ensure assets are in good condition, fit for purpose, compliant and future proofed where possible.
To deliver the aims and objectives the council will categorise the estate to the following categories providing focus for the management of individual properties:
- starter farms: core holdings suitable for future or immediate starter farm use, providing opportunities for new entrants to set up and operate a sustainable agricultural business.
- progression farms: core holdings suitable for future or immediate progression farms use, enabling the opportunity for development and expansion of a sustainable agricultural business, and generating turnover of starter farm opportunities.
- land: land which could be amalgamated into either starter farms or progression farms to create viable units suitable to meet the needs of a modern sustainable business, and/or to enable environmental improvements.
- other: this category includes assets which are identified as unsuitable for starter farms or progression farms, and/or the cost of making them suitable by providing the necessary requirements is not considered viable or acceptable. This may be due to location, size, configuration, or significant infrastructure limitations.