A FIRST-generation farmer has said she is “excited” to take up a starter farm near Romsey after its previous tenant moved on.

Emma Hunt, 34, is taking over Annart Farm on Carters Clay Road in Lockerley from previous tenant Ryan House, who has moved to a larger Hampshire County Council tenant farm. The handover for the 35-acre starter plot occurred on Friday, March 24.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Emma, who runs Dandys Ford Dairy, explained her plans for the plot: “I’ve got a little herd of dairy cows, I’ve got a micro-dairy, that’s been going for about two years now. And I do something a little bit different with my dairy farming, I keep the calves with cows, and they share the milk with us, doing a calf share. And then I pasteurise it and sell it locally and I have local delivery rounds and collection points where customers can come and get the milk.

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“My plans for the future with Annart Farm, what I would really like to do, is work towards getting a farm shop there. That would be the dream, and I also want to expand the milk production I would like to offer cream and yoghurt and other dairy-based products, grow that a little bit.”

Emma is also hoping to offer beef in the future, as well as other meat such as pork and lamb and said that she is excited to take on the plot.

She continued: “I think whenever I take something on, well I always think I’ve got to throw myself into it, 200 per cent really go for it and hope for the best.”

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A first-generation farmer, Emma said that the plot is “a fantastic opportunity” for someone like her to get her foot in the door of agriculture.

She explained: “About 18 months ago, with my little herd of dairy cows, I’ve got a really tiny plot where I am now that I’ve very much outgrown, but I’ve found it very difficult to get hold of land. So I’ve been very thankful to get this opportunity with Hampshire County Council.

“I joined Romsey Young Farmers, that’s what developed my passion and interest for farming. I’ve always loved cows and it’s just grown from there.”