What do you do when you run out of space to expand your farm? Why you pitch in with seven other farmers to set up one of the biggest farms in the country.

Back in February, I reported that a group of farmers were in talks to set up a long-term lease on a large block of land in the west.

Building tycoons the Bailey brothers had been rumoured to want to get involved.

Anyway, The Dealer understands that a lease has been signed by eight farmers in the west for a 420ac dairy farm, with a 300ac milking platform.

The ink is barely dry on the agreement.

It was a long night last Friday in the solicitor’s office, with the parties involved going in at 5pm and not leaving until 9pm, I heard.

I’ve spoken to a few in the group and they tell me planning permission has also been lodged for the buildings but there’s nothing official on any county council database just yet. The group hopes to start supplying milk next year to Aurivo.

Back in February when I reported on this first, it was understood Aurivo had been exploring options to better utilise land around its Ballaghadereen plant as it has plenty of milk processing capacity and the sheep in the hinterland won’t fill it.

However, I have since learned that Aurivo’s only involvement will be collecting and processing the milk. The services of farm profitability guru Roberta McDonald would be offered to help get the operation get off the ground too should it be necessary.

It is understood that a cross-bred, high-EBI herd is to be established and progress has already started on the ground, with the whole farm being reseeded at the moment.

The terms of entry were saucy enough.

Each farmer is understood to have had to put forward either €160,000 or €80,000 plus 80 heifers.

Furthermore, the group is to begin advertising for a farm manager position and another staff position in the very near future.

I’ve also heard that the farm will have an open-door policy, down the line – once it is established that is.

It won’t be a demonstration farm, but we’ll all be able to have a peek.