Working with farms and businesses

Limestone Country Project and the farm business

Economic research

The Project employed Askham Bryan College and the University of Gloucester to study the impact of introducing Limestone Country Project cattle on the farm business. This was done by collecting farm accounts going back several years before and during the Project and using these to model the impact of the Project on farm incomes. This research showed that:

Galloway cow

• 60-80% of the farm income is made up of subsidies and environmental grants.

• Substituting sheep with Limestone Country Project cattle had a positive impact on the farm business for all three farm models and was a profitable enterprise.

• It is only profitable, however, if premium prices (above the mainstream beef market) are achieved.

• It is also only profitable if the initial cattle purchase and infrastructure costs are supported (as in the Limestone Country Project) otherwise income levels are not high enough to repay this initial investment.

Limestone Country Beef Limited

Limestone Country Beef
promotional material

It was important that the Limestone Country Project was economically viable and the Project partners assisted the farmers to develop a premium market. This eventually resulted in Limestone Country Beef Limited which is owned and run by the farmers and is now selling beef through local butchers.