Case Study: Navigating Family Disputes to Secure the Future of a Somerset Dairy Farm
By Tracey Simm, Business Development Manager, UK Agricultural Finance
At UK Agricultural Finance, we understand that farming is not just a business—it’s a way of life, deeply rooted in family and legacy. Inheritance should be a moment of continuity—a chance to preserve a family legacy. But for many farming families, it can also bring decades of unresolved tensions and financial uncertainty. At UK Agricultural Finance, we specialise in helping families move beyond these challenges with practical, structured solutions that secure the future of their land and business.
This recent case in Somerset is one I’m particularly proud of. It speaks to the reality many farming families face: balancing history with progress, emotion with logic—and doing it all in a way that keeps the farm running.
A Legacy Interrupted
Our borrowers—a father and son—have farming in their blood. The father inherited the farm alongside his siblings after their own father passed away suddenly over 40 years ago. While the siblings moved on with their lives, the father remained on the land, building the dairy business and maintaining the property.
But life took a difficult turn when he suffered a serious back injury, forcing him to sell the dairy herd. With his son still at school and the land out to rent, the future looked uncertain.
Rebuilding the Business—One Calf at a Time
Years later when the son left school, he brought with him the energy and commitment needed to restart the family’s dairy operation. Together, father and son re-established a pedigree British Friesian dairy herd, added a few Jersey cows for richer milk, and resumed milk production. The business regained its footing supplying milk to Wykes, a trusted local processor. A bungalow was built for the son to live independently on the farm.
The Family Rift Resurfaces
After decades of no involvement, the father’s siblings returned with a request to be bought out of their share of the farm. Given the history, it was an emotionally and financially complex situation—but the son was clear: he wanted full control, clean ownership, and a stable future for the farm.
This is where we stepped in.
Our Solution: A Tailored Bridge Loan with Room to Breathe
We structured a £700,000 bridging loan over 36 months, including 24 months of prepaid interest to give the family time and space to implement their plans. This gave them the certainty needed to complete the buyout and stabilise ownership.
The loan was secured against:
- The main 1855 farmhouse,
- A bungalow with agricultural tie,
- Various farm buildings,
- 85 acres of pasture, arable land, and woodland,
- Sporting rights that form part of a local shoot run by the son.
As part of the wider restructuring, the family are selling approximately 80 acres to a neighbouring estate. They’ve smartly arranged to rent back the sold land for 18 months, allowing them to continue cropping and grazing in the short term.
In addition to the land sale, the family plan to sell the main farmhouse—currently valued at around £800,000—and downsize to reduce living costs and pay down the loan further. Several roadside barns have been identified for potential Class Q residential conversion, offering an additional route for capital repayment if needed.
Ultimately, the borrowers aimed to refinance the remainder of the loan with a high street lender once profitability improves. However, we have very recently received an update from the borrowers; they have accepted an offer on one of the houses and subject to this sale completing they will be able to repay our loan within 2 months and the dairy farm can continue unencumbered by any debt.
Adapting the Farm to Support the Transition
In response to the restructuring and reduced landholding, the son made several strategic changes to ensure the long-term viability of the business. He reduced the herd size to around 125 head, aligned the calving pattern with available grazing, and transitioned to a grass-fed, closed herd system—retaining heifer calves for replacements and eliminating the need to buy in stock.
They’ve also overcome previous TB issues through careful biosecurity and local badger control, and now operate with greater resilience and confidence. The farm continues to rent 130 acres locally, supporting a productive mix of maize, wheat, silage, and temporary grass.
A Good Outcome from a Difficult Situation
This case had all the challenges you’d expect in a generational family farm: inheritance complications, emotional strain, land sales, and succession planning. What made the difference was a willingness to act decisively, backed by a lender who understood the pace and pressures of agricultural life.
It was a pleasure to work with a family so committed to their land and their future—and to play a part in securing that future for generations to come.
If you’re facing difficult conversations around succession, ownership, or restructuring, don’t wait until things reach breaking point. Reach out. We’re here to help.