Cultivate Farms is offering a farm equity model aimed at boosting regional investment and linking young farmers to those looking at easing out of agriculture.

Having built the business during the past year, Albury-based Tegan and Tim Hicks and Sam Marwood have had strong interest from young farmers, community groups and private investors.

“We want to talk to farmers who are looking to step back and would be interested in discussing a new succession option where they retain equity in the farm, provide mentoring to the new farming family, remain in the community and receive a financial return from the operation,” Mr Marwood said.

Mr Marwood said as co-founders Tim and Tegan Hicks would be the first farmers on the first farm.

“The intent is to demonstrate that the model can work in order to then repeat and help hundreds of rural communities across Australia, young families and retiring families transition farms,” he said.

Mr Marwood said 60 young farming families had registered interest and he had positive talks with investors.

He said a range of farm sizes could be managed with returns under-pinned by Cultivate Farm’s commitment to developing local “value-added” markets.

“This is already being demonstrated by Tim and Tegan, who operate a paddock to plate beef enterprise, which produces aged, grass-fed beef from 50 cattle, selling direct to customers around Albury-Wodonga.”

For details phone Tim Hicks on 0408 442 579.