Shearer-turned-farmer says building up savings from shearing sheep remains a pathway into ownership

Young farmers will never be able to buy land as prices soar, some fear. But while tough, it is possible, a Victorian who has done it says.

Poolaijelo farmer Mark Treglown says it is becoming harder to buy land.

Western Victoria’s Mark Treglown has pushed a handpiece through thousands of fleeces to build up his farm holding.

And despite skyrocketing property prices, he thinks it is still possible — albeit very tough — to work in agriculture and buy a farm from scratch.

The Poolaijelo farmer, 65, started out with 80ha — his share in his family’s soldier settlement farm — a work ethic and a passion for shearing.

Over 40 years, he and wife, Sheree, have grown their farm “to the point that we are pretty well self-sufficient and don’t have to work off-farm”.

The couple own 600ha and run almost 3000 sheep, buying small parcels of land that gradually filtered on to the market.

“That worked in our favour, being able to buy small blocks,” he said.

To build up a farm in the same way today, would be “very difficult, almost impossible if prices keep gong up so fast”.

“Prices are unbelievable for anyone who wants to sell but the poor people who want to buy in, it has got to get to a stage where it slows down, I’d be a bit nervous buying at those levels because of the unknowns, interest rates are low but it only takes a couple of things to happen for things to hit the fan,” he said.

Despite this, there was still a pathway for young people to go shearing to build up some savings to buy a farm, he said.

“There is good work there so I think with the right work ethic, and good shearing prices now, if you started out small, yes, I think you could do it today,” he said.

Sheree and Mark plan to help their adult children, Matthew and Kirsty, get a start in farming.

“If you’ve got a few acres you can help the young ones to have a go,” he said.

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