David Wilson, farmer's son and holder of both UK and French agricultural diplomas specialises in French farm installations, and since 1997. He is resident in France since 1993, living in the Nièvre département (geographically in the centre of France). As a court-recognised translator and interpreter David is able to make the language barrier a thing of the past. Obviously as a specialist in the agricultural "field" he is inculcated in the farming language from daily live-weight gains (GMQ in french) to slurry stores (fosses à lisier) to power take-offs (prises de force) etc.

"My policy is to install motivated clients and their families on to viable units, I would and have, in the past, advised clients to "walk-away" from a property if I didn't believe that they would be taking on the property in the right conditions. The pleasure I get from seeing smiling satisfied clients (some of whom would have been unable to take on a farm in Britain or Ireland due to prohibitive land prices or the impossibility of finding a farm to rent) is what makes me believe that I am of use."

As a french resident, David has quicker access to information and can advise as to current values (land) and prices (livestock, grain, etc) and is adept in completing clients' IACS forms (declaration PAC) which will be still necessary in France as 100% "de-coupling" is not " de rigueur ". I am used to asking for dispensations (e.g. for clients not to have to do normally mandatory courses and for extra time delays) from the french authorities as well as the recognition of young farmers' status which opens up a panoply of benefits :
subsidised loans (1% in less-favoured areas),
the non-repayable "installation dotation"
tax relief for the first five years
extra quota including milk, suckler cow and single farm payment.

Finally, I look after my clients beyond their "installation" for a whole year and for as long as they wish. I undertake both agricultural and non-agricultural tasks (enrolling children in schools, for the school bus and the canteen, arranging for the recognition of client’s imported vehicles for use on the french highways etc) because I believe that a farmer is not going to be happy and farming effectively unless their family is happy too.