farmersmart autumn 2010

The NorTh’s Number oNe FarmiNg guide Issue 20 | Autumn 2010

www.Farmers-marT.co.uk

a successFuL JourNeY To Yorkshire For b&b TracTors

dairY sPeciaL…we sPoTLighT The VerY besT News aNd Views From wiThiN The dairY iNdusTrY

eNViroNmeNT ageNcY. PuT besT maNaged.

Farm aT risk.

gimmer Lambs. ProVe PoPuLar aT.

hawes aucTioN marT.

Managing Director/ eDitor Simone Gallon Tel: 01274 610 101 [email protected]

conSULtant eDitor Chris Berry Tel: 0113 2643 645 [email protected]

aSSiStant eDitor Lucie Carter Tel: 01274 610 101 [email protected]

SaLeS Manager/SUBScriPtionS Ben Walton Tel: 01274 610 101 [email protected]

aDVertiSing accoUnt Manager Nicola Robson Tel: 01274 610 101 [email protected]

FeatUre writerS Jennifer Mackenzie, Chris Berry, Harold Woolgar

DeSign James Ockelford

The FarmersMart 40 Stockhill Road, Greengates Bradford, BD10 9AX Tel: 01274 610 101 Fax: 01274 621 730 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

We mail to over 10,000 industry contacts with an approximately readership of 30,000 throughout Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland,Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

The FarmersMart is published quarterly by Little Red Marketing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by means electronic, photographic, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publishers. Views expressed in The FarmersMart are not necessarily those of Little Red Marketing Ltd.

Welcome Show season is now well and truly over and what a great success it was. With a record number of crowds coming through the showground gates and a huge increase in class entries across the board, this year’s summer shows really has set the standards!

We have another two shows coming up in the near future; LAMMA in January and the National Beef Event in May so make sure you put those dates in your diaries. To see more details on this year’s shows and to preview next year’s events see pages 10 to 12, you’ll no doubt have a laugh whilst reminiscing at some of our pictures!

As promised in our summer edition, we have continued our coverage of the worrying farm theft story in this issue; the court case will begin at the end of November so hopefully by the time our winter edition goes to press we can reveal the full details. Remember to be very diligent with your machinery over the coming winter months and keep an eye out for any suspicious characters hanging about!

This edition is jammed packed full of winners from an array of shows, including Tye Trophy winner John Fenton and David Martin of Lords Plain Farm which the Westmorland Agriculture Society recently announced as The Best Managed Farm. Congratulations to all of you award-winners, we wish you all continued success for the future. See pages 14 to 17 and page 50 for more details.

I hope the weather stays OK for you. I would like to thank for all your continued support and loyalty, we’ll catch up again in our winter edition which will be available at the beginning of February next year.Have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous new year!

Don’t forget you can now find us on Facebook. Just search for Farmersmart.

Kind regards, Simone ([email protected])

contents

news ...........................4-7, 19, 29

agri.cycle ................................... 8

BaSF ......................................... 9

Showtime............................ 10-12

McVeigh Parker ....................... 13

David Martin ....................... 14-17

BaSF ....................................... 18

Sutcliffe ..............................20-22

Procter Farms Ltd..................... 24

Dairy ........................................ 25

Bernard Liddle ....................26-27

Stephen coates ...................28-29

collins/Young ......................30-31

Security ..............................32-33

ritchie ..................................... 35

Southwells ..........................36-37

Hawes auction Mart ............38-41

Voase ..................................42-43

Sewards ..............................44-45

Pocock ................................46-47

Jw Dent & Sons ..................48-49

John Fenton ........................50-51

roots Farm Shop .................52-53

Moorhouse ............................... 54

Brays ....................................... 55

thistlethwaite ......................56-57

Murray ..................................... 58

Yorkshire Holstein ..................... 59

B & B tractors .......................... 61

Kevin walker .......................62-63

Machinery .....................64-65, 67

graham edwards ...................... 66

watkins ..............................68-69

Bellas .................................. 70-71

Beachell ................................... 72

Pennington .............................. 73

grisedale ............................. 74-75

gripple ..................................... 76

Property .............................. 77-78

Farming People ...................79-80

Young Farmers ......................... 81

wilson ..................................... 82

temple ..................................... 83

Butterfield ................................ 84

competition ............................. 85

contractors guide..................... 86

Each edition of FarmersMart contains essential information about the agricultural industry. As a subscriber you’ll get regular updates, a chance to voice your views - and much needed encouragement. Just fill in this form and send with a cheque for £15 (payable to Little Red Marketing Ltd.) to: The FarmersMart, Office 1, 40 Stockhill Rd, Greengates, Bradford, BD10 9AX. Or call Ben Walton on 01274 610 101, email: [email protected]

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FarmersMart Autumn 2010 3

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news

a group of enterprising agriculture students from Bishop Burton college have earned a sought-after bursary from the environment agency after completing a project based on nitrate Vulnerable Zones (nVZs).

The students, who have all just completed a Foundation Degree in Agriculture, were asked by the Environment Agency to speak to farmers living in designated areas about how farms can be managed to comply with legislation.

Lizzie Jennings (21) of Malton was part of the winning group alongside James Bentley (20) and Olivia Stockdale (20). She felt the opportunity to explore the impact of NVZs with farmers was a good one.

“It was a good opportunity for us to get our heads around the issue,” said Lizzie. “It’s surrounded by so much controversy, but I think the farmers appreciated having someone to explain it to them and talk around their concerns.”

POsiTivE aPPROaCh EaRns sTUdEnTs PREsTiGiOUs EnviROnmEnT aGEnCY BURsaRY

the country Land and Business association (cLa) says that the Penrith and the Border Broadband conference, held in September, was a major step forward in the battle to bring broadband to rural areas, and particularly welcomed the pledge by Broadband Minister ed Vaizey that government would allow rural communities to connect to existing public sector fibre networks.

The association believes that the conference underlined everything the CLA has been lobbying for since 2002, and proved beyond doubt the importance and the urgency of bringing fast connections to everyone.

Dr Charles Trotman, CLA Head of Rural Business Development

said: “Broadband is a life-changing technology, without which we will be left behind. But we must look at the value of connecting rural communities, not just the cost, if we are to release the economic and social benefits that are being stifled by lack of access. We will continue to lobby for solutions in both long and short term.”

www.cla.org.uk

CLa PRaisE BROadBand COnfEREnCE

according to chris Dodds the Livestock auctioneers association’s (Laa) secretary, the British livestock industry needs to start arguing its case in Brussels, “a whole lot earlier than has previously been the case when fighting contentious issues.”

“It’s really no good trying to fight our cause once everything has been settled by the European Commission,” explains Mr Dodds, who has just completed two years as President of the high-profile European Association of Livestock Markets (EALM).

The recent introduction of the EU’s EID regulations for the sheep industry were a prime example of the UK reacting too late to the negative implications of the Directive, which affected everybody, but caused particular controversy in the UK, said Mr Dodds.

While the LAA, which represents auctioneers at 84 livestock auction marts in England and 38 in Wales, strongly opposed the introduction of the regulation it has done its best to help minimise the impact the system will have on the country’s sheep farmers with a positive view. Several other UK Organisations criticised it as a negative concept and continued to try, unsuccessfully, to reverse it.

“Our voice has to be heard more in the EU’s many agricultural and business forums, and also at Commission level, when proposals such as the sheep EID are discussed, and certainly long before they are finalised. It’s no use simply leaving that sort of thing up to our members of the European Parliament (MEPs), or Defra,” he said.

www.laa.co.uk

Laa ChiEf CaLLs fOR EvEn mORE nOisE in BRUssELs

The group was charged with first visiting farms around the region and discussing the concerns of farmers, then completing a thorough profile of each farm before drafting a report showing how NVZ legislation may benefit that particular business.

Jim Richards, an environment officer with the Environment Agency was impressed with all of the bursary projects: “All of the bursary project entries were of a very high standard.”

www.bishopburton.ac.uk

FarmersMart Autumn 2010�

Faster – Tighter – Easier – Safer

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Bailey 12 Ton Corn Trailer - as new £9,250 +vatAW Trailer 14 Ton Root Trailer - commercial axles £12,250 +vat

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Tel: 07793 742543 / 01937 841371Email: [email protected]

news

Landowners, farmers and householders are being urged to adopt a more strategic approach when faced with the prospect of a local authority traveller site or an unlawfully developed traveller site in their neighbourhood.

Matthew Knight, Senior Partner with leading law firm Knights, and a specialist in property and agricultural law, has comprehensively reviewed the options available in an article ‘Planning Policy and Travellers’, published recently in Farm Law. “Traveller sites are a contentious issue for any community, particularly sites that are unlawfully developed,” said Mr Knight. “Successful opposition to proposed sites or halting the development of an unlawful site is achievable but affected residents need to think strategically to influence the local planning authority. It is vital to fully understand the planning process, work closely with the planning authority and to campaign effectively and persuasively.”

There are key stages in the planning authority’s consultation process

a sTRaTEGiC aPPROaCh TO TRavELLERs’ siTEs

for proposed traveller sites when a farmer, landowner or householder can become involved and influence the authority’s decision. Objections given the most serious consideration are those that relate specifically to the site selection criteria and that clearly demonstrate why a particular site is not suitable. Important concerns are likely to be access, traffic flow and road safety, conservation or environmental issues and issues relating to the demands placed on local infrastructure.

www.knights-solicitors.co.uk 01892 537311

Matthew Knight

in the wake of soaring animal feed prices and a shortage of silage brought on by dry weather, British farmers are facing a tough winter ahead as they struggle to meet costs. increasing feed efficiency is now paramount to many farmers as their overheads look set to rise again.

According to Alltech’s Technical Sales Manager Bob Kendal, there are measures that farmers can take to improve feed efficiency whilst maximising output: “A good animal health programme can contribute to profits by maintaining a high level of animal performance. To really optimise production, one solution farmers can take is to introduce a supplement to enrich the performance of the feed such as Yea-Sacc, a live yeast culture produced by Alltech.

“Yea-Sacc is an excellent product to maximise feed efficiency, and with feed costs spiralling higher each day now is an excellent time to introduce it into your daily regime. It works by stabilising the pH and increasing the number and activity of bacteria in the rumen.”

It’s been proven to work as well: Alltech conducted a number of university studies across Europe which resulted in some impressive numbers. In a study in Estonia, dairy feed conversion efficiency increased by 6% with 1.65kg of milk per kg of dry matter when Yea-Sacc was introduced compared with just 1.5 litres of milk per kg of dry matter intake (DMI).

www.alltech.com

an aLTERnaTivE sOLUTiOn TO RisinG fEEd COsTs

FarmersMart Autumn 2010 �

as part of the planned development of the infrastructure at Bishop Burton college’s farm, Principal Jeanette Dawson has given the go-ahead to re-invest in the college’s beef enterprise with the decision to construct a new beef unit.

The 200ft x 100ft building will enable the College to finish a large proportion of their dairy bred Continental-cross calves. The latest farm enterprise will allow the students greater opportunity to get involved in cattle showing and explore marketing opportunities with beef and pedigree animals. The

versatility of the shed will also enable the College to rear all of the dairy progeny on site and it is also hoped that a pedigree suckler herd will be established in due course.

Farm manager Dominic Naylor said: “This is great news not only for the College but also for its farm. A significant investment of this calibre demonstrates the long-term commitment to the farm, of senior management and consequently this mixed farm now demonstrates commercial best practise in all areas of mainstream agriculture.”

Farmers should consider forward buying this autumn as a means of combating rising input costs, as low interest rates keep the cost of borrowing money historically low.

So said Dick Mason, Agricultural Policy Director at Lloyds TSB, following the announcement in September that the Bank of England bank rate will remain at 0.5% for a 19th consecutive month.

“Dairy farmers and other livestock producers will be bracing themselves for higher feed costs because of this summer’s grain price rises and poor forage yields,” he said. “Meanwhile, the prospect of higher fertiliser prices over the next year will affect both livestock and arable farmers.”

”Buying forward can offer the potential to secure more favourable prices and will also help to reduce

risk. This will have an impact on cash flow, but farmers should take advantage of low interest rates and seek help from their bank in financing advance purchases as cost effectively as possible.”

With the current Bank of England bank rate at 0.5%, Lloyds TSB’s Corporate Economics team currently predicts gradual rises in interest rates as we move into 2011, with

the rate reaching 1.5% by the end of that year. The rate of customers moving to Lloyds TSB Agriculture from other banks currently stands at around 800 farmers per year.

www.lloydstsbbusiness.com/agriculture/index.asp

LOW inTEREsT RaTEs sTREnGThEn CasE fOR fORWaRd BUYinG

BishOP BURTOn’s COmmiTmEnT TO aGRiCULTURE COnTinUEs

Principal Jeanette Dawson is equally pleased that the development of the beef side of the farm is finally going ahead. She said: “These are very exciting times for the Bishop Burton College Farm and I cannot wait to see

this facility fully operational and full of livestock.”

www.bishopburton.ac.uk

Jeanette and Dominic

countryside Live, the Yorkshire agricultural Society’s sister event, set new standards this year with the highest number of cattle entries received and record crowds through the gate as 10,221 people were in attendance. this year’s event which was the eighth in the event’s history took place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th.

Here are just a few of this year’s biggest winners…..

It was a hat trick for Phil and Sharon Sellers from Belper, Derby who took the Supreme Beef Championship with Lady Big Bucks, a British Blue cross heifer. Throughout the day the Sellers were also awarded first prize in the British Blue Championship and was also announced as Champion Heifer. The overall reserve was the show’s reserve heifer and reserve British Blue, Dylan Hughes’s Cheeky Girl.

Judge Michael Alford said it had been a tremendous show, and described Lady Big Bucks as “a superb show beast.”

COUnTRYsidE LivE 2010: iT’s a RECORd BREaKER

Phil and Sharon Sellers who took the Supreme Beef Championship title with Lady Big Bucks

The overall steer championship was taken by Richard Fountaine with his Limousin, Cothi Eyecatcher, with Colin Phillip’s Charloais cross, Nugget, standing reserve. The Champion Pair of Lambs owned and shown by a Yorkshire-based exhibitor went to Hannah Brown with her Beltex cross lambs. The reserve title was taken by her father, Martin Brown. And in the young handler classes, Max Clough, aged eight, of Stape, won the Under 8s’ section and was also judged overall Champion Young Handler, while Sam Jacklin Leng, aged 11, of Keldgate Farm triumphed in the Over 8s’ class and was Reserve.

news

FarmersMart Autumn 20106

coastal grains, the UK’s second largest co-operative grain store is preparing to unveil the first phase of a £2.5m state-of-the-art upgrade ready for this year’s harvest. the upgrade includes the latest Svegma grain drier and Skandia handling equipment from BDc Systems and supplied through local agent Yorkshire Storage Systems. this installation represents the latest stage of a relationship between coastal grains and Skandia, represented in the UK by BDc Systems, that goes back to 1997.

The first order for Skandia equipment consisting of two 60 tonnes per hour lines was placed in 1997 when the store was extended by 24000 tonnes to 85000 tonnes. In 1999 Coastal Grains called upon BDC Systems again for two replacement Skandia conveyors and in 2001 an order for three replacement elevators and four conveyors was placed.

The latest facilities at Coastal Grains in Belford, Northumberland, have boosted the site’s grain drying, testing and handling abilities for its 100-plus members and their food

industry buyers. The three new dryers, when they are all installed, will be able to dry up to 240 tonnes of grain per hour. The first drier is a Svegma 6m drier rated at 80 tonnes per hour removing 5% moisture at 100ºC, nominally 100tph on feed wheat.

www.bdcsystems.com

COasTaL GRains TURns TO BdC sYsTEms OnCE aGain fOOTROT COsTinG aT

LEasT £8.38 PER EWEa new analysis of the direct costs of footrot in sheep shows that treatment and labour inputs alone are as much as £8.38 per ewe. Speaking at nSa Sheep 2010 the consultant vet to Fai Farms, ruth clements MrcVS, drew sheep producers’ attention to the obvious costs of the disease.

“We have known for a long time that lame sheep are costly in terms of time and antibiotic treatment, but the indirect costs soon mount up too,” she said.

Thanks to sponsorship from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, FAI Farms has gathered a year’s worth of footrot treatment data for their own flock of 1000 Coopworth ewes. The headline treatment and labour cost of £8.38 per ewe is significant enough, but doesn’t include the knock-on financial penalties caused by the disease.

To minimise the costs of lameness and its adverse effect on animal welfare, FAI Farms, based at

Wytham near Oxford, is a year into a three-year programme assessing the effectiveness of a new footrot control protocol. “The new protocol is highly practical and the focus is on prevention,” Ruth Clements said.

“Over the last 12 months we have seen a 90% reduction in lameness problems, so are delighted with the potential direct cost savings. But we are also saving all the hidden knock-on disease costs too, so the financial benefits over the longer-term will really be quite significant,” she said.

www.faifarms.co.uk

Farmers and poultry breeders looking for a return on capital investment of as much as 8% per annum will welcome the formation of red Solar

REd sOLaR hELP faRmERs aChiEvE an imPREssivE RETURn Ltd, a new company specialising in the design, supply and installation of complete solar energy photovoltaic (PV) solutions.

PV modules, which generate ‘free’ electricity from daylight, allow businesses to benefit from the government’s Feed-In Tariff Scheme which encourages business and home owners to invest in low-carbon electricity generating systems by paying them for

the energy they produce. Payments offer a substantial premium on normal electricity costs.

The rate of return of between 5-8% per annum (Department of Energy & Climate Change figures) is guaranteed by the government and index-linked for 25 years. In effect, the Feed-in Tariff Scheme has the capacity to transform working buildings from an expensive overhead into a valuable new income stream.

Importantly, PV installations which can be easily sited on pitched roofs,

flat roofs and canopies or placed on the ground as a free-standing array will not only result in substantially reduced energy bills today, but will also safeguard customers against rapidly rising energy costs in the future.

With the energy-intensive nature of many types of modern farming, Red Solar is expecting a high level of interest from the farming and poultry breeding sectors.

www.redsolarltd.com

news

Coastal Grains turns to BDC Systems for its latest

grain drying equipment

Ruth Clements


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agri.cycle

ThE RECYCLinG sOLUTiOn fOR YOUR aGRiCULTURaL WasTE aGRi.CYCLE

with the harvest over and the land prepared for winter now is the time to look at what agricultural waste you have on the farm.

You may already have something in

place but with ever changing prices asked by companies perhaps it is the time to give Agri.cycle a call.

Agri.cycle’s agricultural plastic waste management system has a network

of regional collection points, making it easier to manage than many other systems available. It is comparable on cost with absolutely no hidden extras. We are able to price you per bag or per acre and cater for farms

of any size, from the small holder to those farming over 1,000acres.

With the shooting season upon us, over the summer we have developed and are now producing two fantastic and practical products. These can be used on this year’s shoot having been produced using last year’s processed spent shotgun cartridges.

Buckets to continue this cycle to collect your spent shotgun cartridges and a sturdy picnic table to sit and have your soup or sloe gin at.

Our collection of spent shotgun cartridges continues to be unique in the UK. If you deliver your spent shotgun cartridges into your local collection point, the cost for the entire season on a typical ten gun, eight day shoot would cost just £1 per gun for this service.

For more information visit www.agri-cycle.uk.com


basf

Rat control needs to be focused on prime locations

rat control difficulties that can easily be put down to insufficiently palatable bait or rodenticide resistance all too often result from a failure to adequately account for the sheer scale and extent of the infestation.

This is clearly underlined by a recent BASF Pest Control Solutions study in which persistent rat problems affecting a large poultry unit despite baiting as part of a demanding quality assurance programme were overcome in just three weeks. And this without any significant change to the top quality, difenacoum rodenticide employed.

“While the reported problems were confined to one high profile area

regularly baited in around 30 locations, our initial assessment suggested wide rat activity throughout the entire premises which also houses a 300-cow dairy herd,” explains rural hygiene specialist, Charlie Ives.

“Untreated bait takes averaging well over 5 kg/night from up to 110 of the 160 baiting points carefully sited in a four night evaluation confirmed this; as did a total consumption of fully 20 kg of the Fortec difenacoum grain bait put out in the first week of treatment. In addition to confirming the great palatability of the bait, this suggested we were looking at many hundreds of rats.

“Most of those in the originally-

COnTROLLinG ChaLLEnGinG RaT infEsTaTiOnsidentified problem area were clearly living elsewhere on the farm,” he notes. “As a result, very few were actually visiting the original bait boxes in the first place. And even those that were consuming the bait were replaced by others from nearby immediately they succumbed to it, suggesting no control whatsoever.

“As soon as we placed sufficient high quality bait throughout the site, covering all the main areas of rat activity, the uptake was massive and an overall control level of 96% was achieved after 21 days. What’s more, even though detailed bait take and activity recording showed we had eliminated more than 500 rats, only seven dead bodies were recorded.”

Overall, the BASF study confirms that almost any farm rat infestation can be overcome by well-planned treatment based on an understanding of the true scale and extent of the problem as well as rodent behaviour.

In particular, it highlights the vital importance of keeping enough, well-sited bait points adequately topped-up with sufficient, top quality rodenticide over an intensive three week treatment programme.

“With large infestations and where alternative food sources are plentiful the patented Fortec bait, Neosorexa Gold has to be the first choice for external use in most situations,” Charlie Ives recommends. “With the highest palatability of any multi-feed grain bait, it enables rats to consume a deadly dose of difenacoum in a day.

“Neosorexa Pasta and Neosorexa Blocks provide useful alternatives in especially dry or damp situations respectively, while the single feed power of flocoumafen in Storm Secure can be an extremely valuable complement although UK legislation confines it to indoor use only,” he adds.

Whatever bait is used, Charlie Ives stresses it must be made available in sufficient quantity, bearing in mind that an initial consumption of 3-4 kg/night can be expected on a reasonable-sized infested farm. This means baiting points need to be checked and topped-up as required with multi-feed Neosorexa at least three times in the first week while single feed Storm Secure baits are best employed in clear weekly pulses.

www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk


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showtime

20 Slyne Road, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth , Lancashire. LA5 8BQTel. / Fax 01524 822192 Mobile Tel. 07946 819467

Suppliers of a full range of galvo. gates & wire fencing. sheep races, lamb weighers, roll over crates, dagging yokes,

calf pens , sheep hurdles & dog runs.

Cow cubicles & mats, cattle crushes, races & calf dehorner crates.Plastic & galvo. water troughs, bowls & footbaths.

Cattle & Sheep feed troughs, hayracks, feed rings, barriers, creeps etc.

JAMES STEWART(Agricultural Sales)

a record-breaking number of visitors packed in to the westmorland county Showground for what many have described as the best Show ever. an estimated 30,800 people basked in glorious sunshine on thursday 9th September for the 211th westmorland county Show which is one of the oldest agricultural shows in the country.

Records were not only broken on the visitor front, but also on the livestock lines, which attracted 450 cattle entries, almost 800 sheep and 100 pigs. “At the request of exhibitors, two new breed sections were added in the cattle and 4 in the sheep,” said Christine Knipe, Chief Executive. “We have been delighted with the support these initiatives have received.”

Peter Vasey of Wetheral, Carlisle took the beef inter-breed championship, ahead of a very strong final line-up with his Charolais heifer, Edenhurst Dallas, whilst the reserve went to the 18-month-old Limousin bull, Tomschoice Elgar, from Jamie and Sarah Cooper of Harrogate.

While remaining steadfastly true to its agricultural roots, the one-day extravaganza offers visitors lots of different countryside activities to savour from Cumbrian Axemen displays to the chance to sample some of the best local produce around. The magnificent Food Hall is a festival in itself, including chef demonstrations which kept people rooted to their seats such as Coronation Street’s Sean Wilson demonstrating what could be done with produce from his Saddleworth Cheese Company and TV personality and food archaeologist Alan Coxon.

www.westmorlandshow.co.uk

GLORiOUs WEaThER fOR a GLORiOUs shOW!

GREaT sEasOn fOR YORKshiRE shOWsfaRmERsmaRT TaKEs a LOOK BaCK aT sOmE Of ThE COUnTY’s BEsT mOmEnTs in 2010

The 2010 agricultural show season in Yorkshire proved to be just as entertaining as previous years and fortunately with little in the way of bad weather generally speaking!

The 152nd Great Yorkshire Show managed to see through all three days without a drop of rain during the

important times of each day and had another royal visitor HRH The Princess Royal to ensure that there was a buzz around the showground. And the outgoing President, Richard Elmhirst handing over the staff of office to his successor, Sir Ken Morrison.

Attendance figures were amongst the

highest in the event’s history, 131,382 over the three days which is a rise for the fourth year in succession.

Bill Cowling, Show Director said: “This has been one of the finest Great Yorkshire Shows I can remember. The atmosphere has been tremendous, the standard of entries across the competitive classes has been outstanding, and we have achieved another superb attendance figure.

The ever popular and most fun event at the Harrogate showground was once again the Housewives Choice

competition, which is now run not just in the cattle breeds but also sheep and pigs. The cattle community at the showground now utilises this event for dressing up, or dressing down, or actually dressing with little on at all as you can see by some of the pictures! This year it was a real turn-up for the books as the Blondes, Limousins, Lincoln Reds and South Devons traditionally amongst the top breeds chosen by the housewives were eclipsed by the Dairy Shorthorns. This is the first time a dairy breed has ever won the event.

HRH Princess Royal enjoying herself at GYSMatt enjoying a goss!


showtime

Taking the p*ss at Great Yorkshire Show

Showing at Nidderdale

Sheep handling at the Thornton le Dale Show

The 135th Driffield Show’s show welcomed crowds of 25,370 and debuted a new layout of its livestock sections; the new cattle, sheep and pigs lines really brought the show into a new dimension and it looked for all the world as though the livestock classes had quadrupled! Congratulations must go to David Tite and his team on their vision and not being averse to change.

David commented: “The 135th Driffield Show was a huge success with families and the agricultural community alike enjoying the wide array of shows and attractions

on offer.”

David also paid tribute to society president David Stubbins who died earlier this year. Mr Stubbins was a cattle steward at the show for many years and was elected president in December. He was ably replaced at the event by his wife Wendy who took on his duties for the day.

Thornton le Dale Show once again proved that you don’t have to run the biggest show in the world to be successful. The classes for sheep, cattle and pigs saw record entries and the judge of the wines and

liquers class (who shall be nameless at this point) was a very happy man for the rest of the day.

There were special anniversaries for one or two of the smaller shows, with Bilsdale celebrating its centenary – and the summer season was once again rounded off in Yorkshire by Stokesley and Niddedale Shows in September.

Here’s to the 2011 show season, it will be upon us before we know it!

John Weatherill at Driffield Gorgeous!

Grumpy old men catching up at GYS Driffield Show

Oh la la!


with applications for stand space from existing and a large number of new exhibitors running strongly, LaMMa 2011 appears to be heading for another record. Yet, according to the organisers, it is not the sheer size of the event that will be its principle attraction.

“We are very happy with the tremendous demand for stand space we have been experiencing in the last couple of months or so.” says Cliff Preston, LAMMA Sales and Marketing Director. “What really pleases me, however, is the wide range of products and services that will be on show. Several years ago the LAMMA Show was regarded as a good day out for arable farmers from the East of England, but the

big increase in visitors with livestock and mixed farming enterprises, from many other parts of the UK has transformed the LAMMA Show into a ‘must-visit’ event for farmers both large and small.”

“All the major tractor and machinery manufacturers are represented at LAMMA, but the vast array of smaller companies present at the Show, enables visitors to see products and services which they probably will not see at any other show in the UK,” Cliff Preston continues. “The range of products on show is quite staggering. I have in the past said that you could buy anything from a combiner to a cotter pin at LAMMA, but each year the range of products and services

grows and grows especially in the farming industry.”

“The LAMMA Show takes place on 19th & 20th January at the Newark Showground. A tremendous range of goods and services, free admission and car parking and a warm welcome all combine to make a visit to the LAMMA Show a top priority for farmers from all parts of the UK. For the ‘early-birds’ arriving between 6.30am and 8am there is even the offer of a subsidised full English breakfast.”

Visit www.lammashow.co.uk for more information

GET ThE Lamma shOW in YOUR diaRiEs

organisers of newark Vintage tractor & Heritage Show (13 and 14 november) have closed entries at an incredible record-breaking 927 total exhibits.

Even this year’s feature tractors, David Brown and Case, outnumber the record entry of Internationals that were housed in the enormous Features Marquee in 2009. The marquee is being expanded to make room for what will be a very impressive display.

Embracing our rural heritage, the show provides scope to include a vast range of other vehicles that form such a vital part of British history from the local bus that transported

nEWaRK EnTRiEs BREaK aLL RECORds

showtime

daTEs fOR 2011December

Clarke & Pulman Ltd Open Day (Midday onwards): 2nd Burscough depot,

January

Ripon Farm Services: 12th – 13th Harrogate Showground

Farm Star Open Day: 13th Doncaster

Lamma: 19th –20th Newark Showground

February

National All Breeds Show: 15th – 16th Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

May

Newark and Notts County Show: 14th- 15th Newark Showground

Otley Show: 21st Otley Showground

Beef Expo: 26th Hexham Auction Mart

Northumberland County Show: 31st Hexham Auction Mart

June

NSA North Sheep: 8th West Nubbock Farm

Todmorden Show: 18th Centre Vale Park

North Yorkshire County Show: 19th Otterington Hall

Lincolnshire Show: 22nd – 23rd Lincolnshire Showground

Royal Highland Show: 23rd- 26th Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

July

Great Yorkshire Show: 12th – 14th Harrogate Showground

Cumberland Show: 16th Carlisle Racecourse

Malton Show: 17th Scampston Park

Howden Show: 18th Ashes playing fields, Howden

Driffield Show: 20th Kelleythorpe

Penrith: 24th Penrith Showground

Borrowby Show: 26th Hillside Rural Activities Park

Ryedale Show: 26th Welburn Park,

Border Union Show: 29th – 30th Springwood Park, Kelso

Cockermouth: 30th The Fitz

august

Powburn Show: 2nd Alnwick, Northumberland

Cartmel Show: 3rd Cartmel Racecourse

Bakewell Show: 3rd- 4th Bakewell Showground

Emley Show: 6th Factory Farm

Dumfries Show: 5th- 6th Park Farm

Garstang Show: 6th The Showfield

Osmotherley Show: 6th Home Farm, Thimbleby

Sykehouse Show: 7th

Huby and Sutton: 21st Sutton Hall

Egton Show: 24th Egton Cross

Bilsdale Show: 27th

Wensleydale: 27th Leyburn

Weardale Show: 27th St Johns Chapel

Keswick: 29th The Crossings Field

Stanhope Show: 29th Unthank Park

Kilnsey Show: 30th Upper Wharfedale

September

Westmorland County Show: 8th Lane Farm, Crooklands

Henley Show: 11th Greenlands Farm Hambleden

Stokesley Show: 17th-18th Manor House Farm Great Busby

Nidderdale: 19th Pateley Bridge

next year’s national beef event, Beef expo 2011 will be held at newark Showground in nottinghamshire on thursday, May 26.

The annual showcase event for the UK beef industry, organised by the National Beef Association, is growing in stature every year and now requires more exhibition space to accommodate an expanding range of livestock demonstrations, educational/advisory exhibits, seminars and trade stands.

NBA director, Kim Haywood commented: “The showground is already home to the Newark and Notts Show each May and the Lamma machinery show in January and offers a first-class range of facilities for a major specialist event such as Beef Expo which attracts thousands of beef farmers, meat processors and butchers throughout the UK and Ireland each year, as well as visitors from overseas.”

www.beefexpo.co.uk

BEEf EXPO 2011 hEadinG fOR nEWaRK

passengers from village to town and home again to the Land Rover that has become the icon for all 4x4 vehicles both out in the field and in war zones.

www.newarkshowground.com


mcveigh parker

earlier this year McVeigh Parker made the somewhat inevitable decision to spread their wings and bring some of their southern charm up north. Having conquered many of the Southern counties including Kent, reading, Sussex, Hertfordshire and worcester for over thirty years, McVeigh Parker decided that because of its ideal position between the northern counties, wigan would provide the perfect location for their brand new branch, ensuring that new and potential customers could be reached.

Craig Tomkins was appointed as branch manager, meaning that he, his wife Lynne the branch’s Accounts Manager, and their two young children had to relocate from their home in the Midlands and begin their new life in Lancashire.

Having worked for McVeigh prior to the move, Craig had the advantage of knowing exactly how the company worked and was familiar with the thousands of products on offer. He tells us: “As a group we do buy

very big; we advertise over 20,000 different products ranging from timber products to suit many applications, to security fencing products such as welded mesh and chain link to the unique premier XFENCE wire netting. The heart of the company is in agricultural supplies, we have many products from crushes to troughs, feeders to drainage pipe to suit many farm and equine establishments to suit everyone’s purse.”

To meet consumer demands across all their branches McVeigh buy in supplies on an unprecedented scale and the Wigan depot is proving no different. Craig continues: “We purchase stock fencing literally up to six months in advance because it’s needed across the board. Admittedly timber does move a lot quicker because although you may have ten to fifteen different types of wire readily available, a timber post will always be needed, our new HC4 15 year guaranteed redwoods are leading the way in offering a quality fencing stake that will actually last using today’s treatment.”

At the minute the Wigan branch

a sUCCEssfUL mOvE UP nORTh fOR mCvEiGh!WE TaLK WiTh CRaiG and LYnnE TOmKins fOLLOWinG ThEiR RELOCaTiOn

largely attracts trade custom but also welcomes the general public for any order of any size. The main premise for depot and its staff (which also includes two brothers in the stores and driving with a young judicator keeping the peace) is to provide a one stop shop for its customers and to see any query through from start to finish.

After less than six months, the Wigan branch of McVeigh Parker really has done the company proud. Craig and Lynne hope to expand on both

staffing numbers and products lines as and when they are needed and are positively hopeful for future. Craig concludes:

“We see ourselves here for the long-term without a shadow of a doubt. It is an exciting time; we’ve come here to take the challenge buy the scruff of the neck and push it on to the best of our ability, we will definitely make a success out of this!”

www.mcveighparker.com

Lynne and Craig


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david martin

in September this year specialist dairy farmer David Martin had something to shout about; at the westmorland county Show, the society awarded Lords Plain Farm the highly-celebrated Best Managed Farm award for both its organisation and real business potential.

Sadly, however the award was

somewhat bittersweet for David and his wife Louise. The future of the 283 acres of Lords Plain Farm was put under serious threat last year when the Environment Agency (EA) proposed to switch off three of the five pumping stations within the Lyth Valley, making the flood defenses that surround the farm seriously weakened.

David tells us more about the environmental agency’s plans: “The valley is involved in a pump drainage scheme and has been since the system was put in 1984. Currently there are five pumping stations in total, but to save money they’re planning on switching off three of them in November 2011.”

Although the farming community

in and around the valley had and inkling of what the Environment Agency had planned, it wasn’t until late May this year that they were given all the details.

“There had been rumours going round for a few years,” David tells us. “But last year the agency held what they called a ‘consultation’ where they put forward three

BEsT manaGEd faRm WinnER UndER ThREaT WE mEET WiTh david maRTin Of LORds PLain faRm in LYTh vaLLEY

One of the pumping stations that are under threat


New Breed UK is an independent nutritional knowledge based company our unique approach to feeding dairy cows through our diligent cow walking and on farm observations, ensures we provide the right solutions for sustained dairy

herd efficiency.

We have worked with David & his family for many years & share his enthusiasm, commitment & attention detail. David’s excellent attention to

detail & our “cow walking” means the Lords Plain herd of pedigree cows produces milk with cow/

rumen health & efficiency as key areas.

Well done David & Lou, Mark Borthwick (Director)

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different scenarios. The first didn’t propose anything new, but stated that maintenance would be carried out as it always had been. The second was that they would keep the pumps going but carry out less maintenance work on them. The third scenario encouraged wetter farming; switch off the pumps but maintain the main ditches and rivers as they were doing.”

It was in May this year that David and his fellow farming community realised that scenario number three was to be given the go-ahead. They needed a solution, and they needed one quickly.

“Anyone that earns their living off the land was and still is horrified by the news. When we found out the plans were confirmed we got together to basically form some kind of representation against the powers that be.”

That ‘representation’ came in the form of The Lyth Valley and Winster Land Drainage Group, which, formed from the members of the community, has allowed for cooperation between themselves and the Environment Agency.

“Our relationship with the EA was

Louise and David with their award

continues page 16

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very hostile at the beginning, but thankfully that is beginning to change. The guys on the ground want to see the pumps up and running because they built them all those years ago.”

To say the pumps are needed is an understatement because each year when the valley is subject to a lot of rainfall these pumps kick in and begin to the drain the land very quickly. David tells us that even if he were to have half of his farm under water it could be easily drained within 3-5 days. With the pumps gone however, it could take between 3 and 4 weeks for the water

to drain properly, and although the land can cope with being under water quite regularly it does need to be removed quickly to ensure that it doesn’t stay saturated.

“Our only way to deal with it is it to form our own internal drainage board, but because there hasn’t been an internal board formed for almost forty years, there’s no legislation or procedure to follow to get one up and running. This makes the process a lot harder and would mean that we’d have to fund it ourselves which certainly wouldn’t be a cheap option. We are very positive though. If we get the board

Jock the dog


Thwaite Farm • Howgill • Sedbergh • Cumbria • LA10 5JDPhone 015396 20493 • Mobile 07785 521858

Wishing The Martin Family every success for the future.

david martin

up and running we would be able to manage things a lot more efficiently than the Environment Agency has done.”

A major concern of David’s is that some of the Lyth Valley community is still unaware of the Environment Agency’s plans.

“We need to raise people’s awareness about exactly what’s happening because unbelievably, a lot of people are still in the dark about the plans. Until this issue

is resolved we can’t really plan anything here on the farm, meaning that any investment we make has to be short-term because if the pumps are switched off it will effect how productive our farm can be.”

Lords Plain Farm has always managed to maintain its high level of productivity since 1933 when David’s Grandfather first arrived in Lyth Valley. In 1969 David’s Father Fred stepped into his fathers shoes and ran the farm until his

retirement in 2002. The farm occupies 200 Holstein dairy cows (plus followers), and has in many ways bucked the increasing trend of dairy farms falling by the wayside in our current recession.

When David’s father decided to retire it was very much a case of history repeating itself as he naturally adopted his father’s role as farm manager. The mainstay of the farm is of course the Holstein herd, but David also sells milk and

progeny of surplus heifers.

We would like to offer David and Louise Martin our full support, and hope that the situation facing Lords Plain farm and the Lyth Valley is resolved as quickly as possible.

David Martin Lords Plain Farm Lyth Valley tel: 07754 945 380

“iT is iROniC ThaT ThE maRTins havE dOnE EvERYThinG RiGhT, and havE BEEn RECOGnisEd fOR dOinG sO, YET a dECisiOn BY OThERs Can dEsTROY aLL ThEiR haRd WORK. WE WiLL COnTinUE TO LOBBY fOR a sOLUTiOn.”CaROLE hOdGsOn CLa, assisTanT REGiOnaL diRECTOR nORTh

“This aWaRd Was nOT GivEn LiGhTLY. JUdGEs madE ThE dECisiOn

nOT simPLY On a WELL mainTainEd faRm, BUT a WELL manaGEd

BUsinEss WiTh REaL POTEnTiaL.”

ChRisTinE KniPE WEsTmORLand COUnTY aGRiCULTURaL sOCiETY, ChiEf EXECUTivE


basf

a brand new rodenticide promising farmers and growers faster, more cost-effective indoor rat and mouse control was unveiled by european rural hygiene leaders, BaSF Pest control Solutions at this month’s Dairy event & Livestock Show.

Providing the proven power of single-feed anticoagulant, flocoumafen to the UK farming industry for the first time, Storm Secure delivers a lethal dose of rodenticide in a single feed for the fastest, most reliable action.

As well as being the most potent second generation anticoagulant rat killer available, flocoumafen is highly effective against mice and particularly valuable for controlling challenging infestations of either.

Storm Secure contains 0.005% flocoumafen in a waxed crushed grain bait block shown by extensive professional European experience to be highly palatable to both rats and mice. It combines this with great durability under even the most challenging warm and wet indoor environments.

“As a single feed rodenticide, Storm

nEW hiGh POTEnCY indOOR faRm ROdEnTiCidELaUnChEd aT daiRY EvEnT & LivEsTOCK shOW

Secure is restricted to indoor use under UK law to protect non-target species,” pointed out BASF Pest Control Solutions head of sales, Martina Flynn at the Show. “So it should only be used tactically to complement outdoor baiting with mainstream multi-feed rodenticides where extra assistance is required.”

Storm Secure comes in 20g bait blocks, making it quick and easy to put out fresh bait in pre-measured doses and retrieve any unused rodenticide at the end of baiting. A central hole allows each block to be anchored

securely in baiting points for the best targeting and to prevent removal and the risk of foodstuff contamination.

“Storm Secure costs more per kilo than multi-feed baits,” explained Martina Flynn. “However, its greater power means it can be employed in pulse baiting programmes that require markedly less bait and fewer visits than traditional regimes. So it can give worthwhile savings in both the amount of bait needed and the time required for baiting while providing valuable support to even the best all-round Neosorexa Gold

farm treatment programmes.”

BASF Pest Control Solutions has produced a comprehensive user guide for farmers wishing to make the most of Storm Secure while safeguarding non-target species as effectively as possible. User training and support is also available via distributors across the country to ensure the safest and most cost-effective use of the new rodenticide.

For more information visit www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk

Martina Flynn


news

winter can be a trying time for farming; as the darkness draws closer and the temperatures drop, ensuring animals are protected and kept warm can often prove difficult. one way to overcome this problem is to shelter your animals using an environmentally friendly, safe and secure Farmplus timber building.

For thirty years Farmplus has provided the farming population with robust outdoor structures, using timber sourced only from sustainable forests. The aesthetically pleasing buildings are excellent value for money and are able to sit perfectly within any rural landscape.

The Farmplus style of timber building originated in 1973 and thousands of their timber buildings are still in operation today. All of the Farmplus’ timber is treated with Celcure P60 (UK) wood preservative by vacuum pressure impregnation, which provides long lasting protection due to its deep penetrating action.

For more information on Farmplus constructions Limited telephone 01772 785252 or visit www.farmplus.co.uk

mainTain EffiCiEnCY and QUaLiTY WiTh faRmPLUs

Faulks has appointed agents throughout the north of the UK to give service to agricultural, Fencing and Builders Merchants.

Despite the recession there has been huge demand for Wm. Faulks tools and giving retailers top service was their number one priority. “Finding agents who are established in the trade and respected is not easy but we’ve found a team of Agents who have years of experience selling to this sector,” said Chris Birch UK Sales Manager.

“We were getting enquiries from all over the UK and buyers need to see the tools physically and feel the quality of tools before committing to stock purchases. We knew that once buyers saw our products they were

buying and then repeat ordering quickly; so we simply had to get coverage for the whole trade. The guys we’ve appointed really know their stuff and most importantly know their clients and wouldn’t have come on board with us had the quality of what we offer not met their and their customers expectations.”

Its great to hear about business success in these “Doom and Gloom” filled times and it just goes to show that good old fashioned quality and service will win you business in both good and bad times!

www.faulks.co.uk

faULKs aPPOinTs aGEnTs and GivEs aGRiCULTURaL mERChanTs 100% COvERaGE!

as you can probably imagine, here at the FarmersMart headquarters we are inundated with a whole array of weird and wonderful things to test-drive.

Over the summer months we were sent a brand spanking new, state of the art pair of Superlite Boots and boy were we impressed! But we weren’t wasteful; we waited until the very rainy APF Forestry Event back in September to give them our expert verdict.

Unsurprisingly, as the name suggests the boots were indeed very light, but without a doubt the most impressive element of the boots was the way in which they insulated our feet and toes, making the rainy outdoors that little bit more bearable. The shell of the boot was durable and weather-proof, whilst the comfortable sole otherwise known as the ‘Hexacore’

provided support and comfort.

Marks out of ten for the Superlite Boots? 9 ½

If you would like us to test and review your product please get in touch, we would be happy to oblige!

superliteboots.com

sUPERLiTE, sUPER sTURdY!


• Manure Spreading• Precision Spreading• Poultry manure specialist• Silaging and haylage round bailing• 3D Wrapping

Poplar Farm, Goulceby, Louth, Lincs, LN11 9WA

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Pleased to be associated with Charles Sutcliffeand wish him continued success for the future.

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sutcliffe

Diversification is a term that many of you farmers out there will be increasingly familiar with because in order to bring home the bacon during these difficult financial times you may have to try your hand at something new. to diversify successfully however does require passion, knowledge and team work; qualities that exude from each member of the Sutcliffe family.

Charles Sutcliffe, his wife Debbie and their two children Jim and Charlotte have occupied The Garth Farm in Little London, Tetford since 1984. Following in his family’s footsteps, Charles sustained the farm by keeping cross bred cattle up until 1993 when he decided to fulfil his passion and opt for Longhorns.

He tells us, “I’d seen a few Longhorns that were for sale reasonably locally so we decided to take it from there.

To begin with we bought in six heifers, two cows and their two heifer calves. We bought our first Bull in the Spring of 1994, but we haven’t bought in any additional females since that initial purchase.”

And that is just one factor that makes the Tetford Longhorn herd so special; the entire pedigree herd derives from the original females that where bought over sixteen years ago. Charles tells us the secret to the Tetford’s success: “We’ve sustained the herd from using good, strong bulls. In fact we’ve only bought in three bulls from other farms since we started, the rest have all been home bred bulls.”

Back to the job in hand and the mainstay of Charles’ work has for over twenty years been to breed the very best Longhorn that he can; “it’s so important to keep an eye on closeness of breeding, we’ve produced a herd

TETfORd LOnGhORns: BEaUTifULLY REaREd and TEmPTinGLY TasTYChaRLEs sUTCLiffE TELLs Us hOW a famiLY vEnTURE BECamE an aWaRd-WinninG BUsinEss

which has certain characteristics which those who are familiar with the breed can spot. I suppose that comes part and parcel with using your own home bred bulls. We have had a number of successes in the show ring over the years. Our highlight must be winning Male Champion twice at the Royal Show with homebred

bulls, Tetford Clansman in 1999 and Tetford Kingpin in 2005. Incidentally Clansman was Breed Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1999 as well.”

So why Longhorns we ask? “I have to admit that it was the appearance of Longhorns that first attracted me,” Charles explains. “I seriously think

Beautiful


L. Brown & Son (Wholesale Butchers) LTDCity Abattoir, Lincoln. LN3 4NL

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that most people decide to go for a breed like the Longhorns because they simply like the look of them, and once you keep them, you then find out how bloody good a breed they are.”

As well as being top-notch breeders the Sutcliffe family reign supreme where diversification is concerned. In 1997 Charles and Debbie began

selling beef and lamb in freezer packs using a third party butcher, but when the formality of single farm payment reared its ugly head, the family needed to up the ante and begin doing things on a much grander scale.

“When single farm payment came in, it was like a warning that things weren’t going to get better, but would become

more difficult; we knew we had to increase the outlet to sell more than just freezer packs. And so with the aid of the Lincolnshire Wolds Sustainable Development Fund who provided us with a grant, we bought a retail trailer with the idea of trading at various food fairs and farmers markets, selling not just freezer packs but individual cuts of meats too. Although the food fairs were successful we decided to park the trailer out in the yard and open it three days a week as a small farm shop.”

Everything it seemed, was falling into place for the Sutcliffe family but things were about to go from good, to great!

“It just so happened that in early 2007 our son Jim qualified as a butcher, so we were then able to do all our own butchery rather than using a third party. From there we set up our own cutting room and commercial kitchen eight miles away from the farm in Horncastle. But we didn’t stop there because during the autumn of 2007 we were tipped off that a butcher in Louth was retiring and that a shop was soon to become available. Myself, Debbie and Jim wasted no time approaching the gentleman and soon after that we had purchased the butchers; the 3rd of February 2008 was our very first day of business, and Meridian Meats was born.”

Since it’s opening just two years ago Meridian Meats Family Butchers Ltd has been a huge success and has earned the family both local and national recognition. Everything that is produced on the farm is sold in the shop, giving the meat its traceability and perhaps more importantly, its exquisite taste. As well as their home produced Longhorn beef and lamb additional local beef, pork and lamb is sourced from other selected Lincolnshire farms and all meats that are sold offer complete traceability. Meridian Meats are Lincolnshire’s only Traditional Breeds Meat Marketing Accredited Butcher and one of only two “Q” Guild butchers in the county.

“Without the Longhorns I don’t think we would have had the butchers shop. Apart from the fact that Longhorn beef is without a doubt the best, or one of the best beefs around, its looks and its history are a marketing tool; stick a picture of a Longhorn onto something and it will draw people in on its looks alone.”

Charles admits that even though constant supply to the shop can be trying at times it is most definitely worthwhile: “Rearing and finishing for the shop can be a difficult and delicate process, it requires you to

Charles Sutcliffe

continues page 21


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push some cattle on and hold some back, and I don’t believe there is that particular requirement in normal commercial finishing. A ‘normal farmer’ so to speak will produce either to sell through the market or through a scheme associated with a supermarket of some sort. Now schemes like that aren’t after just one or two animals, they want a lorry load of say between six and eight cattle. We on the other hand will put one animal a fortnight through the shop and that’s it; but with added pressure comes added reward.”

Jim Sutcliffe runs the Meridian Meats butchers on a daily basis assisted by

Debbie leaving Charles to focus all of his efforts on the breeding stock. Jim is responsible for the meat that is sold in the shop everyday and using his butchering expertises is able to cut the very best meats in the finest possible way. Speaking fondly about his son Charles tells us, “Jim always says that customers cannot ask cooking advice from a supermarket shelf but you can in a traditional butchers shop. No two animals are the same, and that’s where the skill of a traditional butcher, wins hands down.”

In December 2009 Jim’s efforts were recognised on a gigantic scale

when he was awarded the BBC Young Butcher of the Year. The competition which celebrates the country’s ‘unsung heroes’, had over 500 entries and was carried out over three stages; an interview with an industry expert in Manchester (who in Jim’s case was Ilkley-based butcher David Lishman), an observed demonstration of practical skills, and finally a visit to Woodbridge, Suffolk to face even more challenges, for what would become the broadcasted final.

Since he received the coveted title, Jim and his parents have seen Meridian Meats Family Butchers Ltd go from strength to strength attracting customers from far and wide, who are eager to see exactly what all the fuss is about. The business has since gone on to be awarded as a national finalist and regional winner at the Countryside Alliance traditional business awards last year.

The Sutcliffe’s famous Longhorn Beef was made more popular in February last year after a surprising phone call left the family with even more exciting things to look forward to. Charles explains exactly what happened:

“We were contacted by Country Life Magazine who asked if we could

supply them with 2 kilos of sirloin on the bone for a tasting session they were organising, of course we said yes we could. The session incorporated eleven native breeds in total and took place at Hicks restaurant in London. A month or so later when the magazine came out our beef had been voted the Best Steak in Britain. As a family this gave us unbelievable sense of achievement, after all there is an awful lot of good beef to be had. For Longhorn beef to win against ten other native breeds including Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Highland, White Park and British White, was just fantastic, absolutely fantastic.”

After such a successful few years, Meridian Meats and the Tetford Herd have really set the standards in getting quality stock from the farm to the fork. Let’s just see what the next couple of years have in store. Watch this space!

For more information on the Sutcliffe family and all that they do call the garth Farm on 01507 533 697 visit www.tetfordlonghorns.co.uk or call 01507 603 357 visit www.meridianmeatsshop.co.uk for the butchers shop

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procter farms ltd

For the last fifteen years Procters Farm Ltd has been renowned for its prestigious Limousin herd, and rightly so. But just over a year ago its owner tony Moores along with farm manager, gary Swindlehurst, hired Jeff aiken as flock manager and with the able assistance of his wife Jennifer things have never been the same since.

A sheep man at heart, flock manager Jeff and his wife have been instrumental in improving the Texels on the farm and have now built a reputation for breeding the very best pedigree stock, adhering to the Procters’ widely recognised ethos;

a sCORChER Of a sUmmER fOR PROCTERsLUCiE CaRTER mEETs WiTh faRm WORKERs ROB TOWLER,JEff aiKEn and his WifE JEnnifER

favourable to us, so when we arrived our main aim was to bring in the additional females that were needed. For me is was and still is about pushing quality up and keeping numbers down; over the next few years we’ll hopefully be able to continue that.”

But they’ve done more than simply maintain standards; they’ve excelled all expectations and gone on to win across the board throughout this summer’s showing season. Perhaps their most prestigious award came in July at the Great Yorkshire Show when Jeff and the Procter’s Texels were honoured as 1st prize winners in the group of three and reserve champion in the prime lamb category. Just two days after their success in Yorkshire the Aikens travelled to Cumbria where they won four first prizes and reserve champion at the Cumberland Show.

Procters Farm Ltd very much caters for the commercial farmer in a way in which makes it stand out from the crowd. To achieve their specified breeding standards the team use signet recording and are heavily involved in modern embryo technologies. But to secure great sales over their 14 years in the industry, Gary and Tony have worked tirelessly to overcome unavoidable obstacles that their land has thrown at them.

Jeff tells us: “The farm is heavily disadvantaged here, which means

that the Procters enterprise is divided across two units: Procters Farm which is home to the Limousin herd and neighbouring Parrock Head which is where the Texel sheep flock is based.”

Despite the poor land at Slaidburn which can, in heavy winters experience up to 75 inches of rainfall, Gary and Tony have managed to sustain the standards at Procters Farm; especially with their pedigree Limousin herd which has a reputation that now seems to precede it. Since 1995 the pair has consistently bought in top class stock bulls, including their most famous purchase ‘Haltcliffe Vermount’ who was bought in February 2006 for the record price of 100,000gns. But it was well worth it; Vermount’s sons went on to win reserve champions at both the 2008 and the 2009 Carlisle Bull sales. In addition to these titles, the bulls have also achieved four reserve champions at the H&H Limousin Society Sales over the last two years.

It’s not often you can find a farming enterprise that excels in both Limousin and Texel breeding, and so it seems Procters Farm Ltd have their very own agricultural ethos for a reason.

Procters Farm Ltd woodhouse Lane , Slaidburn Lancashire BB7 3aa tel: 01200 446623

“to excel in the breeding, rearing and selling of exceptional stock.”

A Northern Ireland native, Jeff came over to England to gain the necessary farming credentials when he was just 19 years old. Jeff then gained more valuable experience working for the Glenside and Hull House Texel flocks before moving to take charge of the Texels at Procters in 2009.

The Procter’s infamous Limousin herd now runs in strong union with the Texel flock of pedigree Texels, and although the Texel flock was first established in 2003 after Gary and Tony purchased a number of females from an array of accredited flocks, it wasn’t until July 2010 that the Procters’ award-winning flock began to be truly rewarded.

To begin their reign as award winners Jeff and Jennifer and the complete Procters’ team, which also includes long standing commercial Shepherd Rob Towler, began the fairly long process of buying in breeding stock privately from Annan, Baileys, Chessy and Doonguile flocks.

Jeff explains: “Texels have always been The Aikens with Rob Towler


dairy

Dairy farmers are being called on to think carefully about plans to mitigate future risk to their businesses, following new research from Barclays.

Results were surprising that more than three in four dairy farmers (82%) surveyed for the study said that they are reducing the risk management strategies despite the turbulent markets of the last few years.

The research, which was released to mark the start of the National Dairy Event & Livestock show also reveals

the steps milk producers are currently undertaking to prevent risk. Two thirds (69%) are forward buying inputs, 49 per cent are arranging fixed rates for loans, 13% had fixed the exchange rate for the single payment and finally more than one in ten had signed up to fixed price selling contracts.

Commenting on these results, Euryn Jones, National Agricultural Specialist at Barclays said: “Whilst it is encouraging to see a good number of dairy farmers adopting strategies to

manage risks in their business now, it’s worrying that so many are planning on doing less in the future”.

Of the farmers interviewed, the biggest perceived threats for dairy over the next five years are low prices, price volatility and rising commodity prices.

Euryn Jones continues: “When lending to a farming business, the farmer’s approach to risk management is one of the considerations that a bank will take into account when assessing the proposition.”

daiRY faRmERs URGEd TO ThinK aBOUT manaGinG RisK

Dairy farmers across the UK could be losing anything up to £281 million per year as a result of the high gutworm challenge faced by grazing dairy cattle. tests carried out on bulk milk samples during 2009 showed that 93% of the herds tested had been exposed to a high gutworm challenge. if this finding, produced from Moo tests, is extrapolated across the national

herd, it would mean that over 1.7 million1 cows could be affected.

The tests, which were carried out on 464 farms across the UK, measured levels of antibodies to gutworms in the milk. Elevated levels of antibodies show that the cows are exposed to a high gutworm challenge from the pasture. Only 5% of the tests showed a medium level of challenge, while just 2% were at a low level.

A high gutworm challenge can lead to a reduction in milk production. Research has shown that removing these gutworms with the zero milk withdrawal product Eprinex® Pour On, can increase milk production by up to 2 litres per cow per day2. This means that, by leaving cows untreated, dairy farmers across the UK may have lost out on nearly 1.2 billion litres of milk during 2009, with

potentially recoverable losses worth approximately £281 million.

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bernard liddle

PREsidEnT’s ROLE fOR BERnaRdChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh BERnaRd LiddLE Of daLEsEnd faRmsnorth Yorkshire farm manager Bernard Liddle has been elected as national president of Holstein UK & ireland. Bernard has been farm manager at Dalesend Farms, owned by Jonathan ropner, for over 40 years and has been involved with both the Holstein Friesian Society and Holstein UK for many years.

‘I am honoured to have been elected,’ says Bernard. ‘It’s a PR role and lasts for a one year term. I will be attending what I hope will be pretty much all of the major shows around the country during that time and visiting the 26 clubs. As president it’s not really a question of achieving things and it isn’t a political role in the same way as the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers and others but it can make government and the public aware of what it does and explain things more clearly.’

Bernard believes that there is often a lot of misinformation printed about dairy cattle and particularly the black and whites.

‘Look at the cloning business. The

Holstein cow because it produces 60% more methane, but what people don’t realise is that the Holstein produces twice as much milk, so it is more efficient than cows producing less milk.’

Dalesend Farms has changed over the years and currently has around 130-140 milkers dependent upon the season, with dry cows and followers the herd runs to some 320-340. Their herd average is around 8700 litres and Bernard points out that they have never pushed their cows to their limit for yield. The land is situated south of Patrick Brompton just out of Newton le Willows, and Bernard lives at Newton Grange.

‘At one time we farmed over 1000 acres but we sold the land on the top side of the Leyburn road. The acreage is now just short of 500, including woodland and dairy is our main enterprise. We also grow about 140 acres of cereals, both wheat and barley. We also grow around 65

acres of maize. We sell all the wheat and barley straight off the combine to a big beef fattener at the other side of Bedale. The maize is for the cows.’

Bernard started at Dalesend Farms 46 years ago.

‘I came here as a student and worked here a year. The manager at the time was George Healey. I went to Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester for two years, coming back during the holidays. When I had finished college I looked after one of the herds we had here at the time, at Fox Park, just next door. At one time we had five individual herds across the enterprise. George was a great influence on me, but he became ill and subsequently passed away in 1969. That’s when Mr Ropner asked me to take over the management of the farm. If I hadn’t done that I might only have been here for another 18 months.’

The past 41 years have seen Bernard not just running the farm

story was right but a lot of the facts were wrong. I appreciate that sometimes the story is more important than the facts but we need to be able to put our side of it. The same is true over stories about methane emissions. There has been talk that we should do away with the

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but also being heavily involved with HERDWISE, the AI company that was started from scratch by Mr Ropner and turned into the largest private AI company in the country before being sold as a going concern.

It has been quite a farming and business career for Bernard who

comes from Great Ayton, near Roseberry Topping, originally. His family moved to Nidderdale and his father farmed at Middlesmoor where Bernard was brought up.’

Dalesend Farms have hopped about between milk buyers over the years, starting out with Milk Marque they then

went with the Co-operative and then First Milk before ultimately moving to ARLA quite some time ago.

‘There’s a lot of nonsense talked about that you can go here, there and everywhere and that you must make the best out of your milk buyer, but the reality is that unless you’re in South Lancashire or Cheshire there aren’t that many potential buyers. I still believe what I have always believed and that is that a penny better than 25ppl (which is roughly where they are) is a good price, but a penny better than 18ppl is no good to anyone.’

Bernard was elected to the board of the Holstein Friesian Society in 1997 as a member for Yorkshire & North East. He had a 6 ½ year spell on the board. During that period the two societies merged, becoming Holstein UK & Ireland. He served within that for 6 ½ years and also served for nearly 4 ½ years as non-executive director on the Finance side of Holstein UK. During that time they purchased Livestock Services in Scotland which brought about CIS. Bernard was particularly involved with the purchase which he says proved to be a very good move for the society.

Bernard is married to Marnie and they have a son Adam who is a

gamekeeper in the Borders on the Duke of Roxburgh’s land, and a daughter Sarah who shows the Dalesend cows at the Great Yorkshire and local shows, as well as running her own business called The Farm Organisation.

Dalesend cows have won at the Great Yorkshire and Bernard believes the show has caught its second wind in recent years.

‘What happened to the Royal Show was a disgrace. It was total mismanagement and arrogance on their part. At one time I felt the Great Yorkshire was going the same way, but it’s on the right track now.’

Dalesend has won many awards over the years and produced Dalesend Storm Maude which went on to win titles right across the UK for a Welsh dairy farmer. Bernard is now looking forward to his year travelling the country waving the black and whites flag.

‘Fortunately I have some really good people on the farm, my herdsman Richard Lapthorne and Stuart Clapham. We have a good team here and it works well.’

Dalesend Farms newton Le willows, nr Bedale tel: 01677 422706


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stephen coates

everyone has their reasons for getting more involved in breed society organisations. For some it is because by nature they are organisers, for others it is because of the ability to influence decisions, for many it is simply their turn and nobody else is prepared to make or extend their commitment.

Stephen Coates has been chairman of the Yorkshire Holstein Club since March of this year. He farms with his wife Rachel at Low Springs Farm, Baildon where they run a farm of around 140 acres, milking 75 Holstein dairy cows and running a herd of around 140. His family have been at Low Springs since 1974.

‘I have been a member of the club since my mid-20s, but the reason why I’m now involved more is because of my kids. They are members of the Young Holstein Breeders and our weekends our now ruled by shows. It’s also a good social involvement too - it’s not all about the cows. There are a lot more summer meetings than winter. In the summer you have judging meetings, herd visits and various get-togethers at shows.’

There have been two new additional elements to the Yorkshire Holstein Club this year which Stephen has seen through. The first being the Directory of Members, which has proved a valuable resource for keeping members in contact; and the second being the launch of a new sale, hoped to become either an annual or twice yearly event, at Thirsk Market, which took place just prior to going to press with this issue.

‘There are weekly dairy sales at Skipton but we have been looking

sTEPhEn’s aT ThE hOLsTEin hELmChRis BERRY TaLK WiTh sTEPhEn COaTEs Of LOW sPRinGs faRm, BaiLdOn

to get a sale going over more to the east side of the county and Thirsk is as easy as any to get to. We are keen on giving the dairy farmers over that way some kind of sale of their own.’ (See Yorkshire Holstein Club Dairy Sale on page 59.)

Fittingly, when Stephen finishes his two year term of office in just under 18 months it is a dairy farmer from the East Riding of Yorkshire, Sam Middleton of Wawne, near Hull who will take over from him. It means that the club is in the hands of younger people and at a time when the breed seems to have quite a few new faces showing dairy cows that’s probably no bad thing and seems to be adding a new vitality.

‘It’s definitely a good thing. When you go down the Holstein lines at the Great Yorkshire Show there are so many young people.’

Stephen and Rachel have two daughters Flick (17) and Zoe (15) and son Ben (13), who are all keen on the breed either for showing or at home on the farm, situated just on the urban fringe.

‘We went pedigree in 1991 with the Bailmoor prefix and we’ve had some success at shows in the past few years. We had Supreme Dairy Champion last year at Otley, but we had a very young team this year and we didn’t trouble the engravers. The girls did the Great Yorkshire Show. We also do Bingley, our local

show; and we’ve done Gargrave and Malham. We have a really good show cow, Bailmoor Outside Candy (pictured here). My family comes from Malham originally so we always try to take a decent team there.’

Given all that Stephen and Rachel have had to cope with over the years, in common with a number of other dairy farmers Foot & Mouth Disease regulations; poor prices and the demise of Dairy Farmers of Britain Stephen looks remarkably unstressed.

‘On days like today its great isn’t it? But come back in the wet or at half past five in a morning. You will see a different side then. We lost a lot of money when Dairy Farmers


news

of Britain collapsed. We were full members and probably lost a similar amount to what everybody else lost, including 5 weeks’ worth of milk and our capital retention.’

The Coates’ are now with First Milk.

‘I’m in partnership with my parents Geoffrey and Margaret and we have always liked the principle of a co-operative. It didn’t work with DFB but we would like to see First Milk succeed. We’re getting just short of 23ppl at the moment and we are surviving but we have to be careful. There aren’t that many people interested in buying our milk. We’re in ARLA land around here, we’re surrounded by them but we weren’t

big enough for them. You have to be able to give them a million litres a year. We still talked to them, but to be honest it never sat comfortably with us anyway.’

If you would like to know more about the YHC contact:

StePHen coateS Yorkshire Holstein club Low Springs Farm, Baildon Shipley, west Yorkshire BD17 6Be tel: 01274 581049 Mob: 07745 801400 email: [email protected]

earlier this year LMr Services Ltd held their Pre-Harvest networking event at the atrium centre in Lincoln, where they welcomed McKinnells Land, Duncan & toplis and Front row Fencing as new members.

The event allowed the two companies to engage with LMR and the work they do, and also encouraged members and non-members to meet each other and generate business.

As new additions to the LMR co-operation McKinnels and Duncan & Toplis, who also sponsored the event, bring with then a wealth of experience from within the agricultural, legal and financial sectors.

McKinnells take the view that to understand farming law you have to understand farming. And, as no two farms are alike, there can never be a ‘one size fits all’ legal service for agriculture. The team at McKinnells Land has vast experience in the farming industry dealing with issues from

land conveyancing to contract agreements, from financial disputes to succession planning and are proud to have joined LMR. Many of our legal team are from farming families themselves and are on hand to discuss matters and offer advice. Even if you just need a hand sorting out that dodgy baler.

Duncan & Toplis is one of the largest independent firms of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, who, for over the past 80 years have worked with farmers and related businesses across the region, providing specialist accountancy and business advice. Duncan & Toplis’ agricultural team have in-depth knowledge and personal experience of the farming industry and can provide the expert advice that is required to help enhance the potential of farming and allied businesses.

www.duntop.co.uk www.mckinnells.co.uk

LmR WELCOmEs iT’s nEW mEmBERs

Ian Dawson from LMR welcomes Charlie Wright from Front Row Fencing


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collins / young

Brother and sister ian collins and wendy Young have completed another successful year in the agricultural show world with their Dairy Shorthorns which included winning the breed championship at the great Yorkshire Show. they won with churchroyd Heather 29 and it was their second outright win in the breed.

Ian farms at Church Farm, Whitley Lower, near Dewsbury, where both he and Wendy grew up, but Wendy now lives at Springfield Farm, Kirby Underdale with husband James where they contract rear solely for Ian.

Church Farm runs to some 120 acres of owned land with another 80 rented. The dairy herd is made up of around 140 cows plus young stock and at any one time they are milking around 110 cows. Their herd is not purely Dairy Shorthorn as they have around 20 black and whites, 2 Jerseys and an Ayrshire.

Over at Springfield Farm, which James and Wendy run as a completely separate business, they farm around 100 acres with approximately 30 acres of arable land and the rest down to grass.

Ian and Wendy’s mum Mary is the other partner in Church Farm along with Ian. They have another sister Jill, who looks after the paperwork side of things. Their dad, Richard, died 6 years ago.

‘The dairy herd here at Church Farm has expanded fast over the past 10 years,’ says Wendy. ‘Up until then

the herd was only around 40. We brought black and whites in at one time because they were cheaper than red and whites. We first started with Dairy Shorthorns properly around 1976 when mum and dad graded things up.’

Dad, Richard, broke his back in 1998 which led to Ian running the job at the farm probably a little earlier than he would have done otherwise.

‘It hasn’t done him any harm,’ says Wendy. ‘He started running the farm when he was 20. The problem with a lot of farms is that the children on them don’t take the reins early enough.’

Both Ian and Wendy are well known within the Dairy Shorthorn world and Wendy was the Society President two years ago. She tells of what kind of cow works best for their system

and their land.

‘For cows to work here we don’t want them to be the biggest cows in the world. We want size but we don’t want huge cows. They’ve got to have a bit of strength in them, plenty of body, openness of rib and they have to have really good udders. We’re looking for good legs and feet, to be able to walk well and milk well too. They’re not just there to look at.’

ChURChROYd daiRY shORThORns Win aGainChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh WEndY YOUnG aT WhiTLEY LOWER, dEWsBURY

Wendy and Ian with their family


collins / young

Their herd average is 7800 litres and the cows spend a longer time than most out in the field.

‘We have had them out as early as February, but Ian likes to get them out definitely by March if the grass is okay, even if it’s only for a few hours. He doesn’t bring them in unless he has to. We’re mainly on a grass-based feeding system then during the winter they are fed on a mixture of grass silage and brewers grains. Last year we started growing maize so we’re feeding a bit of maize and wholecrop this year. We grow the maize under plastic as where the farm is situated isn’t the best place to grow it.’

The milk goes to Buckley Farm Dairy in Denby Dale, where it has been going since they left Dairy Farmers of Britain 3 years ago – before it went bust. Wendy classes it their ‘lucky escape’!

During the show season their herd also picked up three dairy breed titles at one show! It was their local show at Emley, and they took championship wins in the Holsteins, Jerseys and

Dairy Shorthorn sections.

Wendy does most of the showing, with James also helping out.

‘Our showing year started with the All Breeds in February, then we had the Shorthorn World Conference. We also managed to compete at Cheshire and the Royal Highland in the same week which was kind of tiring – and we’ve also shown at the Great Yorkshire, Bakewell, Emley, Halifax, Mottram, the National Calf Show, Cheshire and Shropshire Calf Show and the Dairy Event. The show of Shorthorns at Cheshire was the best show of Shorthorn cows I have ever seen.’

In some ways it is a surprise Wendy has the energy to show the cows as she also runs a successful business called CLIPPAHOLICS, a foot trimming enterprise which keeps her busy all year round – and particularly just prior to a show.

‘I started it 5 years ago. James and I are both self-employed. He makes things – gates, byres and he’s forever mending ploughs. He made me the cattle crush. We designed it between

us and I got my first job clipping in Norfolk. I did one or two jobs in quick succession and then picked up on winter clipping as well as summer clipping. A lot of people clip for classifying these days. We now look after 25 herds. At Cheshire Show I did 40 top lines as well as showing our own cows. At the Great Yorkshire I spend from Saturday night until Monday night clipping then I finally sit down on the Tuesday night.’

Wendy and Ian are doing a great job with the Churchroyd herd, whether on-farm at Whitley Lower or in the show rings. Wendy admits to being ‘kind of obsessed’.

‘I’ have recently judged the North West Dairy Shorthorn competition travelling around 14 herds from Stranraer to Kendal. Two years ago I went to Australia for three weeks looking at Illawara cows, which is what the Shorthorn is called over there. I don’t go anywhere that doesn’t involve cows!’

church Farm, Howroyd Lane, Lower whitley, Dewsbury, wF12 0nB tel: 01924 493422

Wendy again


security

in recent times the number of thefts from agricultural and Plant operators has spiralled to all time high. Many items are stolen to order and quickly sold on for a fraction of their real value. it may not have happened to you yet, but with greater than 15% of all machines stolen within their life cycle, there is a real chance that it could.

How do you provide the best protection? There are many providers of so called “Trackers” but how do you know which one is the best and will provide the greatest possibility of recovering your valuable machine? Essentially there are three types of systems available with many variations on functionality. GPS & CANbus derived systems can provide some level of security but are essentially provided for logistical management purposes and often have comprehensive reporting suites to enhance asset management, great if you have a large fleet of machines but more suited to fleet operators than farmers who simply want their machine back should it be stolen.

Plant-i is the UK’s leading provider of tracking and telemetry solutions into Plant and Agricultural machines. Depending on specific requirement

Plant-i will usually recommend Mtrack as the best system for location and theft recovery purposes. Available in a number of derivatives Mtrack is the only battery powered solution available to carry the much coveted Thatcham Accreditation, coupled to an unmatched recovery of 98% of stolen assets, making it an obvious choice to provide your protection.

So what is different about Mtrack? Operating using RF/SMS/GSM/GPRS & GPS technology gives it a distinct advantage of been able to find itself even if in a building or steel container. Its patented power management system can give up to four years battery life. Mtrack is monitored 24/7/365 by Plant-i’s monitoring centre based here in the UK. If anything happens to your machine Plant-i will know about it and will work with you and the Police to get it back as soon as possible. There is an optional remote control to provide even greater protection, allowing instant arming of the system. This is particularly important on high value machines as Plant-i will be on it before it has even left your yard.

Because the M-Track utilises Plant-i’s own 24-hour monitoring station, it doesn’t rely on the police. Instead

GET PROTECTEd, GET ThE PLanT-i TREaTmEnT!

the station is responsible for phoning its client directly, so that the vehicle owner can also monitor the stolen vehicle from their farm using their computer. Plant-i will also continue to monitor the vehicle and will inform the police of any stolen vehicle’s whereabouts.

Harold Woolgar is currently the proud owner of an Mtrack which he has fitted onto his vehicile; he tells us how it gives him both security and piece of mind: “Recently a lady reversed into my Volvo unbeknown to me and I received a phone call to tell me it had been moved. So I stood up from my desk and looked into the car park (of a youth club building) to see what had happened. I immediately phoned the operator to say that I could in-fact see my car and that it hadn’t been moved. At the same time the Youth Club organiser entered our offices with the name of the lady who had broken my number plate.”

“Likewise two weekends ago, my wife & I were visiting the National Ploughing event at Lincoln. We locked the car and went round the fantastic site near the showground. Nearly five hours later we returned, unlocked the car, got out the two folding chairs and the picnic and had just poured the coffee when I received a phone call to tell me my car was in the middle of a large field and the device had been activated! I apologised and said that I had inadvertently forgotten to deactivate the plant-i. So it just proves that someone’s vehicle is always being electronically monitored.”

So in these tough economic times with theft rates spiralling is it worth taking a few small steps to protect your machines? We think so.

www.plant-i.net tel: 0845 299 7665


security

a Yorkshire based insurance broker is urging farmers to fit tracking devices to their farm equipment in a bid to combat the increase in machinery thefts.

Harold Woolgar, of Harold Woolgar Insurance handles insurance claims from farmers in the North of England, but particularly across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. He says: “Thefts have reached almost epidemic proportions. There’s hardly a week goes by without a call from a farmer saying he’s had valuable equipment stolen. In the last 12 months we must have had over £1m worth of claims come through. Farmers want to know exactly where their machinery is going and they will do their very best to assist the police in locating whatever has been taken, that way they can solve more crimes and have thieves arrested.”

“Not only do farmers suffer the inconvenience and down time costs, but there is also the cost of replacing items which are not recovered. As a result, insurers continue to pay for an increasing number of claims with the resultant impact on premiums,” he says.

Mr Woolgar is a member and Director of FarmWeb, the UK’s largest network

of independent agricultural insurance brokers and says members across the country have reported a noticeable increase in thefts of farm vehicles and equipment; everything from quad bikes to heavy plant and Land Rovers are being stolen regularly, with the resulting impact on farm productivity and efficiency.

To help fight back, FarmWeb has negotiated a discount of 15% on vehicle premiums where trackers have been fitted to vehicles and a further discount of £150 on each TRACKER Monitor unit fitted.

Mr Woolgar continued: “If you bought a £50,000 car you wouldn’t think twice about fitting a tracking device, but farmers spend upwards of £70,000 on new tractors and it isn’t on their radar.

“Protecting property is the only option available and as thieves become more sophisticated so must the levels of protection. We want to help keep claims numbers and costs to farmers down and it’s clear that thefts are hitting them hard. To help, we are offering a £150 discount on trackers fitted to vehicles and equipment and have negotiated a 15% vehicle premium discount for those who decide

hELP OffEREd TO faRmERs TO COmBaT maChinERY ThEfTto do so. Both these initiatives should assist with the cost of fitting a tracker, which gives valuable equipment extra protection. The average cost of a Tracker is £349 so a saving of £150 is a substantial reduction.”

“TRACKER is the UK’s leading stolen vehicle recovery system so hopefully this initiative will not only be a deterrent to thieves but give farmers increased peace of mind and reduce the feeling of being a “helpless victim. A TRACKER device can only be by the client contacting the Tracker company;

it then relays on the police who have the necessary equipment fitted to their vehicles in order to track the vehicle. It’s clear that vehicles are frequently stolen to order and often head abroad, so alerting the police or the owners earlier to the vehicle’s location has got to be an advantage.”

www.lifeandpensionsnetwork.co.uk tel: 01427 873 388 [email protected]

on the 19th of october a 26 year old man from Burton in Lonsdale, Lancashire, was arrested for handling stolen goods and money laundering and has been released on bail until the 25th of January 2011.

As you will see from our security section, anyone buying

agricultural equipment must get a TRACKER device fitted which will assist the police in locating stolen equipment for you.

Full details of this case will be in our next edition.

sECOnd aRREsT fOR LanCashiRE man


ritchie

it is true to say that Melanie Forward’s husband is the ‘Farmers Husband’ and Melanie the ‘Farmer’ at westcott House Farm, talaton, Devon. Farming 100 acres of good grass-growing Devon clay, Melanie has built up a 130 cattle beef farm based around a pedigree Limousin herd. with part-time help from her husband and her dad, who retired from dairying in 1995, Melanie also participates in several extra part-time jobs, keeping her life busy all year round.

With so much stock to handle, Melanie was looking for an improved housing and stock handling system to incorporate into the established farm buildings and yard. At the 2009 Royal Show, Melanie managed a few minutes off her appointed duties as a Limousin Show Steward to view the Ritchie Squeeze Crush on the David Shepherd stand, where a deal was struck!

By incorporating the new crush as part of an extended cattle race using her old crush, both father and

PEdiGREE LimOUsin BEEf sUCKLinG hERd On 100 aCREs Of dEvOn CLaY

House Farm. Cattle dosing in the spring has been totally transformed with stock being calmer and throughput increased. Calves and cows can be put through together without separation as the crate adjusts to size with one lever movement. The cattle handling system was designed under cover which allows stock work to be carried out on time, whatever the weather.

One point Melanie is sure about, in her own mind, is that by having the unit painted rather than galvanized, operation seems quieter and the cows are more content.

TB testing and blue tongue injections are also no longer a chore; Melanie’s management style is ‘if a job is done more easily, you do it well’! The Ritchie squeeze crate has certainly revolutionised this farm’s stock handling by the Farm Wife!

www.ritchie-uk.com

daughter agree that they’ve utilised ancient and modern to make their stock handling systems sing. The greater control of stock by use of the easily adjusted squeeze crate

has made handling jobs safer and animals calmer.

All of the Ritchie squeeze crate capabilities are utilised at Westcott

Melanie with the Crush


southwells

nagging really can get you somewhere. it’s official! that’s how Joanne chapman reckons she was able to get started in the showing world.

‘When I was little my dad used to show at Driffield every year. My sister and I nagged and nagged him about it. I wanted him to go to these posh sales and buy a top Canadian show cow, so one day he said ‘you do it’ so I did and I bought one.’

Joanne has been showing ever since and their latest successful cow is Huntholme Kitty who took third place at the Great Yorkshire this year, as a dry cow - the year previously she was Reserve Champion at Driffield.

The Southwell family farm at Hunt Hill Farm, Hempholme, near Brandesburton in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Mike and Jill Southwell are

Joanne’s mum and dad, and Joanne is married to Andrew. The farm runs to some 460 acres and is a partnership between Mike and his brother Ben, with their father, Tom, still looking after the calves at a healthy 94 years of age.

‘Ben does the arable side,’ says Mike. ‘I look after the cows and Andrew helps. We have 100 dairy cows and followers, plus a beef enterprise as well. I think you get on better that way with each having your own part of the farm to look after. There’s no duplication of effort. My father was the eldest of 12 children and he and my Uncle Guy came here together when I was just 2 years old. There were three couples of children who went off farming together during the war. Grandfather set them all up then it was up to them to get on with it. Originally I had another brother in partnership

CaRRYinG On a finE TRadiTiOn aT hUnT hiLLChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh ThE sOUThWELLs and ChaPmans Of hEmPhOLmE

with Ben and myself, Dick, who is a builder by trade now. He split out of the partnership in 1977.’

The main crops grown on the farm are wheat, barley and oil seed rape, along with maize which they have just started with this year. Mike likes the maize as forage for the herd. They also rent out land for potatoes. Most of the barley is fed to the bullocks and cows.

‘Dairy has always been our main enterprise. My father and uncle were very clever because they set up with good cattle right at the start. They bought one of the best bulls in the country in 1948 at a time when good cattle were hard to come by. My Uncle Guy was the one who loved showing, my father went along with him and they did quite well between them.’

The Southwells have a proud history in showing dairy cows and Joanne has put together a scrapbook of some of their most momentous achievements

over the years. They include Hunthill Magpie taking first place at York and Driffield in 1949, plus a championship at York Market in 1950; Hunthill Jenny RMXRML who took first place at the London Dairy Show in 1952 in the Bledislow Team; and Hunthill Roma and Roma II at the Royal Show in 1958. There’s also a picture of Michael receiving the trophy for Best Production & Inspection Medium Herd in 1962 for the Huntholme herd in the Milk Recording Herds Competition.

Their best ever cow was HUNTHOLME RUBY 11th who was a three-time champion at Driffield Show, which they subsequently sold at the Otley Club Show & sale in 1983.

Today the herd averages 9113 litres with a butterfat of 3.87% and protein 3.25%. They have 98 milkers and the herd runs to some 150 overall with followers. They also have a 60-strong beef herd and finish all their own bull calves. They sell their milk to ARLA.


THOMPSONSOF YORKEST. 1926

ANIMAL FEED COMPOUNDERS

We are pleased to be associated with the Southwell Family and wish them continued success for the future

Jubilee Mill, Murton, York YO19 5UTTel 01904 488388Fax 01904 488517Email [email protected] www.thompsons-feeds.co.uk

southwellsMike knows that where they are situated does not make life easy when selling their milk.

‘Because there aren’t many dairy farmers in the East Riding there isn’t the competition to buy our milk. If we were in Shropshire there would be three or four major companies knocking on our door, but that’s not the case here. My father and uncle farmed in the best years straight after the war, now you’ve really got to be a good businessman to keep going. In my father’s day as long as you produced the goods how you went about it didn’t really matter.’

Joanne is particularly pleased with the success she has had in the show ring with HUNTHOLME KITTY 7.

‘We bred her ourselves from a yearling which we bought, KETBY ASTRA KITTY II. Her grandma won at the Royal and was a big show cow. We now have 23 KITTY cows, probably more than anyone else in the country.

The original KITTY came from Canada and was rated best in the country back in 1993.’

The HUNTHOLME herd is now pretty much a closed herd, but they will still buy-in if they think they see one that is really special.

Andrew and Joanne married 10 years ago. Andrew is from Folkton near Scarborough. His father has a smallholding and Andrew started with Texels about 14 years ago. He is also building a reputation for quality stock around the show rings.

‘I used to have Xbreds but whilst FMD was on I got rid of my part in them. My dad and sister still have them along with Suffolks, but I moved on to Texels. I lamb about 40 ewes and really enjoy showing. My tups go to Skipton and Malton, and this year I’ve had a great season. I had Texel Male Champion and Reserve Champion at Newark; 2nd at Lincoln in the shearlings; 6th in shearlings at

the Great Yorkshire; won the shearling class at Driffield; Reserve Champion at Malton and Champion at Ryedale.’

Not a bad haul at all for Andrew’s flock which goes under the prefix of ST JOHN’S TEXELS, utilising the name of the church in Folkton. He has had male and interbreed champions at Lincoln and quite a few 2nds, 3rds and 4ths at the Great Yorkshire.

‘If you’re getting a rosette at Harrogate you’re not far away from being classed as a good breeder and doing well at shows does help you sell. If you do well at Malton and Ryedale shows you do well selling at Malton. Similarly when you do well at the Great Yorkshire it helps with how your sales go at Skipton.’

Hunt Hill Farm’s land runs up alongside the River Hull and the Southwells own both banks along a reasonable stretch of river. This provides them with a useful extra income as they lease one side to a boat club and the other for

moorings on a yearly basis.

‘We get a lot of boats up here,’ says Mike. ‘We had a longboat up recently. It’s very popular and boats can generally get as far north as Wansford. We have very little additional expenditure ourselves apart from knocking posts in and cutting the grass.’

As for the next generation of Southwells and Chapmans, Joanne and Andrew’s children – Stella (7) and James (5) – are already showing a keen interest in showing and farming.

‘They’re really getting into it,’ says Joanne. ‘Stella wants to go to a calf show at Thirsk – to show our latest Kitty calf – and James is a bit of a tractor boy.’

Hunt Hill Farm Hempholme, near Brandesburton tel: 01964 542200

Mike Southwell and daughter Joanne and children


hawes auction mart

amazingly the Mule has only been around for 40 years, but its popularity is such that its gimmer lamb sales are now the biggest in the UK.

Hawes is the centre of the universe so far as Mule breeders and buyers are concerned and this year Hawes Farmers Auction Market saw 25,799 gimmers sold over two days in September. They averaged £91.41 over the two days. Andrew Pratt, the mart chairman was a very busy man and over the past two to three months had put in countless hours ensuring the sale was once again a success.

‘This is our farmers’ payday, it’s their harvest. It’s what they work from year to year doing. You haven’t a lot of options in what you can produce up here. We get buyers from as far north as Thurso in northern Scotland, right down to Cornwall and East Sussex. It’s all about the stratification of the sheep

25,799 shEEP in nEW RaCEChRis BERRY visiTs ThE mULE GimmER LamB saLE aT haWEs aUCTiOn maRT

Andrew Pratt - Chairman of Hawes Auction Mart


hawes auction mart

FeedsFertiliserMineralsGrass seedsOil and diesel tanksAnimal healthSmall machineryAnd much, much more

Come and visit uswe are just next to the Auction Mart

Hawes CountrystoreTel: 01969 [email protected]

We would like to wish the Staff and Customers of Hawes Auction Mart

continued success for the future

www.carrs-billington.com

For friendly professional advice and outstanding service

14% OFFBring this voucher in and get 14% off clothing

industry - moving sheep from the hills to the lower ground in order to produce prime lambs. We will have over 250 buyers from right across the UK over these two days.’

Raymond Lund is the mart auctioneer and has been at Hawes Mart for 24 years. He farms at Garsdale Head, just 6 miles from the town.

‘The breed started off in the early 1970s. We used to breed them on the farm. They are a sheep that does tremendously well for the south

country man. They are very good mothers and good milkers. Before the Mules got going there used to be a lot of Mashams. They didn’t do as well on the high land as the Mules. The Mule lamb doesn’t take as much out of the ewe and it will survive up on the hills where others won’t. These two days are very important to the farmers around here. This is now the biggest sheep sale in the British Isles.’

The champion pen and RA Fawcett

cup winners went for £560 each for Tony and Alan Busby of Marrick, near Richmond.

Prices have remained buoyant in the sheep sector for well over a year and Andrew tells of how that has benefited both the farmers and the mart itself.

‘Stock prices have been good, which is great news for the mart because we charge a commission. The more the price goes up the better the auction company does, the better it

is for the whole area. Our numbers have been slightly up on last year overall, with prime lamb prices generally around £60-£65 for our type of lambs.’

Although some market towns have been looking to shift their livestock markets further out of town Andrew believes their proximity to the main street through the town also has a role to play.

continues page 40

Very busy sale


‘Farming is still important to the town economy. All of the hotels and bed and breakfast establishments are full this week, with people coming to the sale. Market day here really is market day, with the livestock market here in the auction mart and the public market in the town. They both bring families and tourists to the town. If there wasn’t a market here there would certainly be less activity. People who are not from a farming background are always interested in coming here to see how a sale works. We’re always getting people ringing up asking when the sale starts.’

This year’s Mule Gimmer Sale was their first massive sale where the mart’s new race reader was thoroughly tested capturing all ear tag information. They had been using it at the weekly Tuesday markets for some time but this was huge sale in comparison. Andrew’s workload was increased substantially as

due to the nature of the sale they also needed to use stick readers. Andrew is trying to see the positive side of it.

‘Of course the readers have been a lot of extra expense for no extra gain, from our point of view. The race reader itself is a five figure sum, then there’s the technology that goes with it. I’ve had a few sleepless nights over it all. It has been a massive cost for us and we have to absorb it. The readers are purely there to satisfy the DEFRA regulations. However, we have invested in a race reader, a more automated system, which captures all of the tag information, all 16 digits. If you were trying to read them manually it would be impossible. You can capture a pen of 50 sheep in a matter of seconds going through a race. The regulations over traceability that are now in place means we are forced to abide by them. We can’t just

sweep it under the carpet or stick our heads in the sand. We have to use it in a positive way and it will be an effective farm management tool in the future by which to monitor individual sheep performance but on a big day like this it’s hard work and a hindrance!’

HaweS FarMerS aUction Mart tel 01969 667207 www.hawesmart.co.uk

Raymond Lund Auctioneer

hawes auction mart

FarmersMart Autumn 2010�0

hawes auction mart

Loving it!

FarmersMart Autumn 2010 �1

Wishing The Voase Family continued success for the future!

Halsham, Hull HU12 0BTTel 01964 614233 Fax 01964 613227

www.northfieldagric.com

RAY THOMPSON PROPERTY LTD

INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, CRANSWICK,

DRIFFIELD YO25 9PF

TEL 01377270193

We are pleased

to have

manufactured

the new general

purpose building,

and wish

Martin, Margot

& Nick

all the very best.

voase

hEmP – ThE BREaK CROP On ThE RisEChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh ThE vOasEs Of hiGh BasWiCKare you on the lookout for a new crop to grow? nick Voase might have the answer for you!

Hemp. That’s what the Voases of Baswick are growing in the East Riding of Yorkshire not far from the villages of Brandesburton and Leven, by the side of the River Hull.

They are now growing hemp on half their acreage and wheat on the other half of their 650 acres. But they are not growing it on some kind of a whim. They already have the market for their products and now Nick is looking to show other farmers the benefits of growing it.

‘We were looking for a suitable break crop as we don’t generally do second wheats. We had tried lupins, evening primrose and borage so we tried hemp and it looked good. There are two parts to the crop. One is the woody core which is used for horse bedding and providing builders merchants with hemp-lime plaster for building houses; and the other is the fibre that can be used for a multitude of things from loft insulation to bio-resins, doorskins and parcel shelves for cars, but we have found a market with a bed manufacturer in Leeds who is now taking nearly all of what we grow and process.’

Nick tells of the amount he is currently supplying to the bed manufacturer being on the increase.

‘He is presently using 3.5 tonnes of fibre per week and that will be at around 5.5 tonnes a week by Christmas. The reasoning behind using hemp in bed manufacture is that it is a natural fibre, not man-made. I cannot see a problem with firstly doubling the acreage we already supply and then doubling it once again. And that supply will have to come from farmers other than me as we are close to capacity.’

The woody core product is already a hit with the horse-bedding market.

They have a significant number of customers ranging from garden centres to pet shops and horse supply outlets and whilst this market can be explored further it is the even greater potential of the house-building market that looks all set to grow and grow.

‘The shiv (the woody core) is used in hemp-lime construction and is called hempcrete. It makes a plaster so that you can construct a solid wall and there are a lot of self-builders and eco-builders now using it throughout the country. Mixed with lime it produces a breathable, insulated wall that meets all building

Margo Voase with hemp crop which grows to between 8 and 12 feet


voase

For all your aggregate needs

T. 01430 873428 M. 07702 737557 E. [email protected] Hall Quarry, Burnby, Nr. Market Weighton

Pleased to be associated with Martin, Nick and Margot Voase and wish them continued success for the future

regulations and provides a very pleasant environment for living in.’

Nick’s mum and dad Margo and Martin are planning to move in to their own new home built using hemp-lime construction at Baswick Steer. It is already near completion and they are hoping to show others just how wonderful the product is

and their new home. Local builder Mike Turner of Hedon is working on it and is delighted with the way things are turning out.

‘It’s definitely the future of housebuilding, using an eco-friendly product. I’m sure many more people will be using hemp-lime and hempcrete very soon.’

Nick feels that the housing market could have massive potential but he doesn’t yet see it being taken up by the mainstream housebuilders.

‘I don’t see why it shouldn’t be used nationwide by them in the long run, but at present I don’t think there is enough hemp being grown to supply the whole market place. There is certainly a growing demand amongst the ecobuilders though and that is expected to grow further.’

The Voases certainly don’t see the growing of hemp as a fad. They believe the crop has great potential to be grown in massive quantity in the years to come.

But what of the crop itself?

‘It is a very competitive crop so long as it is sown into the right seed bed. It also leaves a clean seed bed for wheat. Hemp is a good enough crop to stand on its own as another break crop which will perform for most farms. Because you don’t sow it until May it gives you the chance to overwinter your stubble. It grows on

all types of land and it works well for us. You also don’t use a combine in order to harvest it. All you do is cut and bale it. So there’s no combining, no spraying, no herbicides or fungicides. Where you increase your costs is that the seed is dearer and in our case – we process it here too, but it is still making nearly 90% of the wheat price so it is a more than useful break crop.’

Unfortunately the Voases lost approximately a quarter of last year’s crop due to a store fire, but they have reinvested in new plant and are now in a position to offer advice, support and management to other farmers who are looking to grow hemp in the future.

KJ VoaSe & Son inn carr Farm High Baswick tel: 01964 542477

nick & Martin Voase with the 2 products from hemp


if proof were ever needed of the commitment from farm machinery manufacturers to the future of agriculture in Yorkshire then it couldn’t be more evident than that shown by claas and their Seward outlets at this present time.

sindERBY nEW CEnTRE OffiCiaL OPEninG in nOvEmBERThis month sees the launch of Seward’s brand-new, state-of-the-art purpose built premises at Sinderby, near Thirsk with an open evening on Wednesday November 17 and an open day on the following day, Thursday November 18.

‘Our new building has been specifically designed for today’s farm machinery needs,’ says Seward general manager Gordon Cummings. ‘The old building was knocked down and now we have a fantastic outlet that incorporates a fabulous new showroom and great facilities for service and parts. There is also a huge workshop area and we believe that this offers us the ideal opportunity to show everyone just how advanced in our thinking we are through both

seward

CLaas & sEWaRd sTREnGThEn ThEiR COmmiTmEnT RiGhT aCROss YORKshiREChRis BERRY REPORTs On a maJOR invEsTmEnT in ThREE CEnTREs

Seward and Claas. Farm machinery has developed massively in the past decade and we must all move with the times. We are constantly looking at how we can develop our business and we feel these new

premises will help us achieve an even better service for all of our customers.’

In addition the new building also contains a function room which will be available for agriculturally

related meetings which can seat over 100 people.

‘We have always had very strong links with our customers in Yorkshire and we believe this official opening will show our intent to grow the business even further in the future. This year’s combine sales in the region have far exceeded last year’s levels and indeed our own expectations, whilst the tractor market, which Claas only came into during the past decade continues to grow due to our reliability and innovation of product.’

The Sinderby centre has long been associated with stability and determination in its team and Gordon is keen to stress the roles played by the managers of each section.

‘Quite simply we wouldn’t have a centre without the strong team we have here and we are extremely fortunate to have men with substantial experience and farm machinery knowledge. Mick Malkinson and Jon Robinson are our two service managers; Jeremy Preece is sales manager; and Mike Sellars is parts manager. Together they form what I firmly believe is the reason behind our long-term

FarmersMart Autumn 2010��

seward

success in North Yorkshire.’

Invitations were being sent to farmers as Farmers Mart was going to press but if you find you have not received an official invitation then Gordon would be delighted to hear from you in order that he can send you one.

‘We want everyone to come along and enjoy our hospitality as well as affording them the opportunity to look at what we have done here. We are all proud of these new premises and we are more than happy to show them off – as well as giving everyone the chance to see the very latest in Claas technology.’

The evening function will include a hog roast and free bar, plus a ‘little something’ by the way of entertainment. There will be refreshments throughout the day on the open day itself which will run from 10am – 4pm.

Due to the new road network Gordon adds that each invitation will include a map showing the best route to reach the new centre.

‘We have been informed that there will be temporary disruption to local roads over the next few months, which is of course out of our hands, so we have included the map in order to help. We look forward to seeing everyone either over those two dates or in the very near future. Please pop in and take a look any time. I’m sure you will be impressed.’

WiLBERfOss maJOR REfURBishmEnT TO BE REadY BY ChRisTmasEarlier this year there was talk of a move from Seward’s established premises at Wilberfoss to a new site at Market Weighton. However, a decision was made to stay at Wilberfoss and develop the premises – and it is now all systems go in getting it all complete before Christmas.

‘We have been at Wilberfoss for many years,’ says Gordon. ‘And we are delighted to remain here. We decided that we could refurbish totally what we have

here in order to provide our East Riding and Vale of York customers with an even better service. The showroom and stores are being totally revamped, updated and extended to offer a far greater range of agricultural consumables. We believe with the investment we are making, including a facelift to the whole of the premises, that this will be the best equipped facility in the East Riding of Yorkshire, working hand

in hand with our newest premises further to the east in Holderness.’

The Wilberfoss centre will be headed up on the service side by Graham Monkman, who will also be head of service at the new premises at Catfoss. Foreman at Wilberfoss is Nick Knight and Mick Bird is the field sales manager.

CaTfOss TO BECOmE ThE nEWEsT addiTiOn TO ThE TEamWhilst the Sinderby centre is at present the newest of Class’ three centres across Yorkshire there is another on the not-too-distant horizon.

‘Our centre at Catfoss is another exciting development for us at both Claas and Seward,’ says Gordon. ‘It will incorporate another huge workshop, as well as an all-new stores and service area.

Holderness is a hugely important market for us. The growers over on this eastern edge of Yorkshire are amongst some of the highest yielding cereal farms in the UK and we realise the strategic significance of supplying a centre that is totally committed to their needs. In many ways the Catfoss centre will probably be far more essential than Hull Bridge was

– and it is a far bigger centre too.’

The centre replaces the Hull Bridge centre which closed earlier this year and details of its official opening will appear in a future edition of Farmers Mart.

Foreman at Catfoss is Mally Wright, with Tim Stanforth as parts manager and Bob McTurk as field sales manager.

FarmersMart Autumn 2010 ��

pocock

ATV SPECIALISTS

28 Derwent Road York Road, Industrial Estate, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6YB

Tel: 01653 692244

D H WADSWORTH & SONS(Malton) LTD

www.wadsworthquads.co.ukRepairs, Servicing & Small Machinery

We are pleased to be associated with Edwin Pocock and Family and wish them continued success for the future

Up until 2003 totley Hall Farm in Sheffield was a pretty conventional farm. Since then its pedigree ‘Hall Lane Flock’ of Poll Dorsets have been receiving awards at shows up and down the country. its owners edwin and Jenny were heading down the usual route as livestock and arable farmers, before a policy change led to an all sheep system based around the Hall Lane Flock.

Edwin Pocock began his life in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised. He left school at the age of fifteen and began working on a local farm before moving to a farm on the Lambourne Downs, Berkshire once he had qualified as a farm manager. After the owner decided to sell the farm, Edwin went on to manage another farm near Coventry where his appetite for the industry really grew.

It was during those early stages of his career that Edwin met Jenny and once married they began actively looking

for a farm of their own. Edwin tells us, “When the opportunity to tenant this farm came about we just couldn’t resist. Farms available to rent were so rare in those days that we jumped at it. We’ve been here for over twenty-eight years now.”

Farming was very much in Edwin’s DNA, not only had his Grandfather been a farmer, but his Father had worked as an agricultural contractor his entire life.

“In the good old days my dad was a very traditional farmer who did everything by hand. Every year he would work his way around the local farms with a thrashing machine, and that’s how I began to learn about farming. Sadly though when I reached the age to leave school my dads work had folded because combines came in and took over, leaving very little work for him and others who were doing the same.”

ChanGE CERTainLY is a GOOd ThinG aT TOTLEY haLL faRmLUCiE CaRTER TaLKs WiTh EdWin and JEnnY POCOCK

Inheriting a strong work ethic from his Father, Edwin made sure that he and Jenny made the very best out of their own farm when their tenancy began all those years ago: “I’ve always worked to the principal that if you want to learn a thing about farming you can learn it on the farm rather than at college, but I suspect that these days it’s more important to get the theory part right

as well.”

Because they had such a strong background in livestock and arable farming, Edwin and Jenny decided to follow suit and do what came natural to them; keep pigs and sheep and grow crops. However, once they took a good look around the 140 acres at Totley Farm, they began to realise its promise. Edwin explains:

Jenny and Edwin


pocock

“When we took into account everything the land had to offer we noticed there was real potential for a pick your own unit, especially since we are on the edge of Sheffield and Derbyshire here. For many years we ran the 20 acre unit here on the farm and it was very successful indeed.”

Once the pick your own unit had passed its peak, the Pocock family, including sons Chris and Matthew were looking for another way to spread their wings. Jenny tells us:

“We were looking for another diversification route because obviously with it being a small farm we couldn’t make sufficient income from ‘proper’ agriculture, so we needed to think of another option. At the time we were

thinking about closing the pick your own unit we went down to Devon on a holiday. Whilst there we came across a farm whose winter attraction was to showcase nativity plays, which gave us an exciting idea.”

And the rest is history. Thanks to that chance visit to Devon, Totley Hall Farm is now as much known for its pedigree Dorset flock as it is for its seasonal nativity festivities; “We were looking for something that wasn’t available in the area,” admits Jenny. “Because everyone was opening up bed and breakfasts and horse riding facilities we knew we had something very unique.”

Totley Farm Festivals was founded just seven years ago and attracts almost

4000 visitors onto the farm each year. Between sixty and seventy schools make bookings each year to celebrate Christmas and to interact with the animals on a working farm. Visitors can expect to see Edwin Pocock himself dressed as Santa Claus and are able to watch as the story of the nativity is depicted right before their eyes.

Edwin tells us why the need to broaden the horizons at Totley Hall was so necessary: “I think it’s so important to diversify. In all honesty the pick your own unit and the nativity plays have carried the farm through difficult times, without the income form those two outlets the farm just wouldn’t be viable.”

Aside from providing the perfect back drop for children’s nativity plays, Totley Hall farm occupies 120 acres of grassland on the edge of the Peak

District and carries 120 Poll Dorsets, 90 Dorset ewe lambs, and 140 Texel ewes.

As a man who has grown up in the industry Edwin’s thoughts on modern day farming are as would be expected.

“Because the margins have become narrower in today’s society farmers have had to become more business like; you have to know what you’re doing to be able to survive.”

And survive they have; uniquely and successfully.

totley Hall Farm Sheffield S17 4aa www.totleyhallfarm.co.uk 0114 2364761

Chris Pocock who works in partnership with his parents


AUTUMN CATTLE SALESSATURDAY 6TH NOVEMBER

Prize Show & Sale of Suckled Calves. Also sale of Store Cattle.

TUESDAY 16TH NOVEMBERChristmas Prize Show & Sale of Store Cattle & Feeding Bulls

Auction Mart, Vere Road, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 8AD01833 638152 or 07813755595 or 07818435728

Barnard Castle Auction Mart are pleased to support JW Dent & Sons

Jw dent & sons

a COnvEnTiOnaL faRm ThROUGh and ThROUGhLUCiE CaRTER mEETs WiTh CLivE and KEiTh Of JW dEnT and sOnsas the name suggests Jw Dent and Sons is very much a family affair. the beautiful Barnard castle region of Durham has been home to generations of the Dent family for as long as they can remember, but over the years they’ve resisted the need to diversify and stuck to what they know best; farming.

In total the Dent family farm a colossal 1,100 acres of land, 700 of which is owned and the rest rented. Clive, his brothers Stuart and Graham, their father Keith and their uncle Robert occupy both Nearby View Farm and neighbouring Rigg Farm under the JW Dent & Sons name.

In order to accommodate such a huge amount of land the Dents certainly need to keep a large quantity of animals, which indeed they do. They currently have a flock comprising of

1,500 ewes, 1,200 Swaledales and 300 mule ewes which are crossed with Texels: 700 of the Swaledales are crossed with Blue Face Leicesters and the remainder a pure bred Swaledales.

Clive tells us, “I’ve always had a massive interest in the Swaledale breed since I was a young lad. I

remember going to my first tup sale in the middle of my school holidays and I’ve been hooked ever since, that was in about 1991 so a long long time ago. We have always bred purebred Swaledales which I must admit are my favourite of all the breeds we keep.”

Unlike many young farmers of his

time, Clive wasn’t interested in the showing side of farming as a boy and admits that to this day, it’s never really been his sort of thing: “Showing has never really done anything for me, I would much rather concentrate on pedigree breeding and go to a sale if I’m honest.”

There is one exception to the no-show


We are pleased to be associated withJW Dent

and wish them continued success for the future.

Tel: 01833 695695 Fax: 01833 690085E-mail: [email protected]

Montalbo Road, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 8EDwww.castlevets.net

Professional, practical and comprehensive animal healthcare.

Support and advice for farmers in Teesdale and beyond.

J.W. Teward & SonsAgricultural Merchants & Spreading Contractors

Suppliers of all grades of Lime, Steel Slag, Gypsum,Fertilizers, Roadstone Sand & Gravel

We are pleased to be associated with JW Dentand wish them continued success for the future

Tel: 01833 640 412 or 01833 640 929Mob:07860 905591 Fax: 01833 640 412

Fair View, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co Durham DL12 0RY

Jw dent & sons

rule though. Clive and his family often show at the Langdon Beck Sheep Show and have experienced great success there; over the years their Swaledales have been awarded both Male Champion and reserve overall Champion.

As a farming enterprise JW Dent and Sons has earned a strong local

reputation for its pedigree flocks. Keith Dent is currently the Chairman and a major shareholder of Barnard Castle Auction Mart (as was his Father) and knows everything he needs to know about industry sale prices.

He tells us: “Sale prices on Swaledale tups have increased over the last ten or fifteen years. In recent times our stock

has been making £7,000, £10,000, £14,000 and even £15,000 a time, which is really good going considering we are in a recession.”

Speaking about the dreaded recession Clive admits, “It has been tough. We have had a couple of harsh winters where breeding stock has fallen by the wayside. But we are still selling; in September we sold around 500 mule gimmer lambs averaging £90 each. If people are interested you can make a good living breeding these days.”

Without a doubt the core of Nearby View and Rigg Farm is it’s flock of pedigree sheep, but earlier in the decade, in an attempt to shake things up on such a traditional farm, Clive decided he wanted to try is hand at keeping Limousin and Belgium Blue cattle.

“We now have over 300 commercial suckler cows, around 30 of which are pedigree Limousin. I started out with the cattle about nine years ago after I’d paid quite a bit for one good looking bull. It was more of a hobby back then but as we’ve built up numbers they’re now a major part of what we do here.”

In many ways Clive was a novice at keeping cattle in 2001 but you certainly wouldn’t know it. At his first ever Limousin sale in Carlisle one of Clive’s bulls came 1st in its class, and

more recently he achieved success with another bull that was awarded 2nd place and earned Clive 9,000 gns. One of Clive’s Limousin Cross Heifers was championed at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show where it was awarded the title of commercial reserve champion. And at the Leyburn Spring Spectaular earlier in the year Clive’s stock was announced as champion and reserve champion.

Although Clive’s winning herd of Limousin and Belguim blues is now a closed one, the Dent family is still heavily involved in embryo work on the cattle. Clive admits, “We carry out that kind of work because if you can anticipate one good breeder you can have up to 6 calves born per year.”

It’s clear after meeting Clive and Keith that the main principle of their work is to “breed the highest quality stock”, and when asked whether or not they’ve already achieved their best Clive insists: “I don’t think we could ever peak. This is a lifetime thing; it’s an ongoing challenge and that’s the art of it.”

Jw Dent and Sons nearby View Farm Barnard castle DL12 9Dw clive Mob: 07971 898 294

Clive, Stuart and Keith Dent


John fenton

conservation has always been dear to John Fenton’s heart and his love of nature and wildlife has seen him make strenuous efforts to ensure that habitats are maintained or improved upon.

Such has been John’s commitment to the cause that this year he was honoured by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for all of his efforts when he received the Tye Trophy, the county’s leading conservation award.

John farms at both the 1200 acre Yokefleet Farms operation near Goole on the north bank of the Humber; and also at Springwell Farm, part of Elmswell Farms near Driffield.

Born and raised in Rhodesia he has always had conservation matters in his blood.

He came to England in 1982 following two years’ national service, three years’ continuous service during the Bush War and having attended university in South

maJOR COnsERvaTiOn aWaRd fOR JOhnChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh JOhn fEnTOn, TYE TROPhY WinnER 2010

Africa where he undertook a degree in accountancy. Having taken a businessman’s route career-wise at the start he began his agricultural career in the UK with a job as a harvest hand on a farm in Hampshire, then moving on to run a 300-cow dairy farm just outside Winchester.

John moved up to Yorkshire as a result of a chance meeting and his name has become synonymous with the county’s conservation-oriented farmers over many years, picking up several awards in the process. Not that he had any intention in that regard.

‘I moved to Yokefleet in 1985 and one of the first tasks I undertook was to start felling all of the trees affected by Dutch Elm Disease and replant what we call the Big Wood.’

John has concentrated his efforts on ensuring that, where possible, native varieties of trees are used at all times when replanting. The farm is presently in the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.

‘I have tried to create corridors away from the river, further inland, so that we can interconnect various bits of woodland with the new

FWAG Chairman Henry Lucas with John Fenton, Yokefleet Farms, Yokefleet, Goole and Mrs Alison Saville presenting the Tye Trophy


John fenton

woodland we have put in. At the millennium we planted two new woods and when Charles Empson (the owner of Yokefleet Farms) passed away in 2004 we put in a new wood to commemorate him. In total we now have around 54 acres of woodland.’

But it’s not all about planting trees.

‘All our arable fields now have 6 metre margins, established under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. They have proved phenomenal in terms of attracting wildlife and predators. We work very closely with the Hawk and Barn Owl Trust, monitoring numbers of

barn owls and they have a project that runs all the way from Spurn Point to Selby. We have had great success with the numbers of barn owl boxes and broods we now have here. The marsh harrier is another that is doing well and last year we had a pair of peregrines. We also have herds of up to 11 or 12 roe deer.’

John has recently extended his conservation work to buildings with the restoration of the windmill at Yokefleet, originally built in the mid-19th century.

‘It was completely dilapidated but through the Higher Level

Stewardship Scheme we had the chance of getting funding to restore it. Natural England were also very generous and we have had the roof re-leaded and have replaced all the timbers.’

Fifteen years ago John also took on the running of Springwell Farm with his wife Henrietta. They operate as JH Farming as contracting partners to Elmswell Farms, which is owned by the Mackrill family. Graham Mackrill, who passed away recently, was John’s father-in-law and was also a fervent conservation-minded man. John is happy to be carrying on the good work that Graham

undertook for many years.

There are always various new projects in the offing, and John is presently running an interactive page on the internet telling more about Springfield Farm and Yokefleet Farms for Driffield Agricultural Society’s website.

Farmers Mart congratulates John on his Tye Trophy Award.

John Fenton tel: 01430 441374


roots farm shop

ROOTs faRm shOP : ThE BRainChiLd Of TWO ThiRd GEnERaTiOn faRmERsLUCiE CaRTER TaLKs WiTh COUsin dUO BaRRY and KaThERinE hUTChinsOnJust six years ago Home Farm in east rounton, near northallerton was your average dairy and arable farm; it was home to cousins Barry and Katherine Hutchinson and their farming families. For forty years the farm and its eighty milking cows have been at the very heart of the local community, but it was in 2004, when an idea first came to mind, that things began to change.

Anticipating that life as a dairy farmer, although enjoyable, would be financially challenging, Barry and Katherine needed a plan.

Barry explains: “My Dad and my

uncle’s (Katherine’s Father) farm brings in a set income. But as younger generation farmers myself and Katherine had to come up with a plan to generate income to support ourselves and still give ourselves a good enough wage. I would love to have been a farmer but the margins were very tight so financially it would have been incredibly difficult.”

To begin with, Barry and Katherine carried out months and months worth of market research, developed a strong business plan and applied for a bank loan. Another option for the pair was to expand the family’s relatively small dairy herd, but Barry

admits that the investment needed for the 100 acre tenanted farm would be far to high.

“So we had to do something different; whether it was bottling milk up, making ice cream or making cheeses, but because Katherine had completed her dissertation on selling local produce, we decided to go down that route.”

Katherine’s researched proved very useful for the pair. It showed that the market for locally produced food in East Rounton was on a “rapid growth curve”.

“There had been a lot of coverage

in the media and on television about food miles and traceability, it had become fashionable almost” Barry tells us. “It was from those initial ideas that we slowly began developed things. We had to see if the locality was right and whether the community really needed or even wanted a farm shop.”

Having lived in the village their entire lives, Barry and Katherine were in an advantageous position. They were and indeed still are very close with the people in the community and were able to gage how things could turn out by trying their hand at a few local markets, including the harvest festival.

Katherine and Barry Hutchinson


www.langthornes-buffalo-produce.co.uk

Email [email protected]

Animals slaughtered and cut up to your requirements in our small

on-farm abattoir near Northallerton.

We can make burgers, sausages, bacon, hams etc

Call 01609 776937

Langth rne’s Buffalo Produce

Crawford Grange, Brompton, Northallerton, DL6 2PD

We are pleased to be associated with Roots Farm Shop

roots farm shop

“We did a lot of research into other farm shops and how they work, and even into how people buy food in general. Lots of indicators led to us choosing a farm shop. In 2006 we eventually applied for planning and also for a grant from Yorkshire Forward.”

Roots Farm Shop, has for almost two years now, given the local community something to shout about. The beautifully renovated 19th century redbrick farm building boosts an in-house butcher’s counter, a retail area and a welcoming cafe.

“People come for the whole experience really, although I think the cafe is a main attraction. Customers can come and enjoy the surroundings, the atmosphere and of course the fresh food and drink.”

The surroundings Barry speaks so casually of were created very deliberately with the help of famous Art and Crafts movement architect Philip Webb who designed the overall interior. Barry tells us, “We wanted to keep the authentic feel of the building above all else. I think that when you are a relatively small farm shop you

have to use everything you can to draw people in.”

Roots Farm Shop now employs nine full time workers and several other part-time staff members. Everything that is sold through both the shop and the cafe is produced either onsite at Home Farm, or is supplied from various local farmers no further than five miles away.

It seems that Katherine and Barry are the perfect professional partnership. As well as being the proud owners of the shop, they are both graduates from Harper Adams University College. Katherine’s degree in Marketing and Barry’s in Land and Farm management have ensured that their expertise work hand in hand.

With a strong customer base Roots Farm Shop really can’t go wrong, because it’s the loyalty of the locals which Barry values the most: “The customer likes to see a familiar face, so myself and Katherine always make sure we are here all the time because after all people support us as a family as well as a business. If we go out of our way to help our customers, then they’ll go out of there way to tell

people about the shop and the quality of the stock we have on offer.”

So what’s next for Barry, Katherine and the ever-popular Roots Farm Shop?

“Where investments concerned we do have a few ideas to expand and extend the shop over into the opposing farm building. But the quality has to be kept high, and the prices have to remain reasonable.”

You can’t ask fairer than that can you?

roots Farm Shop Home Farm, east rounton northallerton north YorkshireDL6 2Le tel: 01609 882 212


Come and visit uswe are just next to the Auction Mart 14% OFF

Bring this voucher in and get 14% off clothing

FeedsFertiliserMineralsGrass seedsCrystalyx Blocks Animal healthSmall machineryAnd much, much more

Hawes CountrystoreTel: 01969 [email protected]

We wish Brian, Judith and family continued success for the future

For friendly professional advice and outstanding service

BOVI-THRIVEThe liquid tonic for cattle

only £79.00 / 5 litre

Helping you reach your targets

Wishing continued success to Brian & Judith Moorhouse from W. Stapleton & Sons

W. S t a p l e t o n & S o n S

All Agricultural Contracting Work Undertaken

Tel: 01729 850 280 Mob: 07956 641 797Switchers Farm, Hellifield, Skipton

North Yorkshire, BD23 4JL

Weekly Sales of:- Primestock, Cast Cattle & Sheep, Rearing Calves, CropFortnightly Sales of:- Beef Breeding Cattle, Young Feeding Bulls & Store Cattle

Pedigree & Commercial Newly Calven & In-Calf Dairy Cattle & Dairy Young StockMajor Seasonal Sales of:- Breeding Sheep and Store Lambs

Inc: NEMSA Mule Gimmer Lamb Sales & MSBA Masham Gimmer Lamb Sales, Mule & Continental Gimmer Shearling Sales, Swaledale Draft Ewe & Shearling Sale, Pedigree Sheep & Cattle

Specialist Sales inc:- Poultry & Waterfowl, Working Sheep Dogs SKIPTON MACHINERY SALES (4X4’s Tractors & Machinery), Reclamation, Salvage & Furniture etc

Country, Farm & Flock Books, Border Fine ArtOn-Farm Stock Sales, Dispersals & Valuations Undertaken

Farmstock Office:- Skipton 01756 792375Auctioneers: Jeremy Eaton (General Manager) 07747 780481

Ted Ogden (Farmstock Sales) 07855 958211Diane (Field Officer) 07834 050193

www.ccmauctions.com

SKIPTON AUCTION MARTGargrave Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire

Auctioneers & Valuers

moorhouse

one of the most familiar figures around the dairy showing rings in west and north Yorkshire is Brian Moorhouse of Hesper Farm, Bell Busk, near coniston cold. He and his wife Judith have a herd of 150 Holsteins.

‘When I was younger I probably had the showing ‘bug’. I started at young farmers’ shows, then I used to help John Crozier with his Whinhill herd in Gisburn, but now we’re doing it to try and encourage Sam, the youngest of our three children. We show at our local agricultural shows and have continued to do that because local shows are a tradition and a lot of people put a great deal of hard work into them. It’s our way of supporting them at Gargrave, Malham and Kilnsey.’

Brian showed at the Great Yorkshire Show in July, for the first time in 15 years and came away with a highly

respectable three 1sts.

‘I have to say we really enjoyed it and both sons, Sam and George took part with me. Going back to when we used to attend it hadn’t changed from how I remembered it, but there seemed to be a lot more interest around the ring. I came away thinking that it really is the show to go to.’

Whilst Brian has had considerable success over the years at his local shows, this year once again winning at Kilnsey, his main concern is cattle breeding.

‘We totally AI the dairy herd, occasionally running a young bull of our own with the heifers, but even then we tend to AI them too. We use what we think will do a good job for us.’

Brian is currently chairman of the Yorkshire County Milk Recording Herd Competition and tells of the contest becoming more popular once again.

aLL aBOUT GEnETiCs and manaGEmEnTWE TaLK TO BRian & JUdiTh mOORhOUsE aT BELL BUsK

‘Four of five years ago the mood in farming, particularly dairy farming, was a bit down and interest in breeding and showing seemed to be on the wane a little. But in the last few years the competition has become popular again.’

Brian and Judith farm 330 acres, up from the 240 acres when his father and mother George and Iris came here from Glusburn in the Aire Valley back in 1971 when Brian was a teenager. The Aireburn Holsteins herd name remains from the previous farm.

Having taken over as tenants Hesper Farm was purchased in 1994 and George retired from the business in 1996. George and Iris now live in the quiet hamlet of Bell Busk. Apart from increasing the acreage Brian reckons not much has changed in the way he and Judith run the farm.

‘We’re still on with dairy cows and sheep. We’ve gone up from milking 100 to 150 and we have a commercial flock of 280 Mules crossed with Texel. The dairy herd average is nearly smack on 9000 litres. We try to keep our feeding regime as simple as possible.’

Their milk now goes to local producer/processor David Oversby of Grassington, who runs Dales Farming Ltd.

Brian is also a strong supporter of the livestock market system.

‘I feel that if you have something good to sell you are better selling it at market where there is more competition and we have two great markets not far from us – at Skipton and Gisburn.’

Judith, who comes from Worsbrough,

near Barnsley originally, looks after the calf rearing side as well as all of the farm paperwork and recording.

‘I look after the calves from when they’re born through to weaning at 8 weeks. I used to do the same for my dad on his farm. I feed them twice a day, bed them up and enjoy dealing with them.’

Brian and Judith have a daughter – Stephanie (22) – and their two sons George (20) and Sam (17). On the farm they also have a stockman, Jonathan Hinchliffe and two other relief milkers – Colin and James.

They also have horses. Brian’s not too fussed with them, which is probably a very big understatement. The horses are another of Judith’s areas.

‘We have 5 altogether. We have two small Welsh ponies, a bigger mare and a mare and foal. Skipton Mart manager Jeremy Eaton is our brother-in-law and two of his girls, our nieces, come riding here.’

Brian’s other interests include rugby union. He follows Skipton and Leeds Carnegie – and in his younger days he played scrum-half.

The couple also have a holiday cottage, converted from a barn, which sleeps 6. They started with it in 2003 and it has a healthy occupancy rate, it keeps them busy.

if you would like to know more about the Yorkshire county Milk recording Herds competition why not contact Brian on 01729 830265.

Brian, Steph and Judith


brays

SELBY LIVESTOCKAUCTION MART LTD

“YORKSHIRE’S FRIENDLY LIVESTOCK MART”Weekly Sales of Fatstock – Wednesdays

Pigs 9am – Sheep 9.45am – Cattle & Cows 10.30amStore Stock – Every fortnight on Saturdays

Pigs 9.45am – Sheep 10.15am – Cattle 10.45amOn alternate Saturdays - Fur, Feathers and Miscellaneous Items - Sale starts 10am

All stock to be pre-entered. Payment on day of sale.Personal attention given to customers at all times by Auctioneers and staff

Tel: 01757 703347. Fax: 01757 213293www.selbymart.co.uk

Contact: Richard Haigh 0776 8594535

Gwenda Roberts Secretary

Heather StoneyTel 01347 879087 [email protected]

Youth and experience can often be a winning combination, bringing together the natural exuberance of the young with the wisdom from the years of the elder.

Colin and Harry Bray, grandfather and grandson, had a terrific summer at two of the larger agricultural shows this year – Lincolnshire and Driffield – with their Lleyn sheep.

Colin is 75 whilst Harry is a mere 11 years of age, but Harry talks with a maturity way beyond his years. Their teamwork brought about a clean sweep of the Lleyn classes at the Lincolnshire Show with firsts in the three classes, the Supreme Champion and a young handlers award for Harry.

‘It was the best day of my life at Lincoln this year. I started with just 5 Lleyn ewes 22 years ago, bought another 7 ewes the following year and since that time I have never purchased another ewe, keeping it pretty much as a closed flock. I could never be classed

as a farmer as such. I used to be a shepherd, from leaving school, on the Lincolnshire Wolds looking after flocks of up to 730 ewes. It was great to get a clean sweep.’

Colin left farming for a little while to work at British Steel, but when voluntary redundancy came up back in 1988 and he was offered the opportunity to get out at 56 years of age he took it, purchased a smallholding and gradually built up his sheep flock to around 100 ewes.

‘I was looking for a pedigree ewe and thought about the Suffolk, but the first time I saw the Lleyns I fell for them. They are a nice looking sheep that produce a decent lamb. In fact they are quite prolific. I have never had less than 200% lambing and at times, to be honest, it was a bit embarrassing getting 4s and 5s to a number of ewes each year.’

Today’s flock is down on the numbers Colin had built up to, but Harry is keen to get the numbers back up again and

even to the numbers his grandfather used to shepherd.

‘We only have a small number at the moment, but Harry is more ambitious than I am,’ says Colin. ‘He wants to build them back up.’

‘I love them,’ says Harry. ‘I’d like to have a big sheep farm with the majority of them being Lleyns. I’d like to get to maybe around 700 if I could.’

Harry is already quite the entrepreneur. He sells his mum and dad’s vegetables, which they grow on a strip just outside of Epworth where they live, from their front garden; and he has 20 chickens which lay the eggs that form a pocket-money business for him of roughly 90 eggs a week. He has one customer from as far afield as Hull. And he tried to sell me one of the litter of pups their Labrador has just had!

Their partnership around the show rings also brought another haul of rosettes and championship at

COLin & haRRY’s GREaT YEaRChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh ThE BRaYs in EPWORTh

Driffield where they very nearly swept the board. They took a magnificent trophy for Supreme Champion there too – a feat they also managed in 2004 and 2005.

Colin was particularly pleased with their performance in the lamb carcase competition where they came up very well against the Texel X, scoring 99 points against the winners’ 110.

Harry also recently took the young handler trophy at the North & East of England Lleyn Society’s AGM – and now it seems his father – Alastair is developing more of an interest in what granddad and grandson are doing. Alastair is an agricultural contractor who has recently been busy with potato harvesting and is now on with hedge cutting.

‘Alastair was always more interested in arable work than livestock,’ says Colin. ‘But he’s taking more of an interest in the sheep now. He’s just taken on 50 acres of land and Harry and I are going to try to get him to put it down to grass.’

Their Lleyns go to market at Selby, but with a new sale at Newark, specifically for the Lleyns, having started off earlier this year, they may very well be going there too next year.

Colin has also been trying out the Hampshire Down with his Lleyns which he feels have been quite successful.

‘You never know. Harry and his dad might get to do what I never did,’ says Colin. ‘Farm in their own right.’

the Paddocks epworth, Lincolnshire tel: 01302 833967colin & Harry Bray with rosettes and trophies


thistlethwaite

We are pleased to be associated with John Thistlethwaite

and wish him continued success for the future.

B. D. Supplies Ltd

Tel/Fax: 01738 842 996 or Mobile: 07979 814 231Tinarra, Tippermallo Road, Methven, Perth, PH1 3QL

Agricultural Supplies

John thistlethwaite is one of the UK’s most innovative farm machinery manufacturers. His cattle crushes, balehandlers and bale unwrappers are now used with increasing regularly throughout the countryside not just in the home nations but abroad too.

‘I started manufacturing nearly 40 years ago when I began producing steel cubicle houses for cattle sheds. In those days there were grants around, which helped considerably. We still undertake cattleyard manufacture today, but now our main products are the cattle hoof-trimming crush and the balehandler, along with the bale

unwrapper.’

John now has over 150 cattle crushes in action throughout the UK. Mobile foot-trimmers are always on the lookout for cattle-crushes which will make their lives easier and that’s exactly what John has been looking more closely at in recent times.

‘Cattle crushes are quite common in America, but they weren’t as common over here until the past decade. We developed our own model working with a number of hoof trimmers, and we have redeveloped it further in the recent past as a result of our constant feedback, which we always encourage. We

have now included a retractable plate with a winch for hauling up the top legs. It allows them to be pulled up into position to make treatment easier. Prior to what we have done there was an arm with a chain on, which operators told us was a little harder on their shoulders. Now we have taken that effort out of the equation the crush is much more manageable and should sell even better.’

The company name is now JT UNIVERSAL – and it is exactly right, since John now has his equipment working in Germany, Romania, Hungary and even Dubai – but he always keeps his feet firmly on the

ground.

Five years ago he made the move from South Dyke Farm near Leyburn, into the town where his business is now situated at the Station Works complex. He has a loyal, friendly team and their order book is always in a healthy situation.

‘We started with the balehandlers nearly 20 years ago. Fosters took on the manufacture of the basic model, so we now only produce the heavy duty telescopic model. It’s a niche market for telehandlers and we have had some success with it.’

John started out on his own at South Dyke Farm, where he farmed with

havE YOU had a CRUsh On JOhn?ChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh JOhn ThisTLEThWaiTE Of JT UnivERsaL

R D AnDeRsonFoot trimming With roll over Crush

l arge Bulls no ProBlemFreeze Branding

We are pleased to be associated with John thistlethwaiteand wish him continued success for the future.

Tel: 01969 624 197Mob: 07710 287015

31, the sPrings , middleham, north Yorkshire, dl8 4rB


thistlethwaite

JT UNIVERSAL LTDSTATION YARD, HARMY ROAD, LEYBURN, N. YORKS DL8 5ET

We provide a bespoke design and engineering service offering innovative products for Agriculture and Industry.

These include:ROLLOVER CATTLE CRUSH - both Static and mobile

BALE HANDLING EQUIPMENT - grabs, spikes and un-wrappers

Tel: 01969 622455 / Fax: 01969 623972Email: [email protected]

www.jtuniversal.co.uk

his brother David who has since retired. One chap who joined him all those years ago, Dick Towler, is still with him today and Joe Bishop, who helped John design the cattle crush is also still part of the team.

I first met John at LAMMA – very nearly 20 years ago when he was launching his balehandler. He won an award at the show for his innovative product. Little wonder that he talks of LAMMA so fondly and will once again be attending in January.

‘LAMMA has done well for us. It is one of the best shows, if not the best agricultural machinery show in the UK and it has certainly helped my business.’

Forget about anything hi-tech at John’s place though. He does have a computer but his personal computer is an old-style card-index system! For all his innovative ideas and his successful products there are some habits which are hard to break and John is more than happy not to have to turn anything on to find telephone numbers he is looking for!

Jt UniVerSaL LtD Station Yard, Harmby road Leyburn DL8 5et tel: 01969 622455


2011 Sale DatesPremier Sale at Wallets Mart, Castle Douglas

- Friday 11th February

Spring Sale at Dingwall Mart - Wednesday 18th May

Autumn Sale at UA Stirling - Saturday 22nd October

Less Action, More Profit

THELUING CATTLE SOCIETY

2011 EventsThe Luing Cattle Society will be exhibiting

at the Royal Highland Show and BorderWay Agri-Expo as well as having an open day

in Orkney on 16th August.

[email protected]

Tel : 01250 873882

murray

Luing cattle are proving the ideal suckler cow for a marginal farm on the Solway coast of Dumfriesshire, bringing commercial attributes as well as environmental benefits for birdlife.

Steven and Elaine Murray bought 230 acres at West Preston Farm, Kirkbean, near Dumfries, in 2003, after having farmed on rented ground just along the coast. Half of West Preston Farm was sold to the RSPB and the Murrays entered into an agreement to rent this ground to help manage the ground to encourage waders and ground-nesting birds.

“We started on a 120 acre rented farm at Rockliffe, renting a further 200 acres and because we had a small steading and we had no accommodation for cows we went into the Luings,” said Steven, who is the current vice-chairman of The Luing Cattle Society.

“We saw some Luings at the RSPB’s Merse Head near us - bulling heifers which had been bought at the Castle Douglas sale and which were destined for the the RSPB reserve on Islay where there is a Luing herd,” he added.

sOLd On LUinGs On ThE sOLWaY COasT

previously used as a feeding farm and the Luings have fitted perfectly into the system where buildings are used for winter bed and breakfast store cattle, charged on a headage basis, and the pedigree spring-calving cows are out-wintered at very little cost and management.

As well as the 350 store cattle wintered for other finishers in a slatted shed, all the Luing bull calves are housed and fed ad-lib to finish at 14 months old when they are sold to Highland Meats at Saltcoats, in the early part of the year.

“We keep the bulls entire and we get the odd breeding bull but we can get the bulls away without them eating a lot of feed and out of the shed in their first winter. We would also struggle with providing enough home-grown forage if we were storing them over the winter.

The Luing cows are calved outside on the grassland with very little assistance - in fact there were only seven assisted calvings this spring, three of which were heifers and others were twins. The herd had a 100 per cent calving to include four sets of twins this year.

Calving is kept tight and close to a nine week period with 60 per cent in the first three weeks. This is aided by a good health routine through Biobest Health Care which also helps with calf health and a strict culling policy in the herd which has been closed for four years.

“The Luing cows must be doing a good job because the buyers keep coming back and they are all going into commercial herds. The cattle still maintain hybrid vigour and the society classifies its cows not on weight gain but on attributes such as feet and legs, shape of the udder and teats, skeletal size and body condition and importantly fertility and calving interval,” said Steven.

Up to 130 easy care sheep which shed their wool without clipping are run and lambed outside during a three week period in May with little assistance. The sheep are good scavengers for the grassland and lambs are all finished off grass and sold through the Galloway Lamb Group.

Steve & elaine Murray west Preston Farm, Dumfries 01387 880630 / 07887788835

The breed was started by the Cadzow brothers on the island of Luing 60 years ago, bred on commercial lines from the Beef Shorthorn and the Highlander. Now there are up to 7,000 cattle on the society’s database and interest from commercial suckler herd owners is growing all the time.

The Luing was the choice when the Murrays stocked West Preston in 2003, buying females from various dispersal sales. West Preston was

Steven Murray and Luing cows and calves


yorkshire holstein

Full and partial house clearances. See website for dates.

MART OFFICE:Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart

Thirsk Rural Business Centre, Blakey LaneThirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3AB

Tel: 01845 523165 Fax: 01845 526604

www.thirskmarket.come-mail: [email protected]

EVERY THURSDAYWEEKLY DEDICATED SLAUGHTER SALE

300 prime pigs & cast sows @ 9.00am1500 prime sheep & cast ewes @ 9.30am

550 prime cattle & young bulls @ 12 noon(preceded by OTM cattle & cows)

All stock must be CLEAN & TAGGED

EVERY OTHER TUESDAY OF THE MONTHFORTNIGHTLY SALE OF STORE STOCK

SALE OF STORE & BREEDING SHEEP as forward @ 1.30pmTOGETHER WITH FORTNIGHTLY SALE OF STORE CATTLE @ 2pmUsual selection of Cast Cows, Young Bulls & Store cattle. See website for dates.

EVERY 1ST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH @ 10.00AMMONTHLY COLLECTIVE SALE OF MACHINERY, FUR & FEATHER

Over 600 lots of fur & feather inc turkeys, rabbit, ducks, pigeons, hens, geese & ferrets . Entries on day of sale 7 - 9am.

Usual wide ranging selection of Agri-goods, Builders and Farm equip, workshop &gardening requisities, Timber etc.

Collective entries taken on Friday before sale 10am - 5pm.Fur & feather on day 7 - 9am.

FORTNIGHTLY ALTERNATE TUESDAYS TO STORE SALES @ 4.30PMFORTNIGHTLY SALE OF FURNITURE, ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES

Over 1200 lots of quality goods including collection of collectables, brassware,glassware, pottery, pine effects, nearly new furniture.

Antiques, Furniture & Collectable entries 10am to 4pm Monday day before sale.Viewing from 12 noon on day of sale

the Yorkshire Holstein Breeders club held what is hoped will become an annual dairy show and sale at thirsk auction Mart in october.

In all there were 112 entries which included Holstein cows, heifers and bulls with Norton & Brooksbank as auctioneers. The sale was well supported by dairy farms throughout the region particularly RE & J Ayrton & Son of Eastby, near Skipton; JC Bellerby of Weeton, near Huby; GB & J Jennings of South Stainley, Harrogate; A Lawson & Son of Arthington, Otley; HS Petch & Son of Great Ayton, Stokesley; P Waring of Cherry Burton, Beverley; and ME Wilkinson & Son of Cranswick, Driffield al entering six or more.

Breeders Club Chairman Stephen Coates was on hand all day ensuring the success of the show and sale which is hoped will encourage those further to the east of the county who have to travel considerable distances to get to a dairy sale normally.

Top price was 3,300gs paid by Albert Innes-Smith of the Hedonsteds herd, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland for Chris Bellerby’s Excellence Dolman Charlotte 3 ET, a freshly calved heifer from the family of the proven sires Silky Cousteau and Silky Gibson, and bred by the Excellence partnership of Dave Coombes and Pete Sherwen. Her two week old heifer calf by Autumn-Ridge Matson made 1,480gs to R.Webster & Sons, Stocksbridge, Sheffield for their Whitster herd.

The show championship, judged by

daiRY saLE maKEs fiRsT aPPEaRanCEChRis BERRY TaKEs a LOOK aT ThE hOLsTEins aT ThiRsK LivEsTOCK CEnTRE

Aubrey Greenhalgh, was awarded to H.S.Petch & Sons Ltd’s Aytonian Trethelma 126, a Sandy-Valley Bolton daughter giving just shy of 40kg daily. The judge purchased her for 2,100gs on behalf of a client in Cheshire. A.Lawson & Son paraded a good team of freshly calved heifers from their Newbirks herd near Otley and took the Reserve Championship with the Shottle daughter Newbirks Jazz 1425, purchased for 2,000gs by the Club Chairman Stephen Coates for his Bailmoor herd.

Also making 2,000gs was another from Chris Bellerby’s consignment, the second calver Weetondale Roy Sugar, purchased by W.K.Wilkinson & Sons, Barnard Castle. There was considerable interest in Adam Worsdale’s calf Rawdale CBA Sallie ET, that had been Reserve Champion at the N.E Club Calf Show

and placed 4th only the previous weekend at the National Calf Show. She made 2,500gs to Andrew Jennings, Fountains Abbey for the Abbeyhouse herd.

As well as a respectable entry for what will hopefully now become an annual event there was also a healthy number of buyers and sellers around the ring.

YorKSHire HoLStein BreeDerS cLUB Low Spings Farm, Baildon, Shipley west Yorkshire BD17 6Be tel: 01274 581049 Mob: 07745 801400 email: [email protected]

Going, going gone!


b&b tractors

01379 855449www.lemken.co.uk

1,900 Litre E�ciency in Blue.The Sirius from LEMKEN

Available with 900 - 1,900 litre tanks and with 12 - 24m booms, there is a Sirius sprayer to suit every need.

The Sirius sets new standards in sprayer technology. It combines the capacity of a small trailed sprayer with the convenience of a mounted sprayer.

Pleased to supply B & B Tractors

South Yorkshire has a brand new farm machinery enterprise, which has the pedigree of having already proved its worth in three other locations outside of the county.

B&B Tractors has its head office in Warsop, Nottinghamshire; a branch in Tideswell in Derbyshire and another in Fauld in Staffordshire, but now it has its first ever white rose base at Dodworth, near Barnsley.

To mark their opening as a farm machinery outlet B&B Tractors held an open day and evening which was attended by over 300 farmers and farming families near the end of October. All of their brand franchises were on display including Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Lely, Lemken, Manitou, Teagle, Challenger and Larrington Trailers.

Branch Manager is Duncan Aitken who tells of the new outlet: ‘We have been at this site for over 17 years as B&B Trucks, which is a commercial vehicle specialist, with MAN as our principal brand. We were keen to establish the tractor and farm

machinery side in South Yorkshire, building on our success elsewhere and the opportunity came to take on the area for AGCO, including Massey Ferguson and Fendt. With our experience in our other three branches we felt we could add to our existing portfolio and do a great job here. I was delighted with the turn-out for the open day, far greater numbers came along than we had anticipated, and we have received a number of enquiries about machines and arranged some demonstrations just as a result of today. It’s set us off on the right foot and at least people now know we’re here and we mean business.’

The B&B Tractors territory will take in everywhere from Wakefield, Dewsbury, near to Doncaster, and into Penistone and Holmfirth. Duncan is delighted with the team they have put in place to look after the customers.

‘We have increased our staffing levels from 8 to 16 specifically making sure that we can offer all

BiG daY aT dOdWORThfaRmERsmaRT visiT ThE B&B TRaCTORs OPEn daY

farmers the best in sales, service and repairs. We have taken on some new people from the local area too, so that has to be good news. Our sales manager is Tom Gardham who is a local man and has worked in agricultural machinery with one of the leading manufacturers. He comes from Cawthorne and we have been very impressed with his work so far in establishing the outlet here.’

Also on hand during the day were B&B Tractors and Trucks Managing

Director Paul Harrison and company owner David Bowring, who owns Bowring Transport in addition to B&B Tractors and Trucks.

B&B tractorS Higham Lane, Dodworth Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 3La tel: 01226 730707 Mob: 07778 624280 www.bandbtractors.co.uk [email protected]


kevin walker

one of the biggest, if not the biggest fleet order of Kramer machinery has recently taken place in Yorkshire.

Kevin Walker On-Site Plant Services at Rainton, near Thirsk, has sold 15 Wacker Neuson and Kramer machines to Cleveland Potash. They are now in use at its Boulby mine near Whitby.

The mine produces 2.0m tonnes of potash annually, along with 700,000 tonnes of salt. Potash is the industrial source of potassium that is used in agricultural fertilisers. At its lowest point the mine is 1300m blow ground, with some of the active faces stretching as far as 8 miles out under the sea, by far one of the deepest mines in Europe. The underground machinery has to travel down 1100m in the mine’s lift shafts before it can start to work.

Once underground the machinery never returns to the surface because, due to the conditions below, if the machines are ever exposed to outside air they would rapidly be

reduced to a pile of rust.

The mine requires compact wheeled loaders, telescopic handlers and small dumpers to lift, haul material and machinery around the miles of underground tunnel.

Traditionally the company has used a variety of brands of machine, including agricultural tractors to haul trailers of material and equipment. All of the machinery has to be converted to meet the requirements of this unique environment. This includes replacing various parts such as fuel tanks and electrical systems.

Steve Furness, head of the workshop department at the mine, is impressed with both the machinery and the back-up he gets from Kevin Walker and his team:

‘I like the Kramer with its German connections and we have Kevin Walker On Site Plant Services just down the road. They have a real willingness to help us. Also they are running Kramer machines in salt mines in Germany,

UndERGROUnd, OvERGROUnd…faRmERsmaRT TaLK WiTh niGEL RiChaRdsOn aT KEvin WaLKER On-siTE PLanT sERviCEs

so they have experience of similar conditions. Initially we purchased a 4507 telehandler and a 3001 site dumper, and we were very pleased with them so when the time came to replace the other machines we felt the Kramer range was ideal.’

Cleveland potash has now ordered 15 machines through Kevin Walker, which include three 4507 telescopics;

five of the latest 2506 telehandlers; a 350 mini loader; three 701S skid steers and two 3001 site dumpers for underground duties. There is also a 4009 telehandler working on the surface in the workshops and in the stock yard. All three of the 4507 telehandlers have had there cabs modified to get under the 2m working height.

Kevin with team


kevin walker

Mason EngineeringEstablished 54 Years

www.masonengineering.com

Trevor & Shaun Mason are proud to be associated with Kevin Walker and Kramer Allrad as manufacuturers of agricultural and industrial

materials handling equipment.

We wish Kevin every success for the future.

Tel: 01642 700 920E-mail: [email protected]

Pleased to be associated with Kevin Walker

Plant, Agricultural & Commercial On-Site Glazing Service

Unit 9a, Ure Bank Maltings, RiponNorth Yorkshire HG4 1AE

Mobile:07885 184316

Office/Fax: 01765 608181

The new 2506 telehandler launched at the BAUMA SHOW could not have been released at a better time as the machine’s cab slips in under the 2m head height without modification.

Nigel Richardson, general manager at Kevin Walker tells of how the Cleveland Potash account came about:

‘It’s our biggest account since Kevin started out the business back in 1994. They made an initial enquiry and bought a second-hand dumper. They ran it for 6 months and loved it so they started looking at the whole Wacker Neuson group which Kramer is a part of. They had used another supplier previously but were having problems with them, so we stepped in.’

Whilst Kevin Walker deals with both construction equipment and agricultural machinery Nigel tells of their continued commitment to farming:

‘It has been a little quieter on the agricultural side this year, but we are still moving forward. The new machines which have been launched – including the 1245 mini telescopic; the compact 2506 telehandler; and the revamped 80 series – show our commitment. All of these new additions will certainly help. They are all good for farmers. The 1245 is aimed at the pig and poultry side; and the 2506 is a new step for Kramer. It now means we can sell a small compact telehandler to farmers. Previously we had been restricted due to a deal with Claas, whereby we made a telehandler for them for agriculture and we sold the same model for the construction industry. With the compact model we can sell direct to farmers. It has opened up the door for us to compete against the other manufacturers in the agricultural market.’

The 2506 has the ability to lift 2.5 tonnes to a maximum height of 5.75m and is powered by a relatively low horsepower engine that uses very little fuel, utilising a completely new, power-sensing hydrostatic transmission system that provides up to 23% more tractive force and 10% additional tear-out force.

Kevin Walker’s customer base is growing all the time. The Cleveland Potash account is one of a number that look set to keep the business moving onward.

If you are an experienced fitter now might also be a good time to get in touch with Nigel or Kevin as they are looking to employ more fitters due to increased work.

Kevin walker on Site Plant Services Beech tree Farm rainton, thirsk Yo7 3PZ tel: 01845 577832 www.kramerallrad.co.uk

The new range Kevin Walker in the new 2506


machinery

John Deere has introduced a new version of its popular XUV 850D high performance 4x4 utility vehicle, in olive and black livery. this model is aimed at customers who prefer an alternative to the usual bright green and yellow colour scheme, including shooting and countryside estates and farms, outdoor adventure centres and wildlife parks.

This olive and black Gator is fitted as standard with aggressive tread, off-road style tyres, but otherwise is the same specification as the existing XUV model, complete with a steel tipping cargo box. It is available with all the same attachments and options, including road homologation, and the standard four post ROPS frame can also be upgraded to a deluxe full glass cab if required.

The XUV Gator is specifically designed for off-road and rough-terrain performance, and is based on a hydroformed steel frame for increased durability. It also offers a true four-wheel drive traction system – activated by a simple dash-

JOhn dEERE GET nEW 4X4 UTiLiTY vEhiCLE

mounted electronic rocker switch, this on-demand system incorporates lockable front and rear differentials to maintain excellent traction in the toughest ground conditions.

The XUV Gator’s 24hp (850cc) liquid-cooled, three-cylinder Yanmar diesel engine is the most powerful and quickest accelerating in its class, with the fastest top speed at 30mph in high range. Advanced clutching ensures smooth power delivery and engine braking assistance from the dual range, continuously variable transmission.

For more information please visit www.deere.co.uk

LEmKEn LaUnCh ThE JUWEL PLOUGhLeMKen’s new Juwel plough range made its first public appearance recently at tillage 2010; the juwel is a mounted plough range initially replacing the opal ‘8’ series ploughs. the range will be extended during 2011 and replace other opal models. Juwel ‘8’ is available in 3 to 7 furrows, with shear-bolt or auto-reset stone protection, and with mechanical or hydraulic furrow width adjustment.

The Juwel retains many of the proven features of the Opal series, together with a number of important new ones. LEMKEN’s aim has been to produce a machine which provides significant benefits both to the operator and the owner of the machine. The opportunity to reduce running costs, and increase output will be the primary benefit

to the owner. DuraMaxx bodies, which have only been available on the VariTansanit plough until now, have been proven to offer up to 50% increase in service life, meaning less cost and less down time. They are fitted as standard on the Juwel range of ploughs.

Operationally, the DuraMaxx bodies mean less time changing parts. They will need to be replaced less often, and when they do need changing the process takes 80% less time to do, as the parts clip on and off without the need for any tools.

Further details available at www.lemken.co.uk


machinery

Lincolnshire’s Pedersen contracting is probably the UK’s largest poultry litter contractor. it’s also possibly the world’s biggest user of Merlo compact telehandlers, and now it is the very first UK user of Merlo’s new Ultracompact P25.6 model.

Having placed an order for five new machines with local dealer TRP at Sleaford, which includes the brand new P25.6 telehandler, MD Michael

Pedersen has now purchased more than 30 of the uniquely productive Merlo machines.

“We keep a fleet of ten Merlos running” says Michael, “Each goes out on a specially designed trailer, with two skid steers which push poultry litter into the centre of the shed. The Merlo then loads it at speed, into waiting 60m3 trailers.”

With Pedersen moving more than 100,000m3 of litter every day, this is a high-production, stressful environment and Pedersen says: “We have standardised on Merlo because there is nothing else to compare with their low height, visibility and the guts of the hydrostatic transmission.”

Commenting specifically on the new P25.6, Michael continues, “It’s

Fantastic; it has masses of power and is amazingly stable. The cab and visibility are brilliant for a machine of this size.”

www.merlo.co.uk www.pedersencontracting.co.uk

mERLO’s P25.6 REaChEs nEW hEiGhTs!

BRiEf TEChniCaL sPECifiCaTiOn • Panoramic P 25.6

• total weight unladen with forks 4,500kg

• Maximum load capacity 2,500kg

• Load centre 500mm

• Maximum lift height 5.9m

• Load capacity at maximum lift height 1,750kg

• Max forward reach 3.3m

• capacity at maximum reach 1000kg

• engine (make/cylinders) Kubota/4

• tier 3 engine power 55/75 kw/Hp

• Maximum speed 36kph


PROTECH MACHINERYTRACKED POST DRIVERS – A ONE MAN FENCING MACHINE, SAVE LABOUR, FUEL AND TIME!!

FOR PROTECH SALES PLEASE CALL ANDREW HOOPER ON 07971079751

OR COME AND SEE US AT THE DRIFFIELD SHOW - STAND NO. FC

WOOLRIDGE FARM, GLOUCESTER ROADHARTPURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL19 3BG

e-mail: [email protected]: 01386 750772

www.protechmachinery.co.uk

COMPACT FORTRANSPORT

250KG HAMMER WEIGHT

800MM TELESCOPICSIDESHIFT

TELESCOPIC MAST OPTION FOR 10FT POSTS

the wind-away deck that has become so popular in the agricultural livestock trailer market has been further improved upon by graham edwards trailers.

The POWERDECK incorporates

all of the advantages of the wind-away deck, but is now operated by the press of a button for one-third of the deck, taking away some of the strain in operation of the wind-away system. The deck ramp is also

at a friendlier gradient for the sheep - of around 19 per cent – for when loading and unloading.

‘We had the prototype on show at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate and customers were really pleased with how much lighter it was to use,’ says Matt Edwards. ‘It was so well received that we have our first orders – 16 of them – going out this month (October) right across the country. We have even received an order from Iceland.’

The new POWERDECK is presently available at no extra cost on the standard wind-away trailer so it is worth getting in quickly. The time it will save, as well as being easier to use, is bound to attract many livestock farmers.

‘The deck ramp is lighter to use and the whole process of loading and unloading is made much easier for all livestock handlers,’ says Matt. ‘Our aim over the past 20 years has always been to provide the best trailers that you can buy. Our policy of building up to a standard and not

down to a cost has always ensured that we concentrate on quality first and foremost. The POWERDECK is a major addition to our fleet of trailers available, and one that we think all livestock handlers will derive great benefit from.’

Graham Edwards Trailers manufactures one of the biggest range of trailers in the UK and where they differ from most other manufacturers is that they will make every trailer to your own personal needs.

‘We would rather that a customer gets their trailer the way they want it. That way they will always come back when they’re ready for another. We make sure we spend time on getting everything the way each customers wants.’

graHaM eDwarDS traiLerS Moor Lane, Full Sutton YorK Yo41 1HX tel: 01759 373062 / 01759 368563 (evening) www.edwardstrailers.co.uk

POWERdECK JOins ThE TRaiLER RanGEChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh maTThEW EdWaRds aT fULL sUTTOn

The Powerdeck

graham edwards


LeMKen is pleased to announce the appointment of rickerbys as LeMKen main dealer, throughout its trading area. this provides customers in northern england, and the Borders, with improved dealer coverage.

LEMKEN has many well-established and dedicated dealers throughout the UK and Ireland. However, there are a number of areas lacking in suitable dealer coverage. One such area has been South Northumberland, Durham, and Cumbria. Rickerbys’ approached LEMKEN, in July, and it quickly became clear that the dealership offered us the opportunity to address this weakness. The agreement ensures that farmers and contractors in the Rickerby area have the same opportunity to benefit from LEMKEN machines, as customers in other parts of the UK.

LEMKEN would like to point out that this appointment is based on the need to improve geographical coverage in the region, and Rickerbys being the best possible dealer for that job. It is not, as being suggested by some parties, an indication of a

tie up between LEMKEN and Claas. LEMKEN UK is pleased to work with some of the most professional and respected dealers in the country. In some cases these are Claas dealers, but John Deere, AGCO, and New Holland dealers also account for a major part of the company’s annual turnover.

LEMKEN and Rickerbys look forward to working together in supplying the needs of farmers and contractors throughout Northern England and the Borders.

www.lemken.co.uk

LEmKEn sTREnGThEns iT’s UK COvERGE WiTh RiCKERBYs

Ken Conley (Rickerby Ltd), Kevin Rennie (Lemken UK) and Martyn Henderson (Rickerby Ltd)

machinery


watkins

The Harold Woolgar Insurance Team35 High Street, Epworth, N. Lincs. Tel: 01427 873388 / 873888

We are pleased to be associated with Mick Watkins & Family and wish them continued success for the future

autumn is the time when the ploughing match season moves into overdrive and one of its biggest exponents is Mick watkins of Stainton, near rotherham, where he farms with his two brothers ivor and richard.

Mick is also farm contractor for the Earl of Scarborough at Sandbeck Park, near Maltby and the overall farm business with his brothers extends to their own farm, the Earl of Scarborough’s work and other whole farm contracts.

‘As a family we moved up to Stainton in 1958. My father bought the farm which ran to 157 acres at the time. Part of the land was sold for a quarry and we replaced it with buying land at North Leverton and Braithwell. Today we farm around 1600 acres of our own land. Our business is roughly 50% contracting and 50% our own farming. We do quite a lot of silage making, around 3000+ acres and grass cutting.’

Crops grown include wheat, barley, oilseed rape and spring beans, but that doesn’t mean that Mick actually undertakes any commercial ploughing. That being the case, how important does he feel ploughing is to today’s younger generation?

‘On a modern farm I would say that with autumn-sown crops ploughing is becoming less and less popular. It’s down to the cost of fuel plus the time available in order to get jobs done on farms. Without a doubt the cultivator press is replacing it. With spring-sown crops the story is different and it’s fair to say that everybody still ploughs, creating a clean seed bed that is disease free and helps with drainage.’

Mick has a formidable reputation in ploughing match circles and has won

GUn BaRREL sTRaiGhT – OR ELsE!ChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh vinTaGE PLOUGhinG ChamPiOn miCK WaTKins

four British ploughing titles. He is the current Welsh champion in the vintage trailed plough class.

‘My dad used to do it and ploughed for England against Sweden in 1955. I started up with it in my teens then took a long break before coming back to it in 1997. I enjoy it tremendously and we do quite a bit of travelling around the country. In the past few years I have competed in around 35-40 matches a year and I’ve been Welsh champion 7 times in the last 8 years.’

Mick uses a grey and gold Ferguson 35, made in 1957, with a Ransome RSLD 2 furrow plough, made in 1946.

He has taken part in the European Championships in the past and just going to press with this issue he was all set to compete again for England at the European Championships to be held at Upper Nisbet, near Jedburgh at the end of October.

‘Personally I never plough for second place. It’s all about concentration and experience, getting that perfect straight furrow. It’s about attention to detail and I want it gun-barrel straight.’

That doesn’t mean that Mick is all about competition at the expense of everything else, although for the time when he is on the tractor that is

very much the case. The friendships he has gained through the ploughing community mean a lot to him.

‘The camaraderie amongst us all is fantastic. We always have a great time together. The Yorkshire season started in September and it is an extremely good county to plough in because of the variations in land, the different contours and different people to plough against. I enjoy their company as much as anything.’

Mick counts his fellow competitor John Milnes of Penistone as one of his closest friends on the circuit.

‘John has done really well over the

Mick Watkins - on board his Ferguson 35


watkins

Mick Watkins - on board his Ferguson 35

years, far better than me. He won the European title for four years in succession. That’s some going.’

Yorkshire has a proud tradition in all forms of ploughing from modern to reversible to vintage and the Witty family from near Malton has won world titles, along with John Hill of Hoylandswaine.

Mick is always keen on new blood coming into the sport of ploughing matches and has put together a video with Ken Chappell of the Society of Ploughmen to help encourage new members.

‘We will always tell people to come

along to a ploughing match and talk to us. We also do training days to show people how to set a plough up. It’s a great activity and well worth being involved with.’

Mick’s wife Jenny enjoys it too: ‘These are my holidays. I don’t get any others apart from ploughing match holidays. The people are lovely and we really do have a great time together.’

If you want to know more or find out when and where there is a ploughing match in your area why not visit:

www.ploughmen.co.uk


bellas

NicholsoN & holdsworthlivestock haulage

appleby, cumbria017683 616 03 / 07802 788 081

We are pleased to be associated with Andrew Bellas and family at Croft Ends

:Pets: Xray, Ultrasound scans, in-house Lab, Acupuncture, Health Clinics, full surgical facilities etc.

Doomgate, Appleby, Cumbria 017683 51507 24 hours Personal, Caring, Local

Herd and Flock Health programmes designedindividually to improve performance

Routine fertility visits and monthly HerdHealth Reports using milk recording data

keep you in control.Plus excellent clinical service.

andrew Bellas’ story is a very traditional one. when he was just four years old he and his family moved to the beautiful croft ends Farm near the old market town of appleby in the eden Valley. at first the family rented the farm, but when their landlord sadly died andrew’s Father utilised their opportunity and bought the farm out right.

As well as being idyllic, Croft Ends Farm is the perfect representation of a multi-generational family farm. Having been raised on the farm along with his Sister Sarah, Jonathan is now in professional partnership with his Dad.

Jonathan and his Wife who is also called Sarah have raised their young children Josh and Hollie at Croft Ends and they too, particularly Josh, are showing a promising interest in the showing side of the industry.

In its very early years Croft Ends farm

was a dairy farm housing cattle, sheep and a flying herd of dairy cows, but as the price of milk slowly decreased after foot and mouth Andrew knew that the direction of his farm needed to change.

He tells us, “It was through the flying herd that we got into the British Blues (or Belgium blues as they were known in those days) but before hand we had been using Limousin bulls. We changed things simply because of the economics involved; it wasn’t working. The only time the Limousins’ were profitable was when they were out on the grass in summer. We had always been fans of the British Blues as a breed because we were attracted to their temperament and how they added value to the calf; recently we’ve been making between 12,000 gns and 15,000 gns for our stock.”

Andrew and Jonathan made the

a TRadiTiOnaL faRm WiTh a mOdERn TWisTandREW and JOnaThan BELLas TELL Us hOW ThEY’RE aLWaYs OPEn TO idEas

decision to switch from dairy farmers to pedigree beef breeders on the 11th of November 2004 and have never looked back since. They now focus all of their efforts on the other elements of their farm, which includes a small shorthorn herd, their pedigree herd of Belgium Blues, a very successful import business and over 100 acres of profitable crop fields.

Andrew explains: “Since we have been here we’ve always had at least 60 acres of land to grow cereal, fodder beet, lucerne crop, but over the years we have expanded on that and bought in more land. I also have an import business that I run in partnership with Chris Dodds where we bring in dairy heifers from the continent. That side of things is going great; I’d say we move about 200 cattle a month, sometimes more during the summer. We travel as far as Denmark, Holland, Germany,

France and even Italy to keep up to the demand.”

Diversification is a term never to far away from Andrew and Jonathan’s lips. They encourage the idea that traditional farmers should be willing to try new things and embrace modern techniques.

Jonathan insists: “We are always looking for new things to try because you can’t afford to miss an opportunity; you have to be flexible nowadays. We have diversified in a big way, we run a caravan site here on the farm, my Mother runs a Bed and Breakfast, and I drive for the logistic group Eddie Stobart and the haulage firm Nicholson and Holdsworth as and when they need me.”

Another term that the Bellas duo is all too familiar with is recession. Having farmed through difficult financial times during the early nineties, the


bellas

recent economical downturn has made things at Croft Ends that little bit more difficult.

“The recession has properly hit us,” Jonathan continues. “But because we are a family-run farm we don’t have that many overheads. I think the main problems come from some supermarkets dictating prices; this affects us because we are selling predominantly to suckler men, to produce a suckler beef calf, to then go on to be a beef carcass, so if they

aren’t getting a good price it reflects back down the chain. I say some supermarkets because Morrison’s have actually been really good towards farmers.”

Understandably, in order to produce the highest quality pedigree stock, Andrew and Jonathan use modern techniques to carry out various DNA and scan tests on their herds; and it doesn’t go unnoticed because in September this year Eblex awarded Andrew and Jonathan the Most Improved Herd

award in the British Blue category. The award is calculated using Signet records to find the herd that has shown the greatest improvement over a 12-month period within the breed. It has been an incredibly successful year for the Bellas family. At last years Agri-Expo in Carlisle Jonathan was crowned the winner of the Border British Blue Club competition with a heifer named ‘Croftends Emma’.

Andrew tells us: “We are always looking to improve our herd using genetic

technology. Without the knowledge it provides you with, you would be very weary of things. We were at a society meeting the other week and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, speaking about the genetic work they do. At the minute their research covers around 20 traits of an animal including, feed conversion, tenderness, weight improvement, temperament and ease of carving to name a few. Currently they work on what they call a ‘48 sheet’ which studies 48 chromosomes but they’re now looking to work on a sheet covering 100 chromosomes, which will give you a lot more vital information.”

It seems that the Bellas’ work into the British Blue breed has well and truly paid off: over this year’s showing season on heifer in particular has been consistently championed. Andrew explains: “Ross Alice has been awarded reserve champion at every show this year. It’s nice to win something at a show, but we really go to showcase the quality of what we sell.”

Where modern farming is concerned, Croft Ends Farm has clearly found the winning formula.

croft ends Farm appleby in westmorland cumbria, ca16 6Jw tel: 017683 51284

Andrew and Jonathan Bellas


beachell

Minexcel NutritionSuppliers of quality feed supplements, protein

concentrates and coarse mixes for cattle and sheep. Also on farm analysis of forage and feeds.

Also suppliers for the nationally recognised Life-Gard range of colostrum powder and pastes

for lambs, calves and piglets.Pleased to be associated with the Beachell Family.

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when you meet any of the Beachells at Beswick Hall you have a pretty good chance of getting their name right first time if you use the name Sam! there’s grandfather Sam, father Sam and – you’ve guessed it, young Sam.

That’s three of the family and these three form three-fifths of five generations of Sam Beachell who have lived here.

There have been Beachells (Sam or otherwise) living at Beswick Hall since at least as far back as 1870, but the eldest of the three Sams believes they could have been here for even longer.

‘There was a fire at one time and records were destroyed. What we do know is that this used to be one house (rather than now housing two farming families in a semi-detached manner) and that Squire Draper used to live here back in the 1600s. He was supposed to have the finest pack of foxhounds in Europe.’

Today their farming operation runs to some 402 acres tenanted to Lord Hotham, as well as having 135 acres of their own between Watton and Beswick, and land at Tibthorpe. Typically, their farm is predominantly arable-oriented situated in the heart of the East Riding between Driffield and Beverley just off the A164, but it is with livestock that Sam – the father of young Sam – is now starting to make a serious impression with his Texels.

‘We go to Driffield Show, Malton and Lincolnshire and I’m intending to go to the Great Yorkshire in a year or two. We bought our first Texels in-lamb in December 2005 at Carlisle. We had a really good ram lamb in

our first year of showing and as soon as he came out of the trailer there was a reaction from everyone thinking ‘where has he got this one from?’ He won his class and I was on the showing scene straight away.’

Sam – the father of young Sam – had always wanted to have pedigree sheep but until 2005 they had run a purely commercial flock, which still exists with just below 100 ewes. Sam presently has a pedigree flock of around 22-23 Texels.

This year has seen the Beachells add to their trophy tally with a ewe lamb taking Reserve Champion at Driffield, and winning her ewe lamb class at both Driffield and Lincoln. It’s clearly a source of pride and enjoyment to Sam.

They have cattle on the farm as well, a 50-strong beef herd, and Sam’s wife Sarah has just reared 35 Belgian Blue calves, so how soon before they venture into the cattle lines at shows too?

‘I do fancy it, but it’s quite hard to do both sheep and cattle. We have friends who manage it but they tell us that they sometimes don’t know whether they’re coming or going when they are at a show. So I think we might just stick with sheep. Sarah is as keen as mustard with the sheep and Charlie is also getting the bug now.’

The Beachells feed their own wheat and barley to their stock, whilst also selling wheat too. They have cut down on the growing of vining peas in recent times.

With a good forward price for wheat and healthy prices for cattle and sheep times are certainly better

than they were when wheat was at £65/tonne just five years ago, but they are keen to point out that inputs are continually on the rise too. Nonetheless they have a smile on their faces at present, particularly with Sam’s show successes.

They use York and Beverley markets for selling, as well as sending some cattle deadweight to Carnaby. They buy cattle from Darlington Market.

Starting from the youngest at Beswick Hall, there are young Sam (9) and Charlie (13). Their mum and dad are Sarah and Sam (35 – to identify him from young Sam and grandfather Sam). Then there’s grandfather Sam who was born at Beswick Hall and has lived here all his life. He farmed in partnership with his brother Tim, who retired in April, and also has a sister, Jean. The 35 year old Sam has a younger brother – John – who is a plumber and has appeared on TV’s ‘Come Dine With Me’.

‘It’s been shown at least five times,’ says grandfather Sam, but this time father Sam as John is his son (hope you’re following this!). ‘He cooked a rack of lamb that he got from here and they showed the farm on the programme.’

Brothers Sam and John also have a sister, Katie who works for IBM in Edinburgh.

As for the future at Beswick Hall, Sam (the showing, 35 year old one!) believes it’s a case of making sure they can maintain their business.

‘We need to consolidate what we have and keep that going. Land is so expensive to buy that adding to what we have is difficult. We might consider some form of contracting. I’d like to try and do a bit of that.

Beswick Hall Beswick, Driffield Yo25 9aS

Land Of ThE samsChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh ThE BEaChELLs Of BEsWiCK haLL

Sam Beachell - twice!


pennington

it’s simple really; farmers usually become farmers because they love farming, but that’s not exactly the case where Les Pennington is concerned.

For the majority of his adult life Les has owned his own accident and repair garage business, but one day, after he made an unassuming visit to Little Haigh Farm in need of a car part, he was made an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.

“I happened to come up here for the odd thing, and just on the off chance I asked the owner if he had anything else (vehicle related) that he wanted to sell. And to my surprise he turned to me and said, “You can buy the farm if you want”, so he came down to my garage and the deal was done. Before that I had no experience in keeping animals, but I did have a cat and a dog when I was a kid,” laughs Les.

Les and Norma Pennington have owned Little Haigh Farm, in Mossley near Manchester for over twenty-three years and their ‘Penton’ herd of 32 pedigree Simmentals have turned them from casual hobby farmers to award-winning breeders.

“When we first arrived here I was still doing long hours at the garage so we didn’t have any plans set in stone, admits Les. “We didn’t buy Little Haigh for the farm land really we bought it for somewhere to live. I’m just a hobby farmer but I seem to spend all of my time here!”

Les Pennington makes the transition from garage proprietor to farmer look remarkably easy: “First of all I needed to figure out what sort of breed I wanted to go into; but after purchasing a Simmental cow from Chesterfield my mind was made up. Before our first Simmental society

GaRaGE PROPRiETOR TURnEd aWaRd-WinninG faRmERLUCiE CaRTER mEETs WiTh LEs and nORma PEnninGTOn

and hope to come out on top. I just remember the judge tapping us on the back and presenting us with this enormous trophy.”

Even after such a rollercoaster ride into the farming industry, Les and Norma Pennington show no signs of slowing down. At 65 Les is wonderfully enthusiastic about the job he does: “I can’t give up farming because I just love it so much, and

after all work never killed anybody. I think I’ll live to be about 100 and when I’ve got to that age I might consider retiring.”

As the saying goes, there certainly is life in the (not so old) dog yet!

Les and norma Pennington Little Haigh Farm Mossley, Lancashire

meeting we had heard of the Atlow herd so when we gathered with other members we asked who that herd belonged to. Turns out it was David Donnelly down in Ashbourne, Derbyshire and we were introduced there and then. We’ve been friends ever since.”

The Pennington’s now hold David and Susan Donnelly responsible for developing their love of showing. After they spent a year showing David’s Atlow herd with him, they were bitten by the bug and discovered they had a real passion for the show ring.

Norma tells us exactly what happened: “One of the cows we bought off David had a heifer calf, and that calf was the one we did our first show with in 1995. We were awarded fourth prize on that occasion, which at the time we thought was absolutely fantastic.”

Over the years things have certainly changed at Little Haigh Farm. Throughout the 2010 showing season the Pennington’s stock bull ‘Annick Vesuvius’ (which was purchased from Scotland in 2008) won a series of 1st prizes and interbreed titles at several shows including the Great Yorkshire Show.

This year however, the standards were well and truly set at Little Haigh Farm when Les and Norma were presented with the Blythwood Continental Beef Pairs award, again at the Great Yorkshire, which this year was the Simmental breeds National Show.

Les explains more about the coveted prize: “Champions and reserve champions from across thirteen breeds in total take part, from that the judge selects seven pairs. Those seven pairs go into the grand parade

Les Pennington


grisedale

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Situated just a stones throw away from the westmorland county Showground you will find greenmount Farm which has been home to award-winning sheep breeders ian and angela grisedale and their son John for over thirteen years.

Ian is no stranger to his neighbouring showground or to any showground in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria for that matter. Since he was a young boy he has had a passion for showing his beloved Herdwick and has now become one of the most well-respected and knowledgeable sheep breeders around.

When asked what it is about the Herdwick breed that he loves the most Ian answers, “It is just the way they are. They each have their own individual character and you just know when you’ve got a good one. They are a hardy breed, easy to manage and because they are so self sufficient you can leave them to lamb on their own.”

Over the years Ian and Angela have developed two main passions; cross breeding and of course showing. The 100 acres of Greenmount Farm now occupies 130 Herdwick’s and a commercial flock of around 200 Texel and Beltex Clib crosses.

Ian tells us: “We thoroughly enjoy the experimental side of cross breeding especially because we’re trying to produce the best possible fat lambs. When Climbs had their heyday everyone realised that they weren’t as good a finishing lamb as other breeds, so we decided to put a Texel with them to get that little bit of ‘umph’ in the bum and eventually get

a hERdWiCK BREEdER fOR OvER fifTY YEaRsfaRmERsmaRT visiTs ian and anGELa GRisEdaLE Of GREEnmOUnT faRm

a much better carcass.”

And it certainly pulled off. Ian and Angela’s talent for cross breeding has mean that the Grisedale name is now associated with the Herdwick breed up and down the country.

“I was talking to a fella’ from Nottingham at this years Westmorland County Show,” Ian explains. “He said that he’d been talking to a man down in Worcestershire about Herdwicks and had said, ‘oh you’ll know Ian Grisedale then?’ which he did.”

As well as receiving recognition from fellow farmers, Ian and Angela have experienced unprecedented success in the show ring. This year alone

they have competed at twelve shows including the Great Yorkshire and of course the Westmorland, and have come away with a prize every single time.

Angela tells us: “This summer we’ve been to the Cumberland show, Great Eccleston, Cartmel, Garstang, Lunesdale, Ripley, Brough, Appelby, Grayrigg, Chipping, Lowes Water and Westmorland. But the Great Yorkshire show is without doubt our favourite because it is such a big shop window for our stock. At the show this year we won Female champion and reserve overall champion. We also won the best fleece award which was really something, especially since in 2003 we

were awarded the Lowland champion fleece award for best exhibit against 97 other fleeces. That was definitely one of our proudest moments.”

Another memorable moment from the Great Yorkshire came in 2006 on the Wednesday (interbreed day) when Ian’s Herdwicks were awarded the prestigious titles of Male and Female champion and also Upland breed champion. This day was made even more special as Ian had the chance to meet Prince Charles who was in attendance.

So what is the most rewarding thing about showing? The award itself? The exposure? Well according to Ian it’s the interaction with the general

Ian and Angela


grisedale

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public who he says are aways keen to learn more: “It’s important to get the right message about the farming industry over to the public, to really get them on your side. The shows are a way of educating people.”

After another successful show season finishes for Ian and Angela, their stock is highly sought after and so they now begin the process of supplying other Herdwick breeders with promising shearlings.

“Quality is everything in farming,” says Ian. “There is no point pushing a sheep too soon because they wont live long enough to show their true

volume and potential; you’ll push them over the hill and then you’ll need to look for replacements. I like to show a good sheep for a few years in order to get the very best out of it.”

Having been a member of the Herdwick Sheep society for over fifty years Ian has pretty much seen it all. He has seen patterns emerging in the breed that a novice perhaps wouldn’t: “The sheep are smaller than what they used to be, so I’m trying to get them back to the bulkier look they used to have. Nowadays people want Herdwicks as draft ewes, but you can’t make cats out of

mice. Although they do make good sheep to cross with, which is why we put about 50% of our flock to the Texels.”

As well as having strong views on his beloved breed, Ian is passionate about the farming industry as a whole, and like many of you farmers out there, slightly concerned about things to come.

“After foot and mouth farmers were screwed down on prices and somehow the government started telling us how to farm! Telling us what we could and couldn’t do. I think the industry has been badly

done to in the past because of the previous governments so it’s now time to tighten things up and start a fresh.”

Although farm land is very hard to come by these days, Ian and Angela are now actively looking to extend their tenanted land at Greenmount Farm to produce even more top-notch, award-winning Herdwicks.

ian and angela grisedale greenmount Farm cumbria tel: 015395 67719

Ian with his Champ

Meeting HRH Prince Charles


gripple

an innovative ‘incubator’, with a mission to create award winning product stars in the future, has been born in Sheffield.

Multi Queen’s Award winning manufacturers, Gripple and Loadhog, have combined their proven innovative minds and created Incub to realise the dreams of embryonic entrepreneurs by fast tracking their exceptional product concepts to market through a unique collaborative approach.

Incub, which will be housed in a new 5,000 sq m state-of-the-art ideas and innovations facility in Sheffield, is looking for imaginative inventors in any sector, who may lack the required skills, equipment or funding to turn their product ideas into commercial realities.

Sheffield-based Gripple and Loadhog have an excellent track record in bringing ground breaking, problem solving products to market, with three Queen’s Awards and two best factory awards under their belts

in the last three years.

During the development phase, the Cubs will be employed and have access to the companies’ talented ideas and innovations, design, marketing, learning and development teams.

Alan Somerfield, the companies’ ideas and innovations director, said: “The Cubs could be graduates, who have nurtured ideas during their time at university; product designers who have spotted an opportunity; or mature individuals with an idea yearning for a new challenge. Our door is wide open to them all! Once a product is ready to launch, they will be encouraged to grow their ideas into worldwide businesses, creating valuable jobs in South Yorkshire.”

For more information, contact incub on [email protected], visit www.incub.co.uk or call 0114 2288 701 and speak to gordon Macrae or alan Somerfield.

innOvaTORs sEEK invEnTORs WiTh GREaT idEas

The companies’ special projects manager, Gordon Macrae (c) is pictured with members of the Incub ideas and innovations team, Arthur Valeyev (l) and Ollie Ross.


PROPERTY

snEaTOn, nEaR WhiTBY

A wonderful opportunity to acquire a substantial farmhouse and buildings requiring renovation.

Lot 1: Semi-derelict farmhouse together with an extensive range of traditional buildings and 6.33 acres of grassland. Lot 2: 5.85 acres of grassland. Lot 3: 20.24 acres of grassland. Lot 4: 6.95 acres of grassland.

In all 39.36 acres

EXCEPTiOnaL REnOvaTiOn PROJECT

WEavERThORPE, maLTOn

• Extensive 7 bedroom farmhouse

• Range of traditional outbuildings

• Dutch barn and stabling

• 40.6 acres of grassland

sUBsTanTiaL WOLds faRmhOUsE and Land

nEaR dRiffiELd, EasT YORKshiRE

ROsEdaLE EasT, PiCKERinG, nORTh YORKshiRE

fOR saLE BY infORmaL TEndER fRidaY 5Th nOvEmBER, 2Pm

• Spacious and modern 5 bedroom farmhouse.

• Substantial range of traditional buildings

• 7 acres of paddock land and amenity ponds.

• Over 60 mature and established ponds, currently producing over 50 tonnes of trout and 10 tonnes of coarse fish per annum

• Frontage to West Beck.

• In all 85 acres

naTiOnaLLY siGnifiCanT fish faRm in aTTRaCTivE sETTinG

fOR saLE as a WhOLE BY PRivaTE TREaTY

GUidE PRiCE : £475,000

Lot one: A traditional 4 bedroom stone farmhouse requiring renovation, together with a range of adjoining stone buildings, stable block and 10.35 acres of grassland. Guide Price: £200,000 to £250,000

Lot two: A semi-derelict two bedroom cottage situated in a superb south facing setting, together with grounds and grassland amounting to 7.4 acres. Guide Price: £45,000

Lot three: 76.13 acres of productive grassland, suitable for hay and silage crops. Guide Price: £155,000

In all approximately 93.88 acres.

EXCEPTiOnaL RE-dEvELOPmEnT OPPORTUniTY

fOR saLE BY PUBLiC aUCTiOn TO BE hELd aT ThE fOREsT & vaLE hOTEL, PiCKERinG On mOndaY

8Th nOvEmER aT 7Pm


property

Land maRKET UPdaTEBY andREW BLaCK, diRECTOR Of saviLLs (L&P) LTd

the farmland market in england continues to be driven by lack of supply, and in particular, fully equipped commercial farms. we may struggle to get to 100,000 acres this year, although supply has doubled in Scotland, albeit from a very low base and is predominantly grassland farms.

Long gone are the post war years when 600,000 acres per year were traded. The main marketing season for farms takes place between May and July in most years, and I am pleased to report that most farms and good quality blocks of bareland have now been sold. Values have been rising all year, although with

Savills (L&P) Ltd, 13-15 Micklegate, York Yo1 6JH t: 01904 617800 F: 01904 617801

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For further information or a free no obligation appraisal of your property, please contact:

andrew Black MRICS FAAV

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Sarah Hinchliffe BSc (Hons) MRICS FAAV

Tel: 01904 617819 07870 999441 E: [email protected]

island Farm, Staintondale Approx 170 acres

Park Hill Farm, wetherby 96 acres

rush House Farm, Knayton 160 acres

rolston Hall, rolston 108 acres

low levels of profitability and no one predicting significant changes in the wheat price, it was difficult to see why at the time. For most farmers, the 50% rise in wheat prices over a 3 week period, combined with generally kind harvest conditions, improved profitability and optimism immediately and added final impetus to the July sales. The autumn market is always more difficult to read in terms of volume, and again there has been no significant acreages coming forward. Sales results now reflect this renewed optimism, with over £8,000 per acre having been recorded in at least half a dozen sales, and £9,000 - £10,000 per acre being achieved in the last few weeks in locations across the county. Values of prime land in the county have therefore risen by £2,000 – £3,000 per acre so far this year, and there is nothing to suggest that values will alter for the remainder of the year.

That is not to say that all land is now worth these figures, and there are still plenty of sales being achieved at between £4,000 - £5,000 per acre for poorer quality land and land in areas where

there is little competition from neighbours. Fully equipped farms are generating interest on a national basis, whereas the bareland market will always be more locally based.

Properties launched this month which will provide a further test for the market include:

• rush House Farm at Knayton, which extends to 160 acres lying within a ring fence, aimed at the farming and equestrian markets with a guide price of £1,400,000.

• rolston Hall, near Hornsea, offering just under 108 acres, available in three lots with a guide price of £1,250,000 for the whole.

• Park Hill Farm at wetherby has also been re-launched to the market offering an opportunity within the ‘golden triangle’ with 96 acres, seeking offers in excess of £1,500,000 for the whole.


John Hill & colin Bowen were recently announced as the new British national Ploughing champions. their victory earns them a trip to Sweden in May next year where they will compete in the world Ploughing contest.

In the conventional class, John Hill from Hoylandswaine in South Yorkshire finished with 243 points, just 21 points ahead of Ashley Boyles of Market Rasen, with David Chappell from South Yorkshire in third place with 216 points.

In the reversible final Colin Bowen retained the title he won last year with a score of 286 holding challenge of Peter Alderslade from Tyne & Wear with 266 points and Cornishman Ian Brewer of Wadebridge third with 255 points

Jim Elliot from Beamish, Co Durham with an aggregate score of 441 over two days won the title of Champion

Horse Ploughman.

The Young Farmers class were hotly contested with 25 year old Ian Brewer winning the reversable class and 20 year old Nick Davenport from Wakefield, West Yorkshire claiming the conventional title. The vintage title was won by Alex Townroe from Mansfield Notts.

www.ploughmen.co.uk

BRiTish naTiOnaL PLOUGhinG ChamPiOnshiPs annOUnCEs iTs WinnERs

farming people

news that HrH the Prince of wales has officially become Patron of the campaign for wool has been described as ‘the best thing that has happened to the wool industry for many years’ by ian Hartley ceo of the British wool Marketing Board (BwMB).

The Prince announced his official commitment to the sheep farmer and wool textile industry at a small gathering of the farming, wool textile and retail sectors at the National Woollen Museum in Llandysul, (Dyfed) Wales held at the end of June this year.

Referring to the many fantastic attributes of wool, he commented that his growing understanding of the fibre’s many naturally ‘smart’ attributes had only served to prove that wool should be better appreciated by everyone and was delighted that so many designers and major names had put their strength behind it.

The BWMB, which represents 50,000 wool producers in the UK has put

significant funding in to the CfW and has played a major role in bringing wool and textile partners to the table and helping to set a framework for mapping a change in wool’s fortunes in the years to come.

Ian Hartley CEO at the BWMB explained, “Our producers firmly believe that the time is right for wool as the environmental agenda rises and people become more conscious that their choices have an impact on the world we live in.”

WOOL in ThE sPOTLiGhT as PRinCE BECOmEs PaTROn Of CamPaiGn

a cattle farmer, who was severely injured during a motorcycle accident, has been named a semi-finalist in the 2010 Barclays trading Places awards, which recognises people who have beaten the odds to succeed in business.

Steve Johnson, who runs a cattle service company, is now hoping to win a share of the £50,000 prize. Steve who is from Huby near York is qualified in farming and was predominantly employed as a Dairy Herdsman. But in 1996, his wife Gilly was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and lost her job a year later. Steve was forced to give up work as a herdsman and take a job with fewer hours so that he could look after his wife. Steve then had a serious motorcycle accident that snapped his left femur, requiring the insertion of metal pins and screws from thigh to knee: the injury left him partially disabled.

The job he was doing as an electricians’ labourer was not what he wanted long-term as his interest was still in cows and after being faced with redundancy, so he decided to change his career path. His idea was

CaTTLE faRmER namEd sEmi-finaLisT in BUsinEss hERO aWaRds

to offer professional comprehensive cattle care to farmers, small breeders and hobby farmers.

Steve Johnson Cattle Services was launched in June 2007 providing qualified and professional cattle care to farmers and breeders.

Steve Cooper, chair of the judging panel and Managing Director, Barclays Business, said: “The calibre of this year’s entries is outstanding and we hope that with this recognition, Steve Johnson Cattle Services will continue on the road to success. We also hope Steve’s story will inspire other budding entrepreneurs in Yorkshire, who face similar difficulties to come forward and turn their own business dreams into reality.”

Colin Bowen & John Hill

Gilly & Steve Johnson


farming people

Sam coleman of co antrim, northern ireland has been elected as the new Honorary President of the British Limousin cattle Society (BLcS).

Mr. Coleman, who will serve the customary two year term, takes over from Roger Hazard who retired at the Society’s AGM held on Tuesday 20th July 2010 at the Royal Welsh Showground. He becomes the 10th President of the BLCS since its inception in 1971 and his appointment will cover the Ruby anniversary due next year celebrating 40 years of the Society in the United Kingdom. In another notable landmark, Mr. Coleman is also the first breeder from Northern Ireland to have held this senior position.

Commenting on his election, Mr Coleman said: “I am extremely honoured to take on this figurehead role for what is the most influential cattle breed in the British Isles. Limousin cattle have a huge influence on commercial beef

sam COLEman ELECTEd as ThE PREsidEnT Of ThE BRiTish LimOUsin sOCiETY

production with one in three calves born every year being sired by a Limousin bull. With consistently more than 18,000 pedigree registrations per year and bull sales able to gross in excess of £1 Million, the breeders and the Society are continuing to move positively forward. I congratulate Roger Hazard on his successful term of office and I very much look forward to the next two years.”

For any further information please contact BLcS chief executive, iain Kerr, on 02476 696500

Moy Park has announced the appointment of David gibson as Director of agriculture. David has been with Moy Park for 26 years and has extensive expertise within the agriculture industry. He will be responsible for the whole of the agriculture Division across both great Britain and northern ireland.

David will be based at Moy Park’s Dungannon site and will work closely with the senior team reporting into James French, Moy Park’s Agri & Fresh Poultry Director. His role will support Moy Park’s industry leading position in agriculture and its 800 poultry farmers across the United Kingdom.

As a trainee manager back in the mid 1980s David was involved in the pioneering development of free range chicken. Since then, he has held positions in hatchery management as well as in Moy Park’s grandparent breeding division. More recently, as General Manager for Agriculture Northern Ireland, David was responsible for all of Moy Park’s agriculture activities from the grandparent scheme

nEW diRECTOR Of aGRiCULTURE fOR mOY PaRK

Richard Anscombe

the UK’s leading farm inputs purchasing and combinable crops marketing business, atlasFram group, has appointed 49-year-old richard anscombe as chief executive. Based at Framlingham in Suffolk, the farmer-owned business purchases every type of input for its 1050 members, who farm over 300,000 hectares throughout the UK. with an annual turnover of £150 million, atlasFram deals directly with more than 1200 manufacturers, importers and local suppliers, with product quality and provenance paramount. it also includes a specialist in-house

department which markets Members’ grain, oilseeds and pulses.

A commercially-astute business leader, Richard joins AtlasFram after 10 years as Commercial Director of Active Web Solutions, the Suffolk-based Information Technology business which he co-founded in 2000. With offices in Ipswich and Prague, the company has a wide portfolio of local, national and international clients, including a number in the agricultural sector.

Commenting on his appointment, Richard said: “I am honoured to be

managing a business which has been at the forefront of developments in the agricultural industry since it was founded in 1960 and also enormously encouraged by the Board’s passion for AtlasFram to be the best farmers’ buying group in the country. I look forward to getting to know the team, meeting Members and taking the business forward, so that it continues to fulfil their needs and expectations.”

www.atlasfram.co.uk tel: 01728 727700

faRmER-OWnEd BUsinEss aPPOinTs ChiEf EXECUTivE

george F. white has announced the appointment of two new Project co-ordinators for its specialist renewables team. Jayne carrick will join the alnwick office and caroline Sellers, the wolsingham office.

Jayne Carrick who will be based at the Alnwick office of George F. White has always been passionate about a career in green energy. Brought up on the family farm near Alston,

Cumbria, she studied for a BSc Hons in Environmental Science at the University of Plymouth and an MSc in Renewable Energy and Enterprise Management at the University of Newcastle.

Caroline Sellers from Stockton on Tees also has a strong interest in rural and environmental matters. An engineer by background she has an MSc in Environmental Engineering

and Project Management and a BEng Hons in Energy and Environmental Engineering from the University of Leeds. She has also had the chance to study the latest European methods on creating renewable energy having worked for Energia E Ambiente in Portugal on a three month placement at the bio-mass fired power plant Central De Biomassa Terras de Santa Maria.

Partner Louis Fell who heads up the Renewables Team says, “We are delighted to have people with such enthusiasm and knowledge at George F. White; it is vital that we continue to expand our skilled team to help clients implement their projects quickly and efficiently.”

www.georgefwhite.co.uk

dEmand fOR GREEn EnERGY CREaTEs nEW JOBs

right through to the broilers that are delivered to the factory.

James French said: “We are delighted to appoint David to this key position within Moy Park. Over the last ten years we have demonstrated its commitment to the poultry industry by proactively implementing market leading initiatives and David will be instrumental in continuing to drive this forward in the coming months and years.”

www.moypark.com


young farmers

Yorkshire Young Farmers had five teams participate in nFYFc competitions finals at the recent Stoneleigh show, and all four came away with a top three finish.

The younger members led the way in the Junior Public Speaking Competition taking on the other eleven best teams in the country. The team comprised of Hattie Noble as Chairman, Verity Hyland as Vote of thanks (both from Calderdale YFC) and a six minute speech from Elizabeth Cooper from Worth Valley YFC. All three members impressed in their individual disciplines and finished a fantastic third as a team overall.

Penistone YFC’s folk dancing team then took to the floor of the main hall and wowed the judges enough to secure a fantastic second place.

The team consisted of Katy Raynes, Rachel Raynes, Harry Williams, Will Carr, Abbie Carr, Beth Sugden, Lucy Spencely and Rebecca Gibbons.

In the Rural Apprentice competition Steph Ellis and Annabel Mason from Silsden with Skipton YFC were placed runners up to local friendly rivals Worth Valley YFC represented by Sophie Ogden and Dave Johnson. Both teams were presented with trophies by event sponsors and beneficiaries respectively Foresters and Sue Ryder. The judges were so impressed with their fundraising efforts that they told them to come and see them if they ever wanted a job in fundraising. The two clubs had raised over £5,000 between them.

www.yfyfc.org.uk

YORKshiRE YfC CELEBRaTE sUCCEss aT sTOnELEiGh

Persistence and determination to hone their knowledge certainly paid off for winners of this year’s prestigious national Federation of Young Farmers’ clubs Farm Business Development competition.

Carlisle YFC’s winning team of accountant Michael Nelson and agricultural graduate Stephen Powley were presented with their award at the weekend’s CLA Game Fair in Warwickshire.

The winning duo not only took away their first prize of a scholarship to next year’s Oxford Farming Conference, but also the confidence and professional skills and knowledge to set up their own agricultural enterprise having upped their business acumen by entering the competition for three years in a row.

Michael said: “We are delighted to have won. The NFYFC competition really prepares you for the reality of tendering for a farm tenancy; the extremely high standard of research and business knowledge required for

a successful proposal as well as what a landlord and land agent are going to be looking for from your business plan.

“Winning made us realise we do have the skills needed to run a successful enterprise and that we work well as a team. We have come away confident to take on a farm tenancy, and we are definitely going to go into business together as a result.”

NFYFC’s Farm Business Development competition is designed to give tomorrow’s tenants a dry run in applying for a farm tenancy which includes viewing a case study farm, submitting a detailed business plan and facing a rigorous interview panel. This year’s panel was made up of judges from Lloyds TSB, Savills and the TFA, as well as last year’s competition winners Jack Hopkins and Nicola Hamer.

www.nfyfc.org.uk

faRminG fUTURE BRiGhT fOR nfYfC COmPETiTiOn WinnERs

cumbria YFc has been travelling throughout england to represent cumbria and the northern area Young Farmers in the national Finals of a variety of competitions.

Andrew Long and Ethan Sawrey from Furness YFC came 6th in the National ATV Competition at the Royal Berkshire Show. Also at Newbury, the Sedbergh Ladies Tug-of-War team came 5th with Derbyshire YFC winning.

At the Malvern Autumn Show Laura Potts and Rosie Thompson from Caldbeck YFC’s County Exhibit was narrowly beaten by one point into 2nd place by Lancashire YFC. In the National Cookery Competition, Eden Valley YFC prepared 4 dishes to them of “My Home County” and were placed 3rd with Raughton head’s team coming 12th.

In the Floral Art, Kelly Armstrong

in iT TO Win iT!

cumbria Young Farmers recently travelled to Driffield auction Mart to compete in the northern area Stockjudge and Young Stockjudge of the Year.

Craig Brough, County Vice Chairman commented “It was an excellent day. We judged Continental butchers beef, bacon pigs, Texel cross sheep and Holstein heifers and cows and also completed and Animal Questionnaire. Cumbrian members did really well.”

Rachel Edminson of Longtown YFC and James Neve, Brampton came =1st in the Junior Beef Judging and Rachel also won the dairy judging. Darren Clarke, Pennine won the junior pig judging and Philip Mattinson, Aspatria won the senior dairy and lamb judging. Henry Knowles, Grayrigg won the Junior Animal Health Questionnaire.

When all the scores were totalled, Rachel Edminson came 3rd in the Young Stockjudge of the Year and Philip and James Mattinson came

CUmBRia YfC EXCEL aT sTOCKJUdGinG EvEnT

from Caldbeck YFC came 2nd nationally with her floral arrangement for a pew end. In the Junior Floral Art, Rosie Thompson, Caldbeck was 8th and Lauren Bowness of Grayrigg YFC 14th.

County Chairman, Steven Dixon, said that Cumbria were very proud to be so well represented in the National YFC Finals and all the contestants had shown great enthusiasm and commitment to compete in the various eliminating rounds.

www.cumbriayfc.co.uk

2nd and 3rd in the Stockjudge of the Year. The overall County Team Award was won by Cumbria A’s team of Craig Brough, Graham, Denby, Julie Blaylock, Karen Watson, James Neve, Emma Blaylock, Darren Clarke and Rachel Edminson. Cumbria B’s team of Mark Curr, Philip and James Mattinson, Simon Graham, Henry Knowles, David Miller, Tom and Jack Peile came 2nd.

www.cumbriayfc.co.uk

dEmand fOR GREEn EnERGY CREaTEs nEW JOBs


wilson

Contact 01751 417261 / Mob 07831 164469Westfield Lodge, Hutton Le Hole, York, YO62 6UG

R I C H A R D S T R I C K L A N DA G R I C U LT U R A L C O N T R A C T O R S

We are pleased to be associated with Mr Wilson and family

MOST AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS UNDERTAKEN

what provides the inspiration for creative people? it’s usually a bit like nailing what the X is in the term X Factor, but farmer’s wife Luci wilson of Hollins Farm knows exactly what it is or more importantly who it is that has brought about her inspiration for her fledgling photography business and her art to flourish.

‘My mum passed away three and a half years ago. She used to be a nurse and was such a strong person. For some reason, I don’t know why, I just knew the day she was going to die. I stayed up with her all night and was with her on my own when she died. To actually see someone so close to you die, it makes you realise that life really isn’t a rehearsal. You only get one chance. I feel that she handed her strength and her confidence over to me when she went.’

Luci, who was born in Normanby but was brought up from being 6 months old in Kirkbymoorside, was bullied at school and has drifted from job to job whilst also bringing up her family with husband Chris in High Farndale in the North York Moors. Chris works with his father Ken whose farm runs to some 240 acres and includes sheep and cattle. Luci and Chris have their own flock of around 40 Texel half breds producing Texel lambs.

‘I didn’t like school. My favourite time was dinner time and my best subjects were sport and art. I enjoyed drawing, particularly pencil drawings but I was never confident enough to draw them for other people.’

There is a drawing in her kitchen from when she was 13 years old which looks good enough to have been sold for a healthy price even at that age, but her lack of confidence remained for many years.

‘I’ve done acrylic painting as well, but only for myself. I applied for college in York years ago but didn’t get in. If you weren’t top of the class you weren’t encouraged to do what you felt you were good at.’

The catalyst for her photographic work started a number of years ago.

‘I can see the art in photography and because I love animals I take a lot of my photographs with them animals as the main subject. I feel like I have this calmness with animals, that I could meet any animal and get them all to get on.’

Luci’s confidence has grown even further this year thanks to the first

PiCTUREs aRE an insPiRaTiOnfaRmERsmaRT TaLKs WiTh faRmER’s WifE LUCi WiLsOn Of hiGh faRndaLE

give everything away, but because I’m trying to build an income at home I’m trying to make it work. I now sell my photographs either in frames, as individual prints, or as greetings cards, mouse mats, notelets, coasters, place mats or fridge magnets. So far they are on sale in the Feversham Arms in Farndale and a few local shops in Kirkbymoorside and the Tourist Information office in Pickering.’

Luci is also helping out a charity which raises money for needy children in Kenya.

‘It is a friend of my nan’s who raises money to take clothes across to Africa. She sells my cards and in just three months she has raised £400

for her charity.’

Having had success at the Milton Rooms in Malton, Luci has now booked a slot at the Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole for her own month-long exhibition of her work next July. And there are other exciting things in the offing too.

It’s all a far cry from the number of jobs Luci has held over the years, but with her mum providing the inspiration she is determined to make her business work.

You can catch up with more of Luci’s work by visiting:

www.luciajo.co.uk

appearance of her work at Ryedale District Council’s photographic art exhibition at the Milton Rooms in Malton.

‘They have been running it for about 33 years and maybe I’m a bit ignorant but it’s the first time I had heard of it. On the off-chance I put 4 pictures in for selection. They had about 500 entries that they whittled down to 200 and I got two of mine in. My ‘Cow’s Eye’ photograph was one of 39 that sold in the week. It sold for £95. I was capped to bits.’

But Luci doesn’t just restrict herself to animal photography. She takes a lot of scenic photography too and has a fantastic shot of Ralph’s Cross along with many others on the moors.

‘Sometimes when I’m taking the photographs it is as though my mum has placed things there for me. I spent two years after she died in a sort of cloud. You read about that happening in books and see it in films but you don’t feel it will actually happen to you. As I’ve progressed with my photography I now realise that she hasn’t gone. She’s there spiritually, pushing me somehow, telling me I’m doing the right thing.’

Luci now has the bit between her teeth and is making headway in turning her love of photography and art into a business.

‘I just love what I’m doing so much. If I had a lot of money I would just

Left: Luci Wilson with her dogs at Hollins Farm

Above: Luci’s photography


temple

Chris Alty FenCing

hedge lAyingFenCe ereCting

All FenCing work Covering the north eAst

01524 701335 / 07831711608

Experienced in all accountancy and taxation matterswithin the farming community

To arrange a free ‘no obligation’ chat call us on:Kendal: 01539 720526

Windermere: 015394 43148Sedbergh: 015396 20775

For a fast, efficient and friendly service.

We are pleased to be associated withSimon Temple and wish him every continued success.

Tel 01239 710 435www.badgerfacesheep.co.uk

We are pleased to be associated with Simon Temple and we wish him continued success for the future.

Badger FaceTORDDU • TORWEN

The Badger Face is a distinct variety of the Hardy Welsh Mountain breed and comes intwo colour patterns: Torddu and Torwen. Torddu sheep have a predominantly whitefleece with a black underside and black “badger” patterning on the face. Torwen isthe opposite to this with a black fleece with a white underside and white “badger”

patterning on the face. Will fatten off grass and the taste is superb. Popular in the show ring and crosses well with commercial breeds for the fat lamb market.

Simon temple is a connoisseur of red Polls; he knows almost everything there is to know about the now not so rare, rare breed and has been a member of the rare Breed Survival trust since its founding in 1973. He was also President of the red Poll cattle Society in 2007. Despite being born and raised on a farm Simon is a qualified barrister, and has been since 1977. From 1960, Simon’s parents had farmed at Yealand Hal Farm but Simon and his wife Sally originally lived in the village of galgate.

In 1985 Simon was tempted to go back to his childhood roots and bought Stockabank Farm. When it came to buying cattle to occupy his new land he says: “Although I knew I wanted to keep a rare breed of some sort, I was looking for something that would look nice in the field and be fairly easy to manage. And so I bought two in-calf Red Poll heifers from Adrian Darby at Kemmerton.”

Simon admits that his initial purchase was meant to fulfil his time as a “hobby” because he was still working as a barrister, but in 1998, when his health

took a turn for the worse and he had to take a substantial amount of time off work, Simon’s Red Polls provided him with much needed solace.

In 2001 Simon also took on the running of Yealand Hall Farm which he had previously managed with his sister, this farm stretches across 350 acres, whereas Stockabank Farm is more modest, boasting just over 30 acres.

Now, after many years of grading up his herd, and with some very selective purchasing, almost all of Simon’s 100 or so Red Polls are purebred: “Over the last few years I’ve used signet recording on all my stock and one of my heifers was recently noted to have the highest beef value of all recorded female Red Polls in the country.”

Stockabank Farm is also home to a small flock of 20 Badger Face Sheep, which Simon purchased as a gift for his Wife on her 50th Birthday. Simon opted for the Torddu variation of the breed and Sally, who was first attracted to the breed because of its striking looks, now uses the flock to train her sheep dogs for trialling.

an EXPERT in ThE REd POLL BREEdLUCiE CaRTER mEETs WiTh simOn TEmPLE aT sTOCKaBanK faRm in QUERnmORE, LanCasTER

It’s no surprise that the Red Polls are becoming increasingly popular, but it certainly hasn’t been an overnight development: “When I first started Red Polls were officially a rare breed. I used to send the bull calves down to Lancaster auction but they didn’t make anything because no one knew what they were. But over the years I’ve had people come to buy them from me directly and because the Red Poll beef is very good there’re now more people who finish the cattle to sell for meat.” Simon himself sells boxes of Red Poll Beef from the farm.

Red Polls are not just very good suckler cows: “Red Polls are originally a dual purpose cow; they milk really well

and they produce a good carcase. 80 years ago they were very popular as dairy cows before Friesians then Holsteins came in, but recently things have begun to come full circle because people are now crossing Red Poll bulls onto Holstein cows.”

Last year one of Simon’s heifers that he had used signet recording on was awarded the Red Poll championship at the Three Counties Show in Malvern, proving that his research and work into the Red Polls has definitely paid off.

Simon templeStockabank Farm & Yealand Hall Farm Quernmore, Lancaster tel: 01524 37695


butterfield

Wishing continued success to The Butterfields from W. Stapleton & Sons

W. S t a p l e t o n & S o n S

All Agricultural Contracting Work Undertaken

Tel: 01729 850 280 Mob: 07956 641 797Switchers Farm, Hellifield, Skipton

North Yorkshire, BD23 4JL

We are proud to beassociated with

Robert & Elaine Butterfield

Tithe Barn Veterinary Centre, Kirkby LonsdaleProviding a comprehensive total farm animal service.

Fertility, nutrition, mastitis, worming and health planning adviceincluding NWDA health initiative and Dairy Co Mastitis plans.

Telephone: 015242 7122124hr emergency service

Also at: Riverside Business Park, Natland Road, Kendal, LA9 7SXPart of the XLVets Group

[email protected]

www.xlvets.co.uk

where else is there to go in the dairy showing world for the Butterfields after their success this year?

That may well be the question Robert and Elaine Butterfield of Linghaw Farm, High Bentham, are asking after taking the Holstein championship and the Supreme Interbreed title at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show at the NEC in Birmingham in September.

They had already tasted the sweetness of victory with their Holstein Championship and Supreme Interbreed win at the Great Yorkshire – the only Yorkshire exhibitors to win an interbreed title at Harrogate.

‘We were cutting down with our showing, but when you get two cows as good as we have at the moment you just keep going,’ says Robert.

Saxelby Goldwyn Rose has been this year’s all-conquering cow and they purchased her, along with Saxelby Shottle Marie from Andrew Stafford in Leicestershire.

‘We didn’t give a lot for them, so it’s not as though we have gone out and bought success. We just saw their potential and developed them. The judge at the Great Yorkshire summed her up as a good, balanced, complete cow and we had a classifier on the farm recently who said she was like the true type model, not the biggest of cows but very well balanced and with a good udder.’

Saxelby Goldwyn Rose also took the Junior Championship at the Great Yorkshire in 2008, followed up with Reserve Champion at Harrogate last year, along with wins at Penrith, Garstang, Westmorland and Agriscot in 2009. In addition, just prior to the Great Yorkshire she was Reserve Champion at the Royal Highland, remarkably after only having calved

10 days prior to the show.

Saxelby Shottle Marie has been somewhat in the shadow of Saxelby Goldwyn Rose this year but won at Penrith. She had only calved the week before the Great Yorkshire so Robert and Elaine left her at home whilst they were in Harrogate. Her time will surely come too.

It is only the second time the Butterfields have had a breed champion at the Great Yorkshire having started their showing career back in 1984.

‘Our only previous success at the show was back in 1989 with a cow we bred ourselves – Ingleview Buttergirl 47. She was the reason we started showing, because we knew just how good she was,’ says Elaine. ‘But this year’s competition was really hot with 106 black and whites altogether.

It seems that this year’s wins have reinvigorated the Butterfields’ showing tendencies, although they are not counting any proverbial chickens.

‘In dairying you cannot guarantee anything, but we do have a few more good prospects and we have been showing another young cow which came from Ireland. We have a lot of good heifers right now.’

They are also hoping to have Goldwyn Rose calve a couple of weeks earlier next year so that she stands a better chance of taking the breed championship at Edinburgh, as well as replicating her achievement at the Great Yorkshire. That is one of the things that perhaps marks them out as serious competitors in the show rings, one year’s showing may be over but they are already well into planning for next year.

Whilst most dairy farmers make the

BEsT EvER YEaR fOR BUTTERfiELdsChRis BERRY TaLKs WiTh ROBERT & ELainE Of LinGhaW faRm, hiGh BEnTham

lion’s share of their income from their milk cheques Robert and Elaine lean more heavily towards sales of dairy cattle. Success at shows can only help them even more.

‘Our business is more to do with pedigree stock. We milk about 115 all year round, which goes to ARLA, and calve around 170-180 a year. We sell at Lancaster, Bentham and Carlisle mainly.’

Their herd average is around 9600 litres and Saxelby Goldwyn Rose produced 12,375 litres as a second calver. Their diet regime is predominantly silage and their cows are out from late April/early May until the end of September.

Robert’s father, Richard, moved to Batty Farm (next door to Linghaw) in 1947 and purchased Linghaw in 1973. He started with Dairy Shorthorns and moved on to Friesians in the 1960s before they moved on to Holsteins. Milking began at Linghaw in 1979.

Today the farm is part-owned, part-tenanted over its 330 acres which is all down to grass.

Sandra, Pamela and Kathryn are Robert and Elaine’s three daughters. Sandra is area supervisor for CIS, whilst Pamela and Kathryn run Flowerfields – a florists and fruit and veg business which started in 2003. Son in law James Atkinson, Sandra’s husband works on the farm and local girl Louise Robinson helps out too.

Watch out for the Butterfields next year! Is it possible for Saxelby Goldwyn Rose to repeat her success of this year?

robert & elaine Butterfield ingleview Holsteins, Linghaw Farm, High Bentham La2 7aH tel: 01524 261047 Mob: 07752 510905 email: [email protected]

Robert & Elaine Butterfield at High Bentham


competition

This edition we want all you budding Picassos out there to get your creative caps on. For your chance to win, simply send us a drawing or painting of your favourite cow and send it to Lucie Carter, the FarmersMart Magazine, Office 1, 40 Stockhill Road, Greengates, Bradford BD10 9AX.

All the entries will be categorised into age groups; 0-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15 years. Competition winners will receive a Case IH Puma 210 and a New Holland T7060 Model Tractor.

Congratulations to Thomas Crichton from Kirkrigg, Whitehaven in Cumbria who won our Summer Kids Corner competition.

£50 m&s vOUChER COmPETiTiOnCongratulations to Mrs E Crichton from Rottington Hall, Whitehaven, Cumbria. The answers to our last competition were:

1) 1799

2) Martin Hare

3) Stockman of the Year

For your chance to win £50 worth of M&S vouchers just answer the following questions:

1) which award was David Martin of Lords Plain Farm awarded this year?

2) what is the name of the traditional butchers owned by the Sutcliffe family?

3) who is Kevin walker the main dealer for?

Send your answers by the 31st of January to:

the FarmersMart competition Unit 1, 40 Stockhill road greengates Bradford BD10 9aX

or email: [email protected]

and sinCE WE aRE fEELinG GEnEROUs….

For your chance to win a brand new copy of The Edwardian Farm, which tells the story of farming in Britain in the early twentieth century, please answer the following:

which breed society is Bernard Liddle president of?

Send your answer to the full address (See above)

OnE CLEaRLY nOT fOR ThE BOYs!

If you would like the chance to win a 2011 John Deere Calendar please read through our machinery section and answer the following question.

what kind of conditions is John Deere’s new XUV gator vehicle specifically designed for?

Send your answers to [email protected].

Congratulations to both Fiona Guthrie from Keslo and Kathleen Blott from Suffolk, who won our John Deere Summer competition. The answer was: 1. 1837.


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farmersmart autumn 2010

Documents

ax tel

editor chris berry tel

editor lucie carter

roots farm shop

worrying farm theft

years summer

little red marketing

yorkshire holstein