The North’s Number One Farming Guide Issue 22 | Late Spring 2011

HOLMFIRTH MARKET: ANNE BARUGH: STILL.

COMPETING WITH THE BIG BOYS! GOING STRONG.

THE LADDS CONTINUE TO KEEP £600 AND COUNTING.

IT IN THE FAMILY fOR YORKSHIRES.
YOUNG FARMERS.

HAPPY 40
Celebrating 40 years of the Limousin Cattle Society
th

www.farmers-mart.co.uk
 contents

Welcome
News ...................................... 4-8 Nesbitt ............................... 52-53
Belmont Regency ....................... 9 Graham Edwards ..................... 53
Showtime ........................... 10-12 Young Farmers ......................... 54
I thought I would never hear myself
Limousin Cattle Society ............ 13 Robson Tractors Open Day ..56-57 say this but the weather has been
Sawley and District Lumley ...............................58-59 beautiful recently, but of course
you guys need the rain so let’s
Auction Mart....................... 14-15 Great Newsome Brewery .....60-61 hope we get some heavy showers
Holmfirth Auction Mart . ...... 16-18 Rising Sun Farm . ................62-64 throughout May so that you can
Ritchie ..................................... 19 Brian Robinson ...................66-67 sort out all those acres of dry land
and thirsty crops!
Donaldson ..........................20-22 West Nubbock ....................68-69
This issue is yet again another
BASF ....................................... 23 Field to Fork . ...................... 70-73 busy one that covers a variety of
Ladds................................. 24-27 Bolster Moor Farm Shop ...... 74-75 interesting agricultural features.
Ann Barugh’s is one feature in
Ben Marsden ......................28-30 Hazard . .............................. 76-77
particular that might catch your
Barugh .................................... 31 Marwood ................................. 78 eye; this lady is a force to be
Garrowby Estate Farm ......... 32-33 Neil Blyth ................................ 79 reckoned with as she continues to
Managing Director/ farm at the grand age of 86! See
Editor Fitzsimon ............................34-35 Green Farm Health ................... 80
page 31 to read her story.
Simone Gallon Quattro .................................... 36 Heath ...................................... 81
Another subject that we here at
Tel: 01274 610 101
Yorkshire Generators ................ 37 Jeffrey ..................................... 82 FarmersMart are 100% behind is
simone@farmers-mart.co.uk
Weatherhead ......................38-39 Dairy ....................................... 83 the on-going saga between Ken
CONSULTANT Editor Jacksons and DEFRA. After a 13-
Chris Berry Willoughby . ........................40-41 Fawcett ..............................84-85 month-long dispute over whether
Tel: 0113 2643 645 Watson ...............................42-44 Property .............................86-87 or not his prized bull Boxster had
chris@farmers-mart.co.uk Machinery . .........................45-48 Competition ............................. 88 TB, Ken has won his appeal.
FarmersMart would like to wish
ASSISTANT Editor Brockhills of Yorkshire .............. 49 Farming People ........................ 89 Ken and all the Jackson family
Lucie Carter
Handley .............................. 50-51 Contractors Guide .................... 90 the best but sadly I don’t think we
Tel: 01274 610 101
have heard the last of this. Please
lucie@farmers-mart.co.uk
see page 7 for more details. As we
Sales Manager/ go to print DEFRA now intend to
SUBSCRIPTIONS pursue the matter further.
Ben Walton On a more positive note a big
Tel: 01274 610 101 congratulations goes to our very
ben@farmers-mart.co.uk own Chris Berry and his band the
ADVERTISING Account Singing Farmers. As this issue goes
Manager to print Chris and the rest of the
Nicola Robson band are receiving a special award
nicola@farmers-mart.co.uk from RABI. See page 11 for more
Damien Downing details.
damien@farmers-mart.co.uk p34-35 p58-59 Another big thank you goes to all
Feature Editors you farmers featured in this edition
Jennifer Mackenzie, Chris Berry, for allowing us to come and see you
Harold Woolgar during your hectic lambing time; I
know it has not been easy.
Design
Our summer edition is out just
James Ockelford
before The Great Yorkshire Show,
The FarmersMart so if you are interested in featuring
40 Stockhill Road, Greengates in our biggest issue of the year just
Bradford, BD10 9AX give me a ring.
Tel: 01274 610 101 We’ll see you at the shows
Fax: 01274 621 730
www.farmers-mart.co.uk Kind Regards,
We mail to over 10,000 industry contacts with an Simone
approximately readership of 30,000 throughout
Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Cumbria,
p60-61 (simone@farmers-mart.co.uk)
County Durham, Northumberland,Berwickshire,
Roxburghshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

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FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 

 news

British Wool Launch Photographic Competition

The British Wool Marketing Board
has joined forces with the National
Federation of Young Farmer’s Clubs
(NFYFC) to launch a photographic
competition to represent the origin
of wool.
The winning entry will be displayed
within the ‘Wool Modern’ Wool
Exhibition to be held in London
during September as part of the
Campaign for Wool’s 2011 Wool
Week promotions. The closing date
for competition entries is the 7th
August 2011 and the overall winner
will be invited to attend the opening
of the Wool Exhibition with four club
members to the value of £500.
www.britishwool.org.uk

Indespension & Hudson combine range of trailers is built for today’s

For many years Indespension &
Hudson Trailers have strengthened
the trailer industry by leading the
way in manufacturing commercial
and livestock trailers that are at the
forefront of innovation & technology.
The Directors of both companies are
delighted to announce that as of May
1st 2011 Hudson Livestock Trailers
will be manufactured by Indespension
at their factories in Lancashire.
Indespension will be responsible
for all sales in mainland UK and
Europe, while Hudson Trailers (NI)
Ltd will continue to market Hudson
Trailers together with the complete
Indespension parts & trailer range,
from their base in Armagh in
Northern Ireland.
Product innovation has always
been paramount in the design of
the Hudson Livestock range; the
combination of this and Indespension’s
manufacturing know-how signals
some exciting times ahead.
Hudson’s knowledge of the agricultural
industry gives them a unique insight
into the requirements of the farming
community. Combine this with safety,
reliability and value for money, this
exacting demands. They fit neatly
within the Indespension customer
program to provide a complete towing
package.
Hudson now plan to increase its
distribution network and set up some
new independent dealers, as well as
adding support to the existing ones in
the UK & EEC.
For more information email:
Arwel.Davies@indespension.co.uk

BBC Local Radio vital to rural areas says CLA

Widely discussed proposals that the
BBC is considering reducing its local
radio output to two shows a day
(breakfast and drive time) have been
described by the CLA in the North
as a potentially serious setback to
communications in the countryside.
The Association believes that for many
people in rural areas BBC local radio
can be a lifeline, as well as a source
of information and entertainment
that commercial radio or networked
national content would struggle to fill.
Douglas Chalmers, Director of CLA
North, said: “If the proposals as
reported were to go ahead, there
would be a huge danger that many
people, often the more isolated,
would lose their information source.
Countywide stations such as Cumbria
and Lancashire are the first port of
call for many during an emergency,
for local news, weather and traffic
news, and they fulfil this role well.
often at very short notice. I cannot informed decisions, and realise the
imagine Gabby Logan doing ‘Lamb importance of their various services.”
Bank’. We cannot tell the BBC where
they should make their cuts, but
we can make sure that they make For more visit www.cla.org.uk
Many in rural areas cannot depend on
a reliable internet connection, and of
course in times of crisis with no power
radio is often the only medium still
working, in cars, tractors or via battery
or clockwork models.
“The media is already in a state of
flux, with local papers closing, TV
news being centralised and local news
becoming increasingly urban-centric.
So much for localism and meeting
local needs as and when they occur,

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 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 news

Launch of new fungicide ‘in touch’ with

could be ideally timed for
wheat growers
A new generation cereal fungicide
being launched for this season
could be arriving at an ideal time
to help UK wheat growers respond
to current high grain prices, says its
manufacturer Seguris.
Seguris, from Syngenta, is a new,
next-generation fungicide based on
the company’s IZM (isopyrazam)
active ingredient technology.
Now, with feed wheat around £160/
t for 2011 harvest, its spring launch
could be particularly timely, says
Syngenta technical manager Stephen
Williams. That is especially so given
recent changes in the key wheat
diseases of Septoria and rust which
have taken place, he adds, changes
which bring additional challenges for
growers.
“Seguris combines the advanced
double-binding properties of IZM
(which provides long-lasting and
potent disease control by binding
strongly to both the leaf surface and
the fungus) in a co-formulation with
the fungicide epoxiconazole,” Mr
Williams explains.
Stephen williams
“In this way, it provides a powerful,
single-product solution against the
major wheat diseases of Septoria
tritici, yellow rust and brown rust.
More significantly, compared with
current fungicide strategies, Seguris
has given yield increases of up to 0.8
t/ha over a strobilurin + triazole based
programme during its development,
and up to 2 t/ha over where triazole
alone was used. Even at lower
grain prices, these increases are
worthwhile. But at higher prices they
look particularly interesting,” he says.
www.syngenta-crop.co.uk
the latest technology
Tong Peal has added a suite of
technical advancements to its
allows operators to store settings
in the machine’s memory. The
2011 range of machinery. speed and direction of rollers
As one of the UK’s leading designer and conveyors can be changed
and manufacturer of handling and at the touch of a button to any
sorting equipment for the vegetable combination of pre-determined
industry is now offering touch adjustments, programmed for
screen controls, memory settings, specific crop conditions and
email or text alerts and remote cleaning requirements. With
standard controls users would need
diagnostics across its range.
to manually adjust each component
“Traditional ‘stop and go’ controls
to change settings whereas with
are still offered on all machines, but
touch screen technology, users can
there are considerable advantages
simply set the machine once and
to embracing our new technology-
store that particular combination.
driven options,” says Edward Tong,
Operations Director at Tong Peal.
As well as touch screen control, www.tongpeal.co.uk
Tong Peal’s control system now
Masstock SMART brings Countryfile’s
Adam Henson to Bishop Burton
For the second year running the
Masstock SMART Farm Exhibition
has drawn hundreds of farmers and
food producers to Bishop Burton
College.
The event, which was launched last
year, gave more than 600 farmers the
chance to see displays of the latest
agricultural machinery and meet those
companies conducting vital research this before and we could understand
and development in the UK. why it’s full,” said Adam. “It’s really
an incredible place and the principal
This year the event included a
is an inspirational lady with excellent
programme of seminars with speakers
managers who all buy into the ethos
such as Countryfile’s Adam Henson,
of the place.”
GM expert Dr Julian Little, Irish farming
journalist Andy Doyle and Masstock’s As well as taking part in a seminar for
own Colin Lloyd and Philip Marr. farmers during which he spoke about
his farm and his television career,
The rare breeds farmer who has been
Adam also took part in a Q&A session
presenting the BBC’s flagship rural
with students, alongside his fellow
affairs programme since 2001, was at
speakers GM expert Dr Julian Little
the College to speak to farmers and
and journalist with the Irish Farmers
students as part of the second annual
Journal Andy Doyle.
Masstock SMART Farm Exhibition.
“When we drove down the drive I
just said ‘wow’. College’s weren’t like www.bishopburton.ac.uk

Specialising in Used Agricultural Equipment

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Kuhn Fc 313 Lift Control, Mower Conditioner - 2005 POA

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FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 

 news
£1 MILLION AVAILABLE... ANY TAKERS?
More than £1 million is available
for Yorkshire and Humber’s farmers
and growers to help them improve
the competitiveness of their
business through skills and business
development over the next year.
LandSkills Programme Manager,
Julie Hamilton, said: “LandSkills
has been vitally important to
farmers and growers in Yorkshire
and Humber. Over the last two
years close to 10,000 LandSkills
VICTORIA’S DRIVE TOWARD SUCCESS
Victoria
Forsyth
21-year-old Victoria Forsyth from
Leigh, Merseyside, stands out
as a hugely enthusiastic young
female famer who has just been
named Lantra’s Women and Work
 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
events have supported more than
4,750 of the region’s farmers,
foresters and growers. These
workshops and discussion groups
really help businesses improve
their professionalism and their
sustainability within the local
economy, and I am thrilled that we
can continue to help them develop.”
David Hugill, Chair of the LandSkills
Industry Advisory Board, said: “At
a time when food security regularly
Agriculture Learner of the Year.
Since 2006, the Women and Work
programme helps women develop
their skills and progress their careers
in industries where women are
under-represented.
Working on a 900-acre arable farm
isn’t a job for Victoria Forsyth, it’s
a way of life and it’s one she is
enormously proud of. “I was brought
up on a farm until I was eight,” says
Victoria, “and I’ve wanted to get
back and work on one ever since.
It’s in my blood.”
dominates world headlines, it is
great to know that these hardworking
businesses will continue to be
supported, receiving funding to get
the training and updating they
need for business success. This
programme has already invested
£1.6 million into these businesses,
and we are pleased to continue
offering this support.”
Julie continued: “Farmers, foresters
and growers need to act now if they
Victoria not only got her degree at
Myerscough College, near Preston,
but she followed in her dad’s
footsteps and went on to add another
string to her bow when she studied
for an NVQ Level 2 in welding.
“I’m really chuffed to get this award
too. It shows that at the end of the
day, as a woman you can equally do
a man’s job on the farm but if you
really want to do well go and get
the qualifications to back up your
practical experience. That way you’ll
stand out even more.”
sEE PAGE 37 FOR MORE DETAILS
want their share of the £1 million for
funding. It’s not too late to increase
your skills and help your business
thrive in these difficult financial
times.”
Find out more or to find out
if you are eligible, visit www.
lantra.co.uk/LandSkills-YH. For
more information on Lantra
please visit www.lantra.co.uk.
Lyndsay Bird, Lantra Women and
Work Programme Manager said,
“Victoria has really taken on the
spirit of this programme. She is a
great example of how training can
develop your skills and open great
career opportunities, which is what
this programme is designed to
achieve.”
For more information visit
www.lantra.co.uk/Women-and-Work
 news

SOUTH YORKSHIRE
FARMER CHALLENGES
DEFRA RULING
KEN JACKSON OF FORLORN HOPE FARM
IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE GIVES US HIS
ACCOUNT OF EVENTS
Unbeaten in the show ring Champion
Blonde Bull Hallmark Boxster
passed a routine Tuberculosis (TB)
skin test in March last year; but
just one month later his life was
put under threat after he tested
positive to a blood test.
This test however was not carried
out correctly as animal health
technicians had mixed two of his
blood samples on the farm to obtain
one full tube. My wife Anita and I
HALLMARK Boxster AWAITS HIS FATE
challenged the result and offered to
pay for the test to be retaken. After
several months of discussion the a closed herd and are keen to
Department for Environment, Food have the test carried out as soon
and Rural Affairs (Defra) officials as possible. All of these pedigree
at Leeds decided that the samples cattle will have to be put into the
had not been mixed and issued a food chain if the restrictions are not
slaughter notice for Boxster which lifted soon because the demand
forced us into taking legal action. for pedigree bulls remains high
Now after a long, arduious 13 throughout spring, but will surely
month-long legal battle with Defra diminish over the next few months.
we have won our case. And it was On the 14th of April Justice
announced to the press on Friday McCombe ordered that Defra pay
the 6th of May that Defra would not all the costs involved with an initial
appeal against a High Court verdict £15,000 to be paid within 14 days,
that Hallmark Boxster’s blood test which we are still yet to receive.
was in fact carried out incorrectly, We now find ourselves with legal
and that he should be treated as bills for several times this amount
though he hadn’t been given an left to settle and are in the process
official TB test. Boxster is now of accumulating the total costs
waiting to be retested as his true incurred.
TB status remains unknown, and
Without our tremendous team
although the judge insisted we treat
working with us we’re sure that
him as if the test had never taken
none of this would have been
place, we have kept him isolated
made possible, and so we would
from the herd until we get the all-
like to say a huge thank you to our
clear from a properly performed test
lawyers Barker Gotelee of Ipswich,
carried out according to the policy.
Barrister Dan Stiliz and Professor
We don’t like to think about losing Paul Torgerson. We would also like
him after all we have been through to thank our family, friends and the
but we do have to face up to the general public for their continued
possibility that it might happen. Our support.
herd has been clear from TB since
It has been a very long year but we
the 4th Jan after having passed two
had to stand by our principles. We
consecutive tests, (all animals on
believe that if something is not done
the farm with exception to Boxster
correctly then it should be rectified.
have passed seven TB tests in
total) we therefore do not want to
jeopardize its status by returning Ken Jackson,
Boxster to the herd until we are Forlorn Hope Farm
sure it is safe to do so. Walden Stubbs
At present we have the best crop of Doncaster DN6 9BT
bulls we have ever had, all waiting
to be taken to the pedigree sales. EDS note: All the best.
Until Boxster is tested we remain

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 

 news

Auction marts set the trend

Livestock markets around the
country are reporting unprecedented
prices for stock with liveweight
prices driving up deadweight prices
according to reports from the
Livestock Auctioneers Association.
“We have seen record prices being
achieved in the last few weeks
with livestock markets leading the
way in achieving these record-
breaking figures,” said Chris Dodds,
Executive Secretary of the Livestock
Auctioneers Association.
The figures have been confirmed by
a recent AHDB/EBLEX report which
shows beef prices going through the
300p/kg level, 26p or 9% above the
same time last year.
Stephen Aitken of Darlington
Farmers Auction Mart said: “We are
seeing a week on week increase in
prices with strong home and export
demand. Prices are increasing
across prime and fat stock with
interest both from Scotland and the
south. The demand for red meat
from the consumer is high”.
“This is good news for the auction
system. It shows that it provides a
service both to buyers and sellers,
setting a market price in response
to supply and demand quickly and
efficiently,” added Mr Dodds.
The news from the sheep sector
is the same. Philip Walton of
Longtown Auction Market confirmed
the strong demand for hoggs with an
active export market. “We are selling
strongly into France and overall we way in setting prices and responding
are seeing record prices for lambs. to customer demand and providing
Good ewes are also achieving over the best prices to its customers. We
£100 per head.” have a growing customer base and
revitalised competition.”
Commenting on the situation, Chris
Dodds said, “The market speaks for
itself, auction marts are leading the www.laa.co.uk

The Main Road to a Quality Service

For most farmers and agricultural
contractors, storing oil for vehicles
or machinery can often prove
troublesome especially with the
recent introduction of the new
Biodiesel, but with the advice
and assistance from of A1 Tank
Services Ltd these worries can be
eliminated.
A1 Tank Services Ltd are one of the
leading installers and suppliers of oil
storage tanks in the North East of
England (nationwide deliveries are
available) and install and supply
oil storage tanks to the Industrial,
Commercial and Domestic markets.
The company can offer its customers
a range of services from supply
only of tanks, fuel management
systems for multiple users and a
complete tank replacement service.
All engineers, installation teams
and surveyors are OFTEC OFT600A
qualified and can if required carry
out a full replacement service. A1
Tank Services are registered with
an Environment Agency Section 62
Waste Carriers Licence in order to
be able to dispose of your old tank
and any waste/contaminated fuel
you may have.
As approved “Accredited Installers”
for both Titan and Atlas Tanks and
many leading Oil Companies and
Insurance companies throughout the
region you can have total confidence
in our service.
For more information call John
Marshall on 01748 831929
or visit www.a1tanks.com

 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


Obtain the most
competitive
insurance rates
Brett Hannon, Managing Director
of Belmont Regency Insurance
Services explains...
Saving on the insurance premium
you pay does not mean sacrificing
the cover you have. Some years ago
there was little choice as to where
to go for alternate quotes as many
direct insurers were not interested
in farm vehicles or in providing
adequate cover for these vehicles.
For instance a number of companies
who are not involved with the
agricultural market to any great
extent, may, on motor cover, limit use
for farm purposes to the policyholder
only even though cover may be for
any driver.
Nowadays there are a number of
brokers nationwide who specialise
in farm insurance by providing both
farm, motor and household cover.
They deal with many farmers, if not
predominantly with farmers. They
are likely to be fully conversant with
the cover provided with the various
insurers in this market, and are able
to provide both initial and ongoing
advice; no offshore call centres, no
having to key your policy number
into the phone every time you ring
belmont regency
with a query! You will generally
know who you are dealing with and
usually deal with the same people
or indeed person for many years to
come.
Furthermore a broker has the ability
to research the market and is
therefore able to change insurers at
future renewals if it is felt beneficial
to so do as well as obtaining
competitive premiums at inception.
I look on the role of a specialist
agricultural broker in the same vein
as a GP, having a good working
knowledge of the insurance industry
with access to specialists in various
fields. They will get to know you
and your business over the years
and hopefully together build up
an ongoing mutually beneficial
relationship.
Visit www.belmontregency.com
for more information or
call 01332 362367.
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 
 showtime
May
Otley Show: 21st Otley Showground
Beef Expo: 26th
Hexham Auction Mart
Carrington Rally : 29th-30th
Northumberland County Show:
31st Hexham Auction Mart
June
Yorshire County Show: 5th
Nidderdale Showground
NSA North Sheep: 8th
West Nubbock Farm
Honley Show: 11th
Open Farm Sunday: 12th
www.farmsunday.org
Todmorden Show: 18th
Beef Expo 2011 to host expanded National Spring Spectacular Show
Beef Expo 2011, organised by
the National Beef Association
with Lloyds TSB as the main
sponsor, will this year play host
to an expanded National Spring
Spectacular Show (NSSS), with
unhaltered prime cattle classes
joining the usual haltered classes.
These additional unhaltered
classes will take place at Newark
10 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
North Yorkshire County Show:
19th Otterington Hall
Lincolnshire Show: 22nd – 23rd
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
Livestock Market on Wednesday
25 May. The haltered classes will
be staged at Beef Expo 2011 at
the Nottinghamshire and Newark
Showground on Thursday 26 May,
with a prize pot of in excess of
£8000 on offer across the two
days.
The new classes are designed to
recognise the high quality cattle
Ryedale Show:
26th Welburn Park,
Limousin Open Day: 29th
Messrs Ridley at Hesket Newmarket
Border Union Show: 29th – 30th
Springwood Park, Kelso
National Limousin Show: 30th
Borderway Mart
Cockermouth: 30th The Fitz
August
Powburn Show: 2nd
Alnwick, Northumberland
Cartmel Show: 3rd
Cartmel Racecourse
Bakewell Show: 3rd- 4th
Emley Show: 6th Factory Farm
Dumfries Show: 5th- 6th Park Farm
produced week in, week out by
commercial producers across the
UK, explains Newark Livestock
Market auctioneer and NSSS chief
steward Paul Gentry.
“There will be unhaltered classes for
single steers, single heifers, single
prime bulls and single barren cows,
with no weight limit in any of the
classes and an overall championship
BE PART OF THE FUN AT HONLEY SHOW!
Honley Show is one of the most
prestigious, best attended and well
respected rural shows in the country.
This year the event will be celebrating
its 90th anniversary and has pulled
out all the stops to ensure 2011’s
show will be the best since it began
in 1921.
The show will be held on Saturday
11th June at Farnley Tyas Showground,
Moor Lane, one of the region’s best
venues situated in the beautiful
countryside near Huddersfield. The
stunning setting allows visitors and
exhibitors alike the opportunity to
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
Nidderdale Show: 19th
awarded. These cattle will then be
offered for sale in our weekly prime
beef sale, offering exhibitors the
chance to trade at the UK’s leading
prime beef centre.”
For more information call 01636
676 741 or email enquiries@
newarklivestocksales.co.uk
seep up the atmosphere and enjoy a
range of activities, agricultural events,
country crafts, family entertainment
and competitions.
A traditional, yet unique event, Honley
Show attracts over 10,000 visitors
each year. It is the perfect showcase
of all that is best in the world of
British farming, so make sure you go
along and join in the fun!
For more information on the show
visit www.honleyshow.co.uk

Singing Farmers
receive RABI
special award
When the Singing Farmers concerts
first made their debut in 2004 with
four concerts all around Yorkshire
little did the people involved know
that they would become such a big
hit amongst the farming and rural
community.
Eight years on and the concerts
have not only raised vital funds for
the Royal Agricultural Benevolent
Institution, they have also become
an annual social gathering and have
brought about greater profile than
ever for the charity.
Just as Farmers Mart was going to
press the team that is the Singing
Farmers were heading down to
Oxford to pick up a special award
from the charity in recognition of
their services.
The Singing Farmers 2011 concerts
were once again a huge success this
year with concerts held in Skipton,
Malton, Brandesburton and Leyburn.
The group is made up of Chris Berry
Top row from left:
Tony Richards, Philip Holden,
Charles Marwood,
Lloyd Lockwood
Bottom row from left:
Ken Jackson, Chris Berry
(farming and rural journalist); Phillip
Holden (owner of farm supply shops
in the Dales); and farmers Ken
Jackson, Charles Marwood and Tony
Richards. They are complemented
by keyboard player Lloyd Lockwood.
‘Over the years, from our humble
beginning playing in front of 100
people in Hawes in 2004 we have
developed into a real touring family,’
says Chris. ‘It’s nice of the RABI to
present us with this award, but it
is the concerts themselves that are
great fun. We all enjoy entertaining
our audiences so much and if you
haven’t been to one yet don’t miss
us next year!’
IT’S ALMOST
SHOWTIME!
The Driffield Agricultural Society
will be celebrating its 136th
Driffield Show on Wednesday,
20th July. The Driffield Show has
established itself over the years as
the highlight of the local calendar
and boasts an average footfall of
over 28,000 visitors throughout
the course of the day.
Every year the Society looks to
improve the content and quality
of the Driffield Show to ensure it
retains the prestigious reputation
that it currently has and, of
course, this years proves to be no
exception.
The relocation of the Livestock
Area in 2009 has made a vast
improvement to the Show, enabling
better viewing of the high calibre of
livestock that is attracted to exhibit
at the Show, and the extensive
improvements to vehicle access
to and from the Showground has
also made loading and unloading
of stock both quicker and safer.
Sited close to the Livestock Section
this year will be The Sheep Show.
The Sheep Show is a fun and
educational live show of sheep
breeds and shearing.
Trade space within the Fencing,
Foestry and Renewables Area has
proven to be exceptional this year
and this area will again incorporate
several demonstration areas offering
the opportunity for visitors to see
some of the big forestry equipment
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
SHOWTIME
such as the Wood-Mizer and tree
chipper in action together with the
chain saw sculptor.
This section will also be home to
the third Fencing and Landscape
News sponsored National Fencing
Competition. This competition
continues to go from strength to
strength and the Society is delighted
to have Simone and her team at
Fencing News/FarmersMart on
board coordinating the event which
creates a huge level of interest.
If you have been to the Driffield
Show we are sure you will want to
come again. If you haven’t been
before, come along for a fantastic,
good value, traditional day out,
we are confident you will not be
disappointed!
Driffield Show continues to be
fantastic value for money with
advance tickets now being available
to purchase at the discounted rate
of £10 for adults, £8 for senior
citizens, £4 for children plus in an
attempt to keep prices for families
down to an absolute minimum a
family ticket can be purchased in
advance for only £24. In addition
all car parking will remain free!
For more information on
the Driffield Show go to
www.driffieldshow.co.uk
or call 01377 257494
11
 showtime

IT’S ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW!

A giant ticket was used to launch
the start of ticket sales for the 2011
Great Yorkshire Show, England’s
premier agricultural event. Dates
for this year’s show are Tuesday
12th to Thursday 14th July and it
takes place at the Great Yorkshire
Showground, Harrogate.
The cream of the country’s livestock,
edge-of-the-seat displays, acres
of shopping opportunities and
countryside activities are just some
of the ingredients on the packed
timetable for 2011.
Event organisers, the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society, are expecting
more than 130,000 visitors over the
three days. Last year 131,382 people
came through the gates. With the
countryside firmly at its heart, it is a
shop window for the farming industry
and a great day out for all the family.
Honorary Show Director Bill Cowling
said: “We’re hugely proud of the
Great Yorkshire Show as a celebration
of the best of British farming. Interest
in food production has never been
greater, and we’re proud to provide
a national platform to celebrate
agricultural excellence. It is important
to reach those whose only connection
with farming is through the Great
Yorkshire Show, as well as raise
industry standards. And it’s a fun day
out, whether you’re interested in food,
fashion, flowers or farming.”
As well as the thousands of
animals competing for the coveted
championships rosettes, attractions
for this year include:
• The Yorkshire Volunteers Band
• F
 ashion shows with national
and regional designers
• M
 ale and female young farmer
modelling competition
• Cookery theatres
• International sheep shearing
competitions & the English
National Championships
• D
 emonstrations of country
skills; dry stone walling, fly
fishing, gundog training
• H
 undreds of stands for
plenty of shopping!

Tickets are now available online

or by calling the show offices
on 01423 541222, visit
Chief Executive Nigel Pulling and Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
of the Great Yorkshire Show launching the start of sales of tickets for more information.

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12 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY OUTLINES
40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
The British Limousin Cattle Society
has announced its plans for the 2011
year to mark the 40th Anniversary
of the Limousin breed in the United
Kingdom and the establishment of
the Society.
Speaking from the Society’s
headquarters at the National
Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, BLCS
Chairman, Jim Bloom, outlined
the special events and promotions
planned to celebrate the anniversary
year.
The centrepiece of the year will be
a Limousin Weekend of high profile
activity kicking off with a National
Limousin Open Day on Friday 29th
July at the Haltcliffe pedigree herd
of Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket
New Market, Wigton, Cumbria.
One of the UK’s foremost Limousin
pedigree herds numbering 100 head,
the Ridleys have bred both of the
highest priced pedigree beef animals
ever sold at auction in the UK: the
100,000gns Haltcliffe Vermount
and the 72,000gns Haltcliffe DJ
respectively.
Visitors will be able to see the
influence of the herd’s famous stock
bull Sympa, along with Cloughhead
Umpire and more recent purchases
Procters Commander and Cloughhead
Ernie. The Haltcliffe herd was re-
established in 2001 post-FMD and
the breeding lines through the herd
of Renoncule, Romance, Perle and
Radio will be on show to visitors. The
Haltcliffe pedigree Texel flock of 100
ewes and the 280-strong Swaledale
hill flock will also be on display and
will be an integral part of the day.
The following day, Saturday 30th
July, a National Limousin Show
will be held in the new Exhibition
Hall at Harrison & Hetherington’s
Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Classes
and Championships will cover both
pedigree and commercial Limousin
cattle with the expectation being
that over 400 head of cattle will be
entered. In announcing the show,
Jim Bloom said, “the show schedule
is very inclusive with the emphasis
being firmly on progeny, production,
and commercially relevant cattle. A
National Limousin Show is a much
anticipated event and quite special in
the respect that it is not held every
limousin cattle society
year. It is sure to be a tremendous
spectacle”.
Judging the pedigree section is the
well-known Welsh breeder, Mr Aled
Edwards, who is also presently the
World Limousin President and a past
Chairman of the BLCS. Mr Edwards
farms at Home Farm, Cilycwm,
Llandovery, Carmarthenshire and
runs the 80 cow- strong Dyfri Herd.
With a wealth of Limousin judging
experience Mr. Edwards has previously
judged at the Royal Highland Show,
Southern Ireland’s Ploughing Match,
the French National Limousin Show,
and Carlisle Bull Sale.
The Commercial Cattle Judge is
Mr Alistair Graham, Madden Rd,
Tandragee, Co Armagh, N Ireland who
runs the Madden pedigree Limousin
herd numbering 60 cows. Also no
stranger to Limousin judging rings, Mr
Graham has previously judged at the
2006 Great Yorkshire Show, 2008
Royal Show and at Society bull sales
in Perth and Carlisle respectively.
He will also be judging the Limousin
classes this May at the Royal Ulster
Show.
As well as the Championship titles,
exhibitors will compete for a share of
the £20,000 prize fund with a £1000
prize for the respective Pedigree and
Commercial Champions on offer.
The Cheshire-based AI company,
Cogent Breeding Ltd, and IGENITY,
the DNA parentage and genomics
provider, have been announced as
mainline sponsors for the weekend.
In announcing the planned Limousin
events, Mr Bloom said: “The British
Limousin breed has come a long way
in a very short time and breeders
should be very proud of its sustained
position as the UK’s Number One
beef breed. This planned weekend
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
will celebrate that but the focus will
be on showcasing the commercial
attributes of the breed. The Society
will use 2011 as a platform to build
from for the next ten years and will in
the year be announcing a sustained
programme of high level investment
in forward breed improvement plans
and initiatives.”
The weekend is expected to
attract a large crowd of pedigree
and commercial producers with a
domestic UK audience supplemented
by visitors from the Republic of
Ireland and Europe. The European
Limousin Federation, Eurolim, have
announced that they are organising
a visit around this weekend ensuring
further representation from a number
of European countries.
Other planned initiatives for the 40th
Anniversary year announced by the
BLCS include:
• A National Limousin Pedigree Herd
Competition to be judged in the
autumn. The overall herd winners
from competitions in each of the nine
Limousin regions around the UK will
go head-to-head in a judge off for
the one-off title of National Limousin
Pedigree Herd Champion 2011.
• In a special offer to mark the
anniversary year, non-member
purchasers at 2011 BLCS Collective
Sales will be offered free membership
of the BLCS for one year. This offer
will also be available to any non-
member in attendance at either
the National Limousin Open Day or
National Limousin Show.
Full details of the National Limousin
Open Day, National Limousin Show
and BLCS 40th Anniversary can
be found at www.limousin.co.uk
13
 sawley and district auction mart

Pateley Bridge on the up

Chris Berry talks with David and Judy Middlemiss
Ten years ago livestock markets
feared for their future. All were David and Judy Middlemiss
closed due to foot and mouth
regulations and those that had been
teetering on the brink for so long
could see they were staring into
an abyss. For the likes of Driffield,
Ripon, Stokesley, Masham and
Penistone it was either the end or
the end was soon to come.
Pateley Bridge Livestock Market
(also known as Sawley & District
Farmers Auction Market) survived
where many commentators may
have judged otherwise based on
other small marts’ experiences.
Today husband and wife David
and Judy Middlemiss, who farm
at Ramsgill, operate as the mart’s
fieldsman and chairman of the four
directors. Judy also has a business
in property management and letting.
They tell of how close it was to going
the same way as some of the other
markets.
‘This market has had a five year
turnaround since virtually closing.

Everyone here has worked hard to
build it up in order to keep our little
market going. We’ve done it mainly
through diversifying to create more
money. We now have a car wash,
the café ‘Teacups’ and the fat cattle
and fat sheep collection centre in
addition to the livestock market
itself.’
Equestrian sales, farm machinery
the week for all visitors to the town
and has earned a reputation for its
prices, service and good food.
‘The market simply couldn’t survive
without us doing all the things we
are now doing,’ says Judy. ‘Livestock
numbers are down nationally and
we’re fighting to keep numbers up,
in order to do that we have had to
expand our area. Around here a lot

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Whatever your needs, we can help
to be run on a Sunday morning in
the near future are just three other
additional income streams for a
market that is also now making use
of its tourist location to attract new
income. ‘Teacups’ is open throughout
of farms have been sold and farmers
have quit. When that happens the
farm goes forever. Somebody comes
in to keep some horses. That has
happened particularly in this dale
amongst the cattle men. Because
of the work we are doing we are

For further information please contact:

Stuart Strike David Thomas Bill Pearson
Pateley Bridge Office Harrogate Office Thirsk Office
01423 711748 01423 525641 01845 522045
Charles Gill John Morton
Old Hall Farm, Church Lane, Esholt,
Ripon Office Leyburn Office Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 7RA
01765 603501 01969 623137
We are pleased to be associated with
Sawley & District Auction Mart and wish
Or visit our website at them continued success for the future

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14 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 sawley and district auction mart
lots to sell holding our own with numbers and
in fact slightly increasing, against
the national backdrop of falling
numbers.’
Cattle and sheep prices running at a
high level for quite some time now is
good news too, although David tells
of it causing a cash flow problem at
times.
‘It’s a boon for farmers but it does
create a cash problem for the mart.
There’s sometimes a bit of a gap
between paying the farmer on the
day and getting the money in.’
The fortnightly Saturday sales at
Pateley Bridge see somewhere
between 100-200 cattle going
through the sale ring with ewes and
how much? lambs at this time of the year. The
Easter sale saw over 250 cattle go
through.
‘Our collection centre operates
on Wednesdays and weekends.
The abattoirs seem to like having
stock that is available for them to
start killing on a Monday morning
before the other markets open.
The collection centre started off
with sheep and in prime time we
now deal with 2000 a week, along
with around 30 cattle. It’s gone
very well and is probably now one
of the biggest collection centres in
England.’
deep in thought
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
The split between turnover of the
livestock market and collection
centre is now around 50/50.
Last year Pateley Bridge Market also
played host to the AGM and national
breed sale of the British White Cattle
Society and both Judy and David are
keen to encourage more in the years
to come.
But they’re not resting on any
laurels.
‘We are happy with the way the
mart is operating generally,’ says
Judy. ‘But like any business we have
our various traumas.’
David puts the future success of the
mart very simply.
‘Markets like this are not going to
exist without the support of the local
farmers. It relies on them heavily. So
long as they are happy to maintain
their support we are all happy to
keep it going. The market does the
town a lot of good too. It brings in a
lot of additional trade.’
Livestock Auction Market
Bridgehouse Gate
Pateley Bridge
Yorkshire & The Humber
HG3 5HN
Phone: 01423 712032
15
 holmfirth auction mart

Quality equals
surprising prices
Chris Berry talks with Anthony Hobson and David Moxon
at Holmfirth Market
‘Our market can compete with
York, Selby and Bakewell. I think
people are surprised at how much
they can make for their stock here
at Holmfirth.’
These are the bold words of David
Moxon and Anthony Hobson, the
Auctioneer and Chairman of the
market which is currently enjoying
a very buoyant trade.
‘The market is keeping going very
nicely. We are fairly busy with
regular sales as well as special
shows and sales throughout the
year. It’s also a very well attended
mart that attracts good quality
livestock from as far afield as
Goole, York and below Sheffield,’
says David.
‘You have to do the job right in
this part of the country to compete
effectively and the sheep are as
good as you will find anywhere in
the UK.’
The bedrock of the market is still
its regular Tuesday livestock market
and that normally sees around 300-
400 sheep going through, along
with 40-50 store cattle.
‘We have a number of buyers
around the sale ring,’ says Anthony.
‘We don’t have any of the bigger
supermarkets directly but we have
a number of local buyers including
a local butcher who buys fat cattle
out of here that come back into
the café. The majority of smaller
farmers here aren’t Farm Assured
but it doesn’t matter to our buyers.
They know that what they are
buying here is quality stock.’
The farmers who bring stock to
Holmfirth Market could have a
50 mile round trip at least to go
anywhere else, so most are happy
to support their local mart.
‘This mart is still the meeting place
for the week for farmers. Here
they can not only trade their stock
successfully, they can also discuss
the way of the world.’
Anthony explains one of their
biggest problems in recent times as
facing up to EID tagging.
‘That has had to be a massive
investment for us, but we had no
choice but to do it. The set-up cost
was frightening and by the time
we include all the training and a
new member of staff that we have
needed it has probably cost us
around £10,000. That’s no good to
us here at all. As far as we know
we have gone to all this expense
at this end but there’s no checking
been done at the other end.’
The area around Holmfirth was
once densely populated with dairy
farms, but in common with many
other areas that is no longer the
case with many dairy farmers
having left the industry.
‘When a farm comes on to the
market in this valley it is carved up.
The house goes, the barn goes for
conversion and the fields are sold

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16 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
 holmfirth auction mart
Anthony Hobson and David Moxon
individually to the pony brigade,’
says Anthony. ‘When we do get
anything special coming in, such as
a dispersal sale of a dairy farm, I
text those within a 30 mile radius
that it might be worth their while
coming in and that seems to have
worked for our dairy sales and other
individual sales. It’s all about using
today’s technology to move us on.’
Tack sales and horse sales have
been an area where Holmfirth
Market has had some success over
the past ten years.
‘The horse trade has dropped off
now’, says Anthony. ‘Two to three
years ago a covered, good quality
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
cob could have made 1000 guineas,
now it is struggling to make 300-400
guineas and those who have held on
to their stock for the past 18 months
thinking the job would get better
have been disappointed. Recently
we had 18 horses presented for sale
one Saturday and sold just 10. A
decade ago it was a lucrative trade
and out of 50 horses presented on
the day we would sell 40.’
On a far more positive note the
Thursday evening sales of fur and
feather, which start at 6pm and
include 130-150 lots of poultry,
Continues page 18
17
 holmfirth auction mart
including fresh eggs, hatching and
sitting eggs, which originally started which do you like best?
once a month and then moved to
every fortnight during summer are
now being held every week. It’s
a phenomenon that David and
Anthony are very happy to see. So
are we going back to how farming
used to be?
‘People who are wanting to be
self supportive are coming to buy
themselves a few chickens, birds
and the odd pig or two. Then
they’ll send them to the local
slaughterhouse. We hadn’t sold pigs
for 15 years. In the recent past we
have had two litters come through
and there have been quite a few
buyers for them.’
David and Anthony believe that
the Tuesday market could still
survive on its own, with all of the
help given by staff on the day, but
they also understand that Thursday
evening’s sale and Saturday’s sale
of equestrian tack and horses,
which often offers up to 300 lots,
have added to the mart’s income.
‘We’ve kept the wheels on the cart
with the horse sales and we are
keen to trying all things. We now
have three car boot sales a year
and we’re always open to new
ideas. Quite a few of the people
who work here farm in their own
right and they know how important
it is to keep the market going.’
David is also a livestock haulier
and took up auctioneering when
there was no-one else to do it
many years ago. He stood in at
the time and he’s still there now.
Today he supplies quality stock on
his way in to the mart from farmers
out towards Selby, Goole and York
– and he takes a lot of the finished
stock to abattoirs.

Holmfirth Cattle Market Ltd

Woodhead Road
Holmfirth HD9 2PR

Tel: 01484 683 652 David selling crowd at holmfirth

18 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


Factory visit finalises customer’s
cattle handling system design
An advert in an agricultural journal
encouraging stock farmers to sign
up to Waitrose’s Cattle Connect
beef rearing scheme was the
starting point for beef and arable
farmer James Broadwith to rethink
his cattle system.
The Broadwith family have farmed
at Bedale, North Yorkshire for
several generations and after the
high feed prices of 2007 James
was keen to try and secure a more
guaranteed price for the finished
cattle. The potatoes from the farm
had already been contracted, which
allowed expansion and following the
successful contract with Waitrose/
Dovecote Park, the cattle enterprise
has doubled to 350 head finished
per year.
The Waitrose/Dovecote Park Cattle
Connect beef rearing scheme
ensures that farmers who provide
the supermarket with milk have the
opportunity to provide quality calves
into the meat chain. Waitrose,
who monitors the meat food chain
from conception to consumption to
ensure the highest quality of animal
ritchie
care and flavour, were looking for
Northern farmers to supply Northern
outlets.
James decided that an additional
building was needed to accommodate
the latest demands of stock handling
and feeding. To finalise the cattle
handling system and to ensure siting
and sizes would work, James visited
cattle handling specialist Ritchie at
their Forfar site. Local Ritchie agent
Peter Bowe and the Ritchie Area
Salesman had been very helpful James Broadwith
in selecting a suitable curved race
system but James wanted to meet
pens. Weighing is important as Ritchie cattle handling system will
the manufacturer and be reassured
with fresh calves ordered months out live its 25-year life expectancy.
that the system was going to be the
before reared stock are sold, James Having investigated several other
best design possible to fit into the
needs to be aware of how cattle are options prior to ordering, so far he’s
space available. Ritchie designers
performing and cannot afford to have well pleased with Waitrose and
finalised the design to include a
buildings under or overstocked. Ritchie.
double width animal race with
moving pen gates so stock of 600 Once the animals get used to being
kilos could be handled as safely as held in the crate for treatment or
Full details of the range of
those of 150 kilos. weighing they remain calm and less
equipment can be obtained
stressed, as they are not chased
Daily live weight gains provide from David Ritchie (Implements)
around or herded unnecessarily.
confidence in the balanced food Ltd. Call 01307 462271
ration and animals can be selected The careful planning of the whole or visit www.ritchie-uk.com
for slaughter or fattening with divert beef-rearing unit is reaping rewards for more information.
gates directing animals into holding and James is confident that the
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 19
 donaldson

SISTERS ARE DOING IT

FOR THEMSELVES!
WE TALK TO siblings KATRINA AND HANNAH DONALDSON
Its not often you come across a
pair of farming sisters who, rather
then following in their parent’s
footsteps, choose to form a name for
themselves in their own right.
Katrina Donaldson aged 20 and
Sister Hannah aged 15 have
always been interested in farming,
but unlike their parents Roger and
Carol have developed a real flair for
showing their stock and competing
in prestigious events across the
North of England.
The Donaldson Sisters, along with
younger Brother Harry (10) have lived
at Hazel House Farm in Huby near
York with their parents since 1997.
The farm occupies both commercial
beef cattle that are fattened for
slaughter and commercial pigs and
sheep, again which are bred and then
all the progeny are fattened.
Katrina tells us, “We are a beef hannah, harry and katrina

unit rather then a breeding unit; we too.

fatten commercial bred beef cattle.
We get cattle in all year round really
depending on what my Dad wants,
but when the time comes Hannah
and I go out and see what we like.
I’d like to think that we’ve developed
an eye for it now from many years
spent watching, learning and gaining
hands-on experience”
Hazel House Farm stretches across
500 acres of land and has grown
since 1997 into an extremely
successful commercial holding, but
thanks to the sisters’ work in recent
years the Donaldson name is now
associated with award-winning stock
Katrina’s interest in showing grew
after she spent much of her teenage
years competing with her neighbour’s
dairy cattle. It wasn’t until 2006
however that Katrina took it upon
herself to show beef cattle fattened
on-site at Hazel House.
She continues, “Mine and Hannah’s
first rosette success was with a British
Blue Steer known as ‘Bertie’ who
received many rosettes throughout
the year. Then in 2009 we had Roxy
and Martha, a Limousin Heifer and
a Charollais Heifer; Martha received
first prize at a few of the smaller
shows including North Yorkshire

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AGRICULTURAL STEEL FRAMED BUILDING SPECIALISTS
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With over 15 years of experience in the Agricultural

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We are pleased to be associated with
The Donaldson Family of Hazel House Farming
and we wish them continued success for the future.
Holly Farm, Kirby Sigston, Northallerton
North Yorkshire DL6 3TB
Tel. 01609 883447
Fax. 08445 861894

20 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


County and Eastrington Agricultural
Show. Last year six of our stock
were given rosettes at all shows we
attended.”
Although the rosette recognition
means a lot to the Donaldson sisters,
they both agree that the prize itself
isn’t the most rewarding thing about
showing.
“Without a doubt the best feeling is
when our stock, which is obviously
just from the fat shed, stands above
cattle that have cost thousands,
whereas ours has only cost in the
hundreds,” Katrina explains. “That’s
where our pride comes in. I think
there’s more fun in buying one cheap
and getting 2nd prize than there is in
spending thousands to win it.”
To avoid spending thousands whilst
showing commercial stock, the
Donaldson sisters leave the wheeling
and dealing of the auction mart to
their Dad and John Oliver and chose
the best stock from what they have
on-site.
Katrina explains, “We don’t go out
and buy a show beast ourselves but
we tend to go into the sheds and
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
donaldson
select the best from what we’ve got.
We specifically look for something
that is stylish and that shows good
confirmation throughout.”
For younger sister Hannah, the social
side of showing also plays a major
part in its appeal; “I enjoy meeting
new people at the shows. We have
a good group of friends who we see
out and about and it’s nice to have
something in common with other
young farmers. At first it was a little
bit intimidating because the majority
of people were older, but now we
feel as though we have made a good
Continues page 22
21
 donaldson
name for ourselves.”
Despite Carol and Roger never having
really taken to showing, they are both
incredibly happy to support their
children’s love for the show ring.
“I’m very pleased that they’ve taken
up showing because it gets them out
and about,” Carol tells us. “Katrina
and Hannah have done very well
so far and I do think Harry will start
showing one day but he is a bit
young yet.”
Up until recently Katrina and
Hannah relied on family and friends
to transport them to and from the
shows but now Katrina has her own
trailer license the girls can travel to
which ever shows they want.
“It’s an experience,” Hannah laughs,
“But we prefer being able to up and
go as and when we like. It means
we can attend a lot more shows and
hopefully get a lot more recognition.”
In 2010 alone the girls single-
handedly competed at The North
Yorkshire County Show, The Great
Yorkshire Show, Huby, Agri-Expo at
Carlisle and CountrySide Live. Not
bad for what they considered a “quiet
season”.
It seems the Donaldson Girls enjoy
having their hands full because as
22 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
well as travelling far and wide over
the Spring and Summer months,
they both juggle work, study, cattle
training, stock-judging and of course
everyday farm work too. Two years
ago Katrina left Bishop Burton
College having achieved a National
Diploma and a Foundation Degree
in Agriculture. Since leaving the
college she as worked at Thirsk and
Northallerton Auction Mart and now
works full-time at the York Livestock
Centre. Hannah is currently studying
Environmental Land-Based Studies
part time at Askham Bryan College.
“I’m into auction marts,” Katrina tells
us. “I’d love to be an auctioneer one
day but I don’t have the confidence
as yet. I think it helps that we have
both studied the industry as well as
having good hands-on experience.”
Farming experience is something the
girls have in abundance; Katrina has
been the Secretary of the Easingwold
Young Farmers Club for over two years
and Hannah has been a member
since she was just twelve years old.
Katrina admits that when she first
became a member seven years ago
the club was very popular indeed,
but after only a few years it took a
slight down turn in both numbers and
outsider interest.
“Myself and Chairman Richard As perfect examples of proactive
Brown are trying to get it back up to young farmers, the Donaldson Sisters
what it used to be and I think we’re look set for a prosperous and exciting
getting there. Ours is now a very big future within this industry, who knows
club with 53 members in total and just what they’ll get up to next…..
we are always trying to bring new
people in.”
For more information on the
The coming Summer months are
Donaldson Sisters or on the
especially busy for Katrina and
Easingwold Young Farmers Club call
Richard; At the end of May the club
Katrina directly on 07743 807829.
will be hosting it’s first ever barn
dance event and in June the club’s
Hazel House Farm, Huby, York
annual raft race will take place on the
YO61 1JA
River Swale in Cundall.
Tel: (01347) 810287
ATV SPECIALISTS
D H WADSWORTH & SONS
(Malton) LTD
28 Derwent Road York Road, Industrial Estate, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6YB
Tel: 01653 692244
www.wadsworthquads.co.uk
Repairs, Servicing & Small Machinery
We are pleased to be associated
with The Donaldson Family and wish
them continued success for the future

Make Rat Control
a Forage-Making
Essential
Rat control needs to be an essential
part of forage-making this season
to prevent silage clamps, big bale
stacks and hay barns becoming the
reservoirs for serious trouble over
the coming autumn and winter,
advises regional rural hygiene
specialist, Charlie Ives of BASF
Pest Control Solutions.
“Forage stores are ideal nesting
sites for farm rats,” he explains.
They’re warm and weatherproof.
They provide secure and relatively
undisturbed accommodation right
through to the early winter. And they
are almost always conveniently sited
close to stock feeding facilities.
“Leaving them unprotected from
filling through to feeding out is a
recipe for major rat problems over
the coming winter. Especially so, as
six to eight young can be produced
by each female every six to eight
weeks, leading populations to build
to levels likely to pose serious
problems for most robust winter
baiting programmes.”
Under these circumstances, Charlie
Ives insists early action is vital,
pointing out that a small amount of
effort at forage-making is likely to be
worth its weight in gold in saving
time, trouble and expense later on.
Specifically, he recommends
installing baiting points as part of
clamp or stack filling and the early
use of specialist Neosorexa Gold Rat
Packs within them.
“It’s all a matter of understanding
how rats behave,” he says. “Their
wariness of change makes it
important to site baiting points
around your main forage stores
soon after they are filled. This will
significantly increase the initial
uptake of even the most palatable
baits by getting the rats used to the
containers in which they have to be
placed to minimise the risk to pets
and other non-target species.
“As well as locating baiting points
carefully alongside walls, in recesses
and against the edges of stacks where
rats prefer to travel, in my experience
it also pays to bait these fairly
immediately,” Charlie Ives adds.
“With Neosorexa Gold Rat Packs
the bait stays protected from the
weather and fresh to be consumed
as soon as rats begin to take up
residence. They’re also ideal for
placing strategically within big
bale stacks to intercept arriving
rodents attracted by their particular
combination of warmth, darkness
and security.
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
basf
Charlie Ives
“Do check your main baiting points
every two or three weeks,” he
advises. “Active consumption is a
sure sign that rats are about and
if they are baits may need to be
topped-up to ensure every individual
consumes a lethal dose. Rat packs
make this particularly easy and
convenient to do when relatively
small amounts of bait are required,
as is often the case outside the main
winter control season.”
www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk
23
 ladds

PAVING THE WAY FOR

THE NEXT GENERATION
LUCIE CARTER MEETS WITH THE LADDS FAMILY IN SCALTHWAITERIGG, NEAR KENDAL
There’s no denying Kendal’s beauty,
it’s a delightfully historic market
town home to a strong and pro-
active farming community.
The Ladds family have played a part
in Kendal’s agricultural framework
since the early fifties when Andrew
Ladds’ parents began tenanting
Benson Hall Farm. Since then the
farm has delved into new areas of
diversification, explored new breeds
of dairy cattle and sheep and has
extended its land acreage massively.
Like many aspiring young farmers,
Andrew Ladds spent his youth
following in his late-fathers footsteps.
From him he learnt all there is to know
about maintaining a successful farm 80 milk cows and a few hundred small cottage a mile away but after who have each displayed an almost
and fulfilled the second-generation sheep,” Andrew recalls. “Whereas the death of his Father they moved innate familiarity with the farm and
predecessor role perfectly. now we have 150 milk cows, 500 to Benson Hall in 1995. The Ladds have taken to the world of agriculture
mules and 40 pedigrees Texels!” clang now comprises of Andrew, like ducks to water.
“When I first started farming here as
When Andrew married his Wife Cath and their three boys Chris The family now farms a total of 540
a young lad we basically had about
Cath in the 1991 they lived in a (18), Richard (15) and Tom (13), acres at Benson Hall Farm and this

24 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


figure has increased significantly
year on year. The original land
acreage stood at 225 but as plots
have become available nearby the
family has seized their opportunity
to farm on a much larger scale.
Chris tells us, “I think our success in
tendering for land has come from us
being in such a fortunate position.
Years ago we set off for another
tenancy through the Stevenson
Trust (part of the Catholic Church),
who actively sold a lot of property
in Lancaster in 2001. They went on
to reinvest the money they’d made
back into the land, so because we
were already in with them we have
had chance to grow.
As a highly-successful modern Dairy
Farm, Benson Hall is proof that
five farming heads are better than
one. Whilst other milking farms in
the area have been unable to stay
afloat in this unpredictable and often
turbulent industry, the Ladds have
ensured that they remain focused on
the job in hand.
Andrew continues, “You have to run
a tight ship these days and do the
job the best you can. Our milk only
travels about a mile over to Dale
Farm who manufactures it to make
yogurts and sweets for the likes of
Morrisons and Marks and Spencers.
When I was a kid my dad used to
The ladds supply them but from there we went
ladds
on to supply Scottish Milk and then
Thirsk Milk too, so it’s nice to see
that we’ve come full circle and that
we are back supplying locally.”
“I think as more and more people
move away from milking cows,
prices for those who have stuck it
out like us are bound to increase,”
eldest son Chris predicts. “I just
can’t see how we could maintain
the farm how we’d like to without
the milk cows.”
Unlike many working Dairy farmers
Andrew Ladds believes that the
credit crunch and subsequent
recession has actually benefitted his
business; “From a farming point of
view I think the recession has been
good for us. I know our inputs have
gone up but so has our output, in
fact commodity prices of everything
we sell has improved. Generally you’ll
get the input going up whilst the
output tends to stagnate. Effectively
all we’re doing now is playing with
more money.”
As Andrew mentioned earlier, the
amount of animals housed at Benson
Hall Farm has increased massively
over the years, particularly over the
last decade.
“Although dairy cattle numbers have
increased recently, the growth where
Continues page 26

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01772 628 828

%DPEHU%ULGJH
3UHVWRQ
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FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 25

 ladds
the sheep are concerned has been
far more substantial” Chris tells us.
“We have only had the Texels
for about six years now,” admits
Andrew, “but they play a massive
part in what we do here.”
The Ladds’ decision to explore the
Texel breed was both spontaneous
and unplanned; one Christmas none
26 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
ELdest son, chris ladds
of the boys could decided on what
they wanted as a gift and so, realising
that all of his children had enough
gadgets and gismos to last them a
lifetime, Andrew thought they might
enjoy keeping a new and completely
unfamiliar breed of sheep. And the
rest as they say is history.
Chris explains, “I bought six pedigree
Texel Ewes at Skipton to begin
with and we’ve basically taken it
from there. I chose Texels because
they seemed a promising breed to
have about and also looked good
to cross with our Mules. Last year
we bought a ewe and flushed her
for her embryos and finished up
with three lambs, and although it
wasn’t a massive success, we can
at least say we’ve done it. We have
also used AI on the Texels over the
last four years to try and continually
improve our flock.”
One area of the industry that the
Ladds are keen to improve on is
showing, and that’s not to say
they haven’t done well thus far.
Last year the family stood with a
Reserve Champion at the Grayrigg
Agricultural Show and throughout

2009’s showing season they scored
at hat-rick at Lowick, Ravonstonedale
and again at Grayrigg. The family
also made their debut at the 2010
Westmorland County Show last
year, where they stood second and
third in the Shearling Ramb classes,
and were winners of prestigious and
highly sought after ‘Best Managed
Farm Award’ back in 2009.
“I don’t think we have made a name
for ourselves as yet but perhaps we
are on the first run of the ladder,”
Andrew admits. “It’s nice to go
from feeling like underdogs to now
being in a position where we feel as
though anything is possible.”
Even though the Ladds family have
been so successful in the show ring
they have, like so many modern-
ladds
andrew and Cath ladds
day farmers enjoyed diversifying Farm seems to have its next
into other avenues of agriculture. So generation ready and waiting to get
much so that Benson Hall Farm now their hands dirty.
houses five diggers, two wagons for We wish them all the very best of
contracting work and a fully-fledged luck for the future.
static caravan site covering four
acres of land.
With all the Ladds boys currently Benson Hall Farm
studying agriculture in various Kendal LA8 6PL
different capacities, Benson Hall Tel: 01539 721419
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 27
 ben marsden

Changes for the better at Liley

FARMERSMART talks with Ben Marsden of Millhouse Green
If you want to see a real high
health status, quality pig farm visit
Liley Farm at Millhouse Green,
near Penistone. This is the home
of Ben Marsden and his 750 sows.
Everything is based on the farm,
which is a change from how things
used to be just three years ago and
the pig buildings are amongst the
best in the UK.
‘Our main business is now intensive
pigs all on a commercial basis,
producing 7 kilo weaners. Up until
three years ago we were finishing
pigs, but now all stock produced
by the sows goes off farm at a
minimum of 7 kilos and on to be
fattened elsewhere. They go off at
between 4-5 weeks. Over the past
few months they have been hitting
as high as 9.8 kilos which is even
better as we’re on a bonus for
anything over the 7 kilo mark. We’re
now looking more at producing 10
kilo pigs.’
Ben had two rented farms in
Tadcaster and Holme on Spalding through to slaughter. The hike in salaries led Ben to bringing
Moor in addition to Liley Farm feed prices combined with running everything back under one roof.
and was sending 9000 pigs a year between farms, rent and additional ‘The driving up and down a
motorway was too much. We
haven’t looked back. When we
changed things around we started
with 350 sows and we’ve increased
bit by bit to the 750 we have now.
Our sows are producing around 28
piglets a year (that’s around 21,000
piglets). Since things have got tighter
we’ve become extra efficient and
instead of getting everything away
at 4 weeks we have kept some of
the smaller ones back, putting a bit
of creep feed into them and getting
their weight up.’
‘We restock our sow herd at the
ABN is The LeAdiNg BriTish rate of between 45-50%. Each
mANuFAcTurer oF pig ANd pouLTry sow has about two and a half years
compouNd Feed providiNg BoTh before going off to Cheale Meats
producTs ANd compLemeNTAry
soLuTioNs To The pig ANd pouLTry
LivesTock iNdusTries

We are pleased to be associated with Ben Marsden

and wish him continued success for the future
ABN is part of AB Agri Ltd.
AB Agri Ltd. 64 Innovation Way, Peterborough Business Park,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6FL

Telephone: 01733 422161

Fax: 01733 422154

www.abagri.com
28 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

Ben Marsden with his pigs
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in Essex who are good at pushing
British. Our replacements are from
JSR in Southburn, Driffield using
Genepacker 90.’
The business at Liley Farm is very
much a team and family affair.
‘I have a good team including a
full time manager Dan Barnes
who has been with me 8 years.
He manages the farm and is in
charge of the sows. Under him
is another man Gary Wilson who
looks after the farrowing houses
who has been with me a year or
so. His predecessor was with me
10 years until he retired. I also
have a young lad Taylor O’Connell
who undertakes the vaccinating and
bits and bats. It’s a family business
with me, my brother Matthew and
my father Richard. I’ve lived and
breathed farming and I started off
with pigs when I was 14 with one
sow and her litter.’
There is a family business meeting
once every two months with
Ben, his brother, father, company
secretary and a consultant. They
look at the accounts and analyse
what should happen next.
‘We don’t make any decision based
purely on an individual voice. The
amount of investment we have
involved here is too big a decision
for just one person. We thrash it
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
ben marsden
all out, discuss, tweak here and
there. It’s all very democratic. Dad’s
always going to be the boss and
Matt is very good with figures. We
are constantly moving forward.’
Before feed prices went through the
roof Ben was all set for expanding
to 1200 sows but that has had to
be put on hold just at the moment.
‘We’ve had to put the brake on
things. You can’t run a business
without cash flow and the feed
prices and a 20% dip in the market
price have seen to that at present.
We have become as efficient as we
can. One of our sows produced 20
piglets, but when your vet starts
telling you that you’re a victim
of your own success with sows
struggling to cope with a 15th piglet
let alone 16th to 20th you know
you’ve gone as far as you can. We
will move up to 1200 sows when
the time is right.’
Ben’s latest addition to the farm is
his fledgling Aberdeen Angus herd.
‘I started it in October last year
buying stock from Worcestershire.
I’ve now begun a good relationship
with a renowned breeder John Elliot
in Scotland who has the Rawburn
herd and is pushing me in the right
direction. I’m buying stock from
Continues page 30
29
 ben marsden
him. I was originally looking to run
a herd of 30 but I am already over
40 strong in the herd now, with the
bulk of the herd from John. I went
for Aberdeen Angus because it is
a native breed that always proves
very popular for taste. I go to
Scotland a lot and I like the breed
anyway. I am already using top-
end genetics to produce bulls and
heifers for the breeding market and
I am looking forward to the calves
we will produce this winter from
embryos I have purchased out of
top performing cattle in Canada. We
have also recently completed our
qualifications for on farm AI through
Jonathan Statham of Bishopton
30 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
the banner says it all
Veterinary Group in Ripon. I’d like
to show stock perhaps next year.
But we won’t be running before we
can walk.’ Garth Partnership
Whatever Ben does it still all comes A team dedicated to improving pig health and production.
down to a team effort. We aim to maximise performance and reduce medicine costs.
‘You can have all the certificates in
the world but if you don’t work as a would like to wish Ben Marsden
team it’s no good at all. The team continued success in his business
we have here is my extended family enterprise at Liley Farm
and we are determined to make
things work.’
Garth Partnership
Garth House, Straight Lane, Beeford, East Yorkshire, YO25 8BE
Ben Marsden - Liley Farm
Penistone S36 9NG Tel: 01262 488323 Fax: 01262 488770
07767307044 E-mail: garth@garthvet.co.uk Website: www.garthvet.co.uk
 barugh

Missing after 33 years

Chris Berry talks with Anne Barugh of Bridlington
When the chief cattle steward rang
Anne Barugh to say they hadn’t
received an entry from her Easton
Fold for this year’s show it wasn’t an
oversight on Anne’s part.
This remarkable lady who is now 86
years young has been exhibiting at
the Great Yorkshire Show for the past
33 years – but not this year as she
explains from her home in Bridlington
where she still has her Highland
fold.
‘I’ll miss both the Royal Highland and
the Great Yorkshire but old age has
finally crept up on me and ‘Tosh’ (Eric
Robson) died earlier this year. He was
my helper. He had a full time job but
he always came here, halter trained
the cattle and showed them with
me. He had a heart attack whilst he
was here one Sunday morning, had
a stent put in, came home on the
Wednesday and dropped dead on the
Friday. That was that and it’s the end
of my showing time. I’ll still attend
the shows though.’
Anne Barugh and one
of her Highland cows
As for her fold at Bridlington she is
determined to carry it on.
‘I’ll carry on until I drop dead. I know the following week. I went up and at each of the shows.’ on her three yearlings in a separate
I ought to get rid but what would I bought them both. I’d never driven field and comb them, perhaps also
get up for in a morning? I’ll not buy ‘I hate not going to the Great
a car with a trailer before, let alone Yorkshire and the Royal Highland cleaning their bums.
any more cattle though, just sell one with a cow and calf now inside
the calves each year. I’ve someone but that’s unfortunately the end of ‘I cleaned three bums yesterday,’
it. On the way back I chose to go up my showing career. Without ‘Tosh’ I she proudly proclaims. ‘I also let the
coming over from the Lake District to Sutton Bank (a notorious road for
buy two of the three yearlings I was can’t get anyone else to do it. I had a geese out at 7.15 in the morning and
caravanners blocking the route) and friend from Scotland who was going feed the chickens. I only have three
going to show this year.’ of course my car wasn’t powerful to make sure I still competed at the chickens and a cockerel now because
Anne never married although she enough to get us all up and I got Highland but by the time I’d paid her we had a visit from Mr Fox. Then I go
had offers. She has led a varied stuck. I had furious car drivers tooting train fare and everything else it was into the town and chat with a few old
and very active life which has taken and honking behind me until a kind going to cost me about £1000 for the friends. I get quite a bit of pain in my
her right across the world and into farmer came and reversed me down week.’ back but I’m not one for grumbling.
management. She was a Wren in and sent me the long way round.’ I’m a tough old bird and I’ll be back
WWII from 1944-46 ferrying officers Anne still gets her quad bike out at
Anne gradually increased her fold 8.30 in the morning to go up the up in Oban this October.’
from their billets in Felixstowe around with visits to Oban – where she has
in the same way as the actress fields and check on her cattle. She
been twice a year for the past 33 feeds the calves then comes over to
who starred in Foyle’s War on TV; years buying and selling stock. For more information call Anne
she was an air stewardess with the other side of the road to check
Barugh on 01262 672193
BOAC flying to the far and middle ‘I once took a bull calf to Oban which
east; she learned to water ski; and was bought by the Queen. I’d actually
became the manageress of a hotel taken it out of the ring because it
in Lochearnhead in Perthshire where hadn’t made what I was looking for

she stayed five years and counts
that time as being the best time of
her life.
‘Then I had to come back to
Bridlington to look after my ageing
mother and I’ve been here ever since.
The hotel at Lochearnhead had kept
Highland cattle which I loved and
my sister, knowing that I needed
something else to keep me sane,
suggested I should get a Highland
cow. I rang the hotel to see whether
they had anything for sale and they
said they had this cow and calf they
were going to take to Stirling Market
C & I Wade
and was approached by one of the
Queen’s factotums who offered me Falshdale Farm
£1000. That was my first ever sale
– not bad to start with royalty!’
Carnaby
Highland cow CHAMP was the (agricultural Contractors) Bridlington
beginning of Anne’s really good cattle.
She had bought Champ because East Yorkshire
she was getting bullied by cows in
another fold. Tel: 01262 400 395 YO15 3QG
‘All the progeny I’ve had from
Champ led to my winning ways.
I’ve won the Royal Highland breed
championship once and the Great We are pleased to be associated with Anne Barugh
Yorkshire breed championship three and wish her continued success for the future
times. I’ve also had a champion bull

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 31

 Garrowby Estate farm

Ten years of development

Chris Berry talks with Clive Rowland of Home Farm, Garrowby Estate farm
Ten years ago a young farm manager
from the Suffolk/Essex border was
offered the opportunity to build a
new life up in the Yorkshire Wolds,
on one of the county’s largest and
most prestigious estates.
‘I was looking after a farm and had
my own cattle and sheep. I had just
left college at the time and wasn’t
really looking at changing my job,’
says Clive Rowland.
‘My wife Ruth saw an advert in the
Farmers Weekly for the role of farm
manager here at Home Farm on the
Garrowby Estate owned by Lord
Halifax, but I nearly didn’t apply. I
left it right until the last minute, but
it ended up being the best decision I
have ever made.’
Home Farm runs to some 550 acres
which is all parkland and grassland
on heavy clay and chalk. The farm
is very much a livestock enterprise
with a flock of 700 Mule and Texel
X Mule ewes and a herd of 125
suckler cows and replacements.
Whilst Clive enjoys both the sheep
and cattle side of the Home Farm
operation his passion is cattle and
CLIVE ROWLAND
he has worked hard to earn the
reputation he now has in the market
between half-bred Limousin females GLENROCK VENTURA (pictured) cows to put a little more mix in the
place.
right up to pure-bred. We also breed from Ian Handley’s Gunnerfleet herd. I run the herd in 4 groups with
‘I have spent the last 10 years all our own replacements.’ herd at Ingleton three years ago and around 30 cows in each.’
developing the cattle enterprise, as he has since been back to Ian for
‘We have four stock bulls. Three It’s not just his Limousin bulls
well as adding to what we do with another young bull.
are Limousins and one is a Belgian that perform well. Clive’s Belgian
the sheep. Cattle are a big passion
Blue. We criss-cross them back ‘The young bull I bought was the Blue bull is from Stephen Potter
and when I first came to Garrowby
and forth and keep some Belgian first bull he had sold from a bull of Thirsk’s Brookfield herd and
we had 50 Aberdeen Angus cows.
Blue X heifers to put back on to he has called DOLCORSLLWYN produced a champion Belgian Blue
We were finding them hard to sell
the Limousin bulls. They produce BRYNMOR. We bought him privately heifer at Leyburn Market.
locally so I decided it was time for
slightly sweeter calves and the top and he has 3 or 4 good bulls in his Sheep prices have been good
us to move on. We went out of them
ones are sold to some of the leading pedigree. He’s a slightly different for the past two years. That has
and with the money I received I set
showmen. I pick out 10-12 Limousin bull to VENTURA – a bigger, framier certainly helped at Garrowby and
about upgrading our herd. I’ve always
and Belgian Blue females each year bull with good width. We are looking Clive has also steered the flock in a
liked Limousin and Belgian Blue
to keep back as replacements whilst to put VENTURA’s shape on that different direction to the way it was
cattle and so I bought the best cows
selling the surplus.’ width for heifer replacements. We’re when he came.
I could afford. We have now graded
Clive bought the Limousin bull also using a bit of AI on one or two
them so that we have anywhere ‘We now get a lot of repeat orders

Feed
Fertiliser
Grass Seeds
Animal Health
Minerals
Grassland Sprays
Fuel & Oil Tanks
And much more Feeding cattle from calving
to finishing
Hawes Branch
T: 01969 667334 Contact your local sales
representative to discuss your
hawes@carrs-billington.com feeding requirements

32 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 Garrowby Estate farm

Clive’s bull Glenrock Ventura

for our mainly Texel X Mule gimmer Sheep at Garrowby Estate

lambs. We go to Hexham Market
and buy all our replacements as
shearlings. I prefer the Scotch Mule
to the North of England because it is
slightly thicker set and knits together
well with the Texel. We keep some
of our Texel X Mule gimmers and put
them back to the Texel tups which
produces a three-quarter Texel lamb.
Many of our Texel X gimmers go to
various local farmers and at the end
of the year we sell stores through the
Michaelmas Sale at Malton. That’s
our big store lambs sale.’
‘Last year we sold somewhere
around 160 gimmer lambs, which
all made over the fat price norm,
and hopefully this year they will be
worth even more. The sheep work
well on the parkland where it is not
good grazing land for the cattle. The
lambs, once they are weaned, come
down to the lowland fields where the
cattle are there too.’
Most livestock, whether cattle or
sheep, is sent to either York or
Malton markets and Clive also sells
one or two young bulls privately to
other local farmers for breeding, but
he always prefers livestock markets
to deadweight. market and our lambs are sought
‘We have dabbled with ABP at after, as well as our cattle. It’s all
York but I am a firm believer in the about maintaining and growing our
livestock market. It sets the price.’ reputation.’
Lord Halifax takes a healthy interest Clive and Ruth have not only built
in the farm whilst letting Clive get on a reputation, they have also built a
with the running of it. family since they came to Yorkshire
‘I’ve always run it as though it were with three sons – Archie, Jack and
my own, after all it is my reputation Ewan – aged 6,4 and nearly 2.
that is always on the line as much ‘We now have the front row of a
as it is anyone else’s. Coming here rugby team,’ says Clive.
you’ve a lot to prove to people that
have been in the county a lifetime.
Hopefully I’ve shown people I do Garrowby Estate Farm
know a bit about cattle and sheep. Bugthorpe, York YO41 1QG
We regularly sell in the top 5% at Tel: 01759 368669

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 33

 Fitzsimon
IT ALL STARTED WITH AN
ANNIVERSARY GIFT
Beef farmer Alastair Fitzsimon had
a surprise Silver Wedding present
from his wife Margaret and the
rest of the family - two yearling
Highland heifers.
This was the start of their Tregallon
fold of Highland cattle which in only
just over three years has earned them
numerous prizes, including the breed
championship two years running at
the Great Yorkshire Show.
“It came as a complete surprise,”
said Alastair, who with his brother
Iain also runs 180 crossbred suckler
cows on 400 acres at Tregallon,
Lochfoot and Sunnyhill, Holywood,
both near Dumfries.
“We had talked for years about
getting Highland cattle but I was
pretty shocked to find out Margaret
had bought some for our anniversary
in October 2007!”
Alastair and Margaret run the cattle
as a hobby at Tregallon Farm and the
number of cattle at 20 head have
already reached their optimum to
“THE FARMER OWNED BUSINESS”
Animal Feeds
Karen Callander
Fertilizers, Crop Sprays,
Grass Seeds
Murray Elliot
Animal Health, Hardware,
Animal Equipment, Drainage
Stephen Hunter
34 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
jennifer mackenzie visits
alAstair and meg fitzsimon
run alongside the mostly Limousin,
Simmental and Angus crosses, the
progeny of which currently mostly
are sold store. The herd now
includes 13 breeding females, eight
of which go the bull this year.
“We have relatives on the west coast
of Scotland with Highland cattle and
they are easy going cattle, easily fed
and wintered as well as being nice
to look at and full of character,” said
Margaret.
“We were originally just going to
have a handful but we were going to
have to wait another three years for
the yearling heifers to have calves at
four years old so we bought another
two in calf heifers and a two year
old at the Oban sale the following
year,” she added.
With virtually no experience of
showing cattle and Highlanders in
particular, the couple embarked on
their first season in 2009 with help
Alastair and Meg with their
from cousin, and very good friend,
collection of rosettes from
Angus MacGillivray. only two show seasons
Agricultural Merchants
Ringford, Castle Douglas DG7 2AN
For all your agricultural requirements
contact your local depot:-
Ringford (Head Office) – 01557 820247
Dumfries(Town and Country) - 01387 261661
Dumfries Feed Store – 01387 272651
Castle Douglas - 01556 503633
Longtown - 01228 792244
Glenluce - 01581 300555
Whauphill - 01988 840383
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Their three year old in-calf heifer
Smeorach of An Sidhean was
female and reserve senior champion
at the Sheffield Highland Fling
and then went on to win the
female championships and breed
championships at the Great Yorkshire
Show and Dumfries Show.
Her dam Sally 3rd of Gallanach at
16 years old is the oldest cow in the
herd and still producing calves.
Amid tough competition at the Royal
Highland in 2010 she took first prize
in the young cow class. She collected
a first prize at Glasgow City Council’s
Highland cattle show in October and
her eight month old calf, Smeorach
2nd of Tregallon, was junior reserve
champion.
At last year’s Yorkshire Show
another three year old in calf heifer,
Scarlett of Hellifield lifted the breed
championship for their second year
running. Earlier in the year she
was reserve senior champion at
the Highland Fling in Sheffield. She
beautiful
also went on to win the reserve
breed championship at Dumfries.
The heifer was bought at Oban the
previous year and she sold privately
at the Yorkshire Show.
The most recent trophy and rosettes
were won at the Sheffield Highland
Fling in 2011, with Smeorach 2nd
of Tregallon taking the reserve junior
championship and best home bred
award as yearling heifer.
Another two red rosettes were won
by Dossan Lurach 12th of Coirefuar
in the three year old heifer class
and Neoinean Bhuidhe 27th of
Achnacloich in the two year old
heifer class.
As well as enjoying being part of
the show circuit and the new friends
they are making, the Fitzsimons are
keen to fly the flag for the breed
and recognise that exhibiting their
stock and winning major prizes in
particular, is an excellent way to put
their fold on the map.
The Highland cattle have lived up to
their easy care reputation. The cows
are outwintered and fed silage with
those near to calving being fed some
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
Fitzsimon
concentrate. The calves are creep
fed at grass.
The cows are also proving fertile,
having a calf each year, and Sally in
calf once again to produce in June.
They are also easily calved, take
little looking after and generally have
good temperaments.
The herd’s original stock bull, Allan
of Glangarnock is seven years old
and is still working, with his progeny
among the prizewinners.
Calves not suitable for breeding are
culled and finished for the freezer.
“The meat has excellent eating
qualities, it’s healthy as it has lower
cholesterol than other beef because
the animals don’t carry as much
fat,” said Margaret.
While the herd has always been
intended to be run as a hobby, the
cattle have been paying their way in
the numbers of animals already sold.
Alastair Fitzsimon
Tregallon Farm,
Lochfoot, Dumfries
Tel: 01387 730272
35
 quattro

Learn more about Green Cow Safe Cubicles

In a joint collaboration Quattro
UK and Easyfix Ireland launched
the “Green Cow Safe Cubicle”
range in the summer of 2010. The
development has been heralded as
a major step forward in terms of
meeting the general management
and welfare needs of the modern
dairy cow.
The new cubicles which are green
in colour offer enhanced safety
features because of their flexible
nature. The plastic bars dividing
the cubicles provide cows with that
little bit of additional space when
lying down. The cubicle frame will
revert to its initial default position
once the cow stands up. Because
the plastic frame is much kinder to
cows there are no hurts, bruising,
haematomas or incidences of
cows getting trapped associated
with steel cubicles. Injuries like
those mentioned have a negative
effect on herd health, reduce milk
yield, increase veterinary costs and
reduces profitability in an industry
where margins are already very
tight.
In essence the Green Cow Safe
Cubicle brings the comfort of
outdoors indoors.
COW SAFE has a major advantage
in its ability to be changed to fit its
environment, it can be supplied as
a full new system available in head
to head or as a single post fitting or
as a wall mount. The components
also allow retro fitting using parts of
existing cubicles. This gives a wide
range of options for all types and
size of cow. Beds can be lengthened
or shortened at will.
COW SAFE consists of metal
mountings and high strength flexible
plastic pipes far more forgiving
than metal hoops. Fronts and sides
remain open providing the freedom
of movement into and out of the
cubicle. Variation on these can be
provided with ratchet systems to
vary neck rail heights and depth.
COW SAFE can also be used in
conjunction with Polypillow.
They are easy to install and adjust
and fitting teams are available if
required.
Philip Haffey, a leading Holstein
breeder in Northern Ireland who
installed 70 Green Cow Safe
cubicles last July said; “The
investment has improved animal
comfort which in turn is leading
to better performance. Because
I have steel cubicles in the same
building with the same mattress
system I notice that the Green Cow
Safe cubicles always have a higher
occupancy.”
Main Features
1. C
 onsists of flexible plastic
high tensile tubes.
2. Incredibly easy to install.
Main Advantages
1. Improved animal comfort,
welfare and performance.
2. Reduced healthcare and
veterinary costs.
3. Increased resting time leading
to higher milk production.
4. More efficient use
of lying space.
5. They fit to size of the
cows so the cow lies
perfectly in the cubicle.
Dean Wright, a prominent dairy
farmer in Portadown Northern
Ireland, installed fifty Green Cow
Safe cubicles in March 2010; “The
new cubicles represent fresh thinking
in terms of how dairy farmers can
manage cows more efficiently in a
housed environment.”
COW SAFE has been fitted in at
Kingshay and members can enter
their site to review all comments
and testimonials. Because the
Green Cow Safe system offers
flexibility in terms of retro fitting
and using existing steel anchors, it
gives great value for both new and
old buildings.
The combination of this excellent
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Quattro’s mattress and foam matt
products provide UK farmers with
an unbeatable choice in cow house
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For more information please
contact Quattro at 01768864977
or Easyfix at 00353909643344.

7+((48,1($*5,&8/785$/$1'
&200(5&,$/5(6,1 58%%(563(&,$/,676
ZZZTXDWWURRUJXN

(9(5<3,&785(7(//$6725<&2:635()(57+(&2:6$)(&8%,&/(6

*5((16$)(&2:&8%,&/(6
9HUVDWLOHVRWKHFRZZLOOQRORQJHUJHWLQMXUHG 0RUHVSDFLRXVJHWVWKHFRZWROLHGRZQ
TXLFNHUDQGVWD\VWKHUHIRUDORQJHUSHULRG
)LWVWRWKHVL]HRIWKHFRZVVRWKDW
WKHFRZOLHVSHUIHFWO\LQWKHFXELFOHV 5HGXFHG+HDOWKFDUH 9HWHULQDU\&RVWV

,QFUHDVHGFRZZHOIDUHFDQUHVXOWLQPRUHPLONSURGXFWLRQDQGPRUHYDOXHIRUPRQH\

7HO(PDLOHQT#TXDWWURRUJXN

36 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


Power is close at hand
Chris Berry talk with Richard Ogden of Yorkshire Generators and
farmer David Sanderson at Skipton on Swale
Boroughbridge- based Yorkshire
Generators supplies generators for
a variety of purposes from Event
Hire to Farm Businesses – and
they are one of the most successful
businesses of their kind in the
region. At any one time there are
somewhere near 100 Generators
out on Hire throughout the North
Eastern region and beyond.
‘We supply all sizes of Generators
ranging from 6kva right through
to 1000kva,’ says Richard Ogden.
‘It’s all a matter of surveying and
understanding each individual
application before quantifying the
right amount of power needed for
the job. Every job is tailored to suit
the customer’s requirements, some
Generators are Trailer mounted and
can be towed onto site, whereas
the larger static Generators are a
more permanent feature and need
positioning on site with the assistance
of Hiab Cranes.’
‘Typically we would recommend a
40 - 60kva towable Generator for
a Marquee Event where power was
needed for a band, lighting, caterers,
bar and toilets etc.’
Other common agricultural
applications we get involved with,
are supplying Standby Generators
for Pig and Poultry units as well
as supplying prime power for Corn
Drying equipment in harvest time.
‘The company also recently
supplied a much larger Generator
to arable farmer David Sanderson
at Sandholme Farm, Skipton on
Swale. David is running an Oilseed
yorkshire generators
rape Straw Chopping Plant and it is community there are numerous other
running pretty much 24/7. applications including Hospitals,
www.yorkshiregenerators.co.uk
‘We started up nearly a year ago,’ Banks, and Supermarkets where
says David. ‘And the business is Standby Generators form a critical
going well. We are buying oilseed part to their every day operations.
rape straw from other farms as well
as utilising the 90 acres we grow.
We then bale it at the right moisture
content and, through our machine,
powered by an SDMO V275C-2
Generator, we turn it into our product
Bedwell horse bedding. It is precision
chopped oilseed rape straw which
has the dust extracted, making it a
far superior product to wheat straw.
We now also produce pheasant and
poultry bedding too.’
‘With our production being all year
round, we needed a reliable Generator
and the 275 Kva SDMO set has
proven itself to be the most economic
solution. What is also re-assuring is
the excellent service and back-up
that Richard and his team provides.
Their prompt availability for servicing
and maintenance is essential to our
business and to date we are very
happy with the performance of the
Generator we have chosen.’
Richard further commented, ‘ Over
the past 5 years we have developed a
niche business in this area supplying
Generators, Lighting Towers and
Distribution Equipment, however we
are always acquisitive and looking for
new bolt on business’s.’
Whilst David Sanderson’s 275
Kva set, and the 80 Kva powering
the Corn Dryer at Wath are just
two examples of how Yorkshire
Generators are assisting the farming
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 37
 weatherhead

HOW pateley bridge

looked in the 19th
century

THE PERFECT BALANCE

OF OLD AND NEW
WE TRAVEL TO PATELEY BRIDGE TO MEET THE TEAM AT H.WEATHERHEAD & SONS
There aren’t very many businesses
that can say they have been around
since the 1800s but H.Weatherhead
& Sons butchers are one of a fair
few who can.
Situated on the main high-street
in the heart of Pateley Bridge,
just a stones throw away from
the Nidderdale Showground, H.
Weatherhead is one of the most
traditional businesses you are likely
to find in our region, but instead of
relying on history alone this butchers
has paved its own way into the 21st
century.
Henry Weatherhead founded the
company in 1876, yes that’s right,
135 years ago! The butchers shop
was originally a fairly modest
affair, but as a conveyor belt of
Weatherheads generations have
enrolled in the shop somewhat
naturally, the business has now
become a modern enterprise with a
hearty, traditional backbone.
Andrew Weatherhead, the great-
great grandson of Henry is now the
man in charge at H.Weatherhead
and Sons; he succeeded his father
Ian to the role and trained in the art
of butchery from a very young age.
He tells us, “Believe it or not we
actually started in the same years
as Morrisons, in fact generations
of our family have been in Pateley
bridge since the 1300’s. Back then

Wharfedale refrigeration &

air Conditioning limited Rowland Agar
43 hollin gate (Wholesale Butchers) Ltd
otley • West yorkshire
ls21 2dW SUPPLIERS OF THREE DALES
t: 01943 462622 QUALITY MEAT
email: admin@WraaC.Co.uk
WWW.WraaC.Co.uk

Ilkley Abattoir, Little Lane, Ilkley, LS29 8HX

for installation, servicing & sales of all Tel: 01943 608042 www.threedales.co.uk
refrigeration & air Conditioning equipment Fax: 01943 601586
Pleased to be assoCiated With
h Weatherhead & sons butChers Pleased to be associated with H Weatherhead & Sons
and Wish them Continued suCCess Butchers and wish them continued success

38 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


the majority of the Weatherheads
worked as either farmers or lead
miners but from the 1800’s we have
worked predominately as butchers. I
started to learn how to be a butcher
the team at weatherheads (andrew on far right)
STEPHEN PEEL :
ANOTHER OF THE
LONGSTANDING
BUTCHERS AT
WEATHERHEAD
when I was 15, although in truth I
was slaughtering at the age of 13
but of course you aren’t allowed to
do that now.”
Originally the butchers slaughtered
all of its meat at its facilities just
outside of Pateley, were it housed all
the necessary cutting facilities, but
after foot and mouth came in the
team had to re-evaluate how they
would manage things.
“All our stock now goes straight
to Rowland Agar abattoir in Ilkley
(two miles away) and then straight
back here so that the traceability
of the meat is the very best it can
be. It was such a shame to lose the
slaughter facilities here because we
had been doing it for ourselves for
over 100 years.”
Immediately after the foot and mouth
outbreak Andrew and the team did
attempt to continue slaughtering
for themselves but were quickly
deterred by the newly-heightened
costs involved; “You’d have three
vets watching us slaughter and
it was costing us about £1000 a
month for the £58-an-hour vets to
monitor us. Effectively it was costing
us more than the meat!”
Although the history that surrounds
H.Weatherhead and Sons forms
part of its massive appeal, it is of
course the meat being sold in the
shop that remains paramount. To
stock only the finest, tastiest meat
Andrew sources his beef and lamb
from his Father-in-Law Robert Grey
who farms at Lowling Park in Ilkley.
weatherhead
If supply and demand increases he
will buy from Joe Stoney in Bewerley
and Steven Church in Lofthouse too.
For his succulent pork, Andrew uses
Grantley-based Will Hitchen and
Georgina Snow too.
Andrew insists, “We only source
meat from good farmers who have
bred off their own cows and finished
and fattened their stock properly.”
By having such home-grown, locally-
reared stock readily available to their
customers it is easy to understand
why H.Weatherhead’s popularity in
the village continues to rise. And
with an array of sausages, chops,
award-winning pork pies, burgers
and steaks temptingly displayed
in the shop, those local customers
really are spoilt for choice.
Now in 2011 the H.Weatherhead
& Sons has become a staple of
the village and its place within the
heart of the community has only
strengthened in recent years as
consumer interest in food traceability
continues to grow.
For more information on
H.Weatherhead and Sons visit
www.weatherheadbutchers.
co.uk or call the shop directly
on 01423 711 207

We are pleased to be long standing suppliers of ingredients

and packaging to H Weatherhead & Sons Butchers
& wish them continued success for the future

Dalziel Ltd, Unit F1 Summit Park, Glasshoughton, West Yorkshire WF10 5HX

Tel 01977 605590

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 39
 willoughby

TURNING A NEW VENTURE

INTO A SPECIALIST SUBJECT!
LUCIE CARTER TALKS WITH TOM AND COLIN WILLOUGHBY
AT WOODEND FARM NEAR LEYBURN
Tucked away in the quaint little
village of Redmire just outside of
Leyburn lay Woodend Farm, a
beautifully picturesque sheep and
beef farm that has been occupied
by the Willoughby Family for almost
twenty-five years.
Woodend Farm is part of the historic
Bolton Estate and occupies 330 acres
of land across the village. When Colin
and Janet Willoughby began farming
in the area they rented 80 acres of
land and were licensees of the local
pub ‘The Bolton Arms’. They raised
Tom and his brother Mark there as tom and his flock
youngsters but remained on the look
out for something more substantial.
When a promising amount of land simply couldn’t refuse. a milk herd of thirty dairy cows, so Brother Mark has also introduced a
on the estate became available only Colin tells us, “Janet’s uncle farmed we moved them over here, carried horse liverly enterprise at Woodend
a few years later, the Willoughby’s Woodend originally under a tenancy on as usual and increased the herd making use of a redundant dairy
were in a fortune position and were but when he retired Lord Bolton to fifty.” building.
approached by Lord Bolton who who owns all the land on the estate Up until October last year Tom and Although Woodend Farm was no
made them a tempting offer they offered it to us. At that time we had Colin milked their dairy herd like stranger to sheep, Tom’s new venture
clockwork, but Tom admits that gave him the chance to fulfil his love
maintaining a successful dairy farm for breeding purebreds, whilst trying
was becoming increasingly difficult. his hand at something that was in
“If I’m honest I was never that keen many ways unfamiliar to him.
on milking cows and I don’t think the “We have had Swaledales for about
set up was ideal for us here. It was fifteen years, but I brought the
a case of us either ploughing a lot Leicesters onto the farm in 1996.
of money into doing it right or going Originally when we moved here we
down another avenue really.” had only Dalesbred sheep but the
For the Willoughby’s it seems the market for them struggled a bit, you
latter was the more tempting option; could sell your best, but the demand
almost fifteen years ago, sensing that was never really there so I brought in
his love for dairy cattle wouldn’t last the Leicester Mules and we gradually
forever Tom decided to introduce swapped over.”
something new, profitable and The move from dairy left the
interesting onto Woodend Farm, Willoughbys with a completely
and so he chose to explore the Blue different working farm, once which
Faced Leicester Breed. produced a healthy amount of beef

40 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 willoughby
heifers and a promising flock of Blue
Faced Leicesters.
To uphold the standards of his
sheep, Tom buys the majority of his
Swaledale replacements from Hawes
Auction Mart, but as flock numbers
have fluctuated year on year he has
used Bentham Auction too.
“Both buying prices and selling prices
have gone up so it’s almost as though
we are chasing our tail slightly,” Colin
says of today’s trade. “We have sold
about 230 Mule gimmers which have
averaged £108 each, but then we
have had to buy in between 110 and
120 replacements at a higher price.” Tom with one of
In spite of this Tom is confident that his winners
if he remains focused on the job
in order to keep pushing forward;
about five years ago. The first show nowadays you’ll quickly get taken out We like nature to take its course;
“I think as a farmer you have to
we went to didn’t go very well in because people are so eager to be at the key to producing good stock is
concentrate on certain aspects of
fact we didn’t even manage to get a the top, but for us it’s always been having a good knowledge of the sires
your farm when the going gets a bit
ticket!” Tom laughs, “So within the about finding the right ingredients to and the females before you enter the
tough. For us our main objective now
last five we’ve gone from showing stay there.” auction.”
is to get our name established with
and getting nothing to winning quite At last years Kilnsley Show Tom’s Tom also accredits long-term supplier
the Blue Faced Leicesters because
a bit really. Doing well at the shows Mules were awarded first prize in Jamesons Feeds with producing
there’s a lot of big money to be made
gives you that encouragement and the group of six category, and at the strong, profitable stock. In fact for
in tup selling.”
enables you to set yourself targets for Penrith Show one of his mules was over a decade the Willoughby family
Selling and indeed showing; since the next year.” crowned the overall champion which has used their sheep cake on their
taking on his beloved Leicesters and
He continues, “In the early stages of was before X Factor b4 hundith flocks and are still satisfied with its
Mules Tom has done exceptionally
showing the Mules I think we worried jointly owned with Jack and Adam results.
well showing them at a number of
that what we had wasn’t entirely Lawson from Kirkland Green. He has Colin tells us, “during foot and mouth
his local shows, although he is the
up to scratch, whereas now I think also enjoyed success at the Reeth we had to lamb the sheep up on the
first to admit it wasn’t an overnight
people look out for our name on sale Agricultural Show where he won with high ground because the powers that
success.
and show days. Where showing is a group of five. be wouldn’t let us bring them down
“We started showing mules properly concerned I think if you stand still “I think our biggest achievement home. We quickly realised if those
came at last year’s Mule Gimmer sheep could produce milk for lambs
Lamb sale day at Hawes. We got on high ground on that cake, it was
fifth prize there and our top ten the right feed for us.”
lambs reached £300 each. I’ve done The next few months look set to be
it in reverse order really; winning the very busy for Tom and Colin. Last
sale day is everyone’s dream but I did year Tom had the privilege of judging
that before I did anything else. We the Swaledale draft ewe sale at the
have won plenty over the years but Penrith Auction Mart sale. The father
I’ve never won at The Great Yorkshire and son duo have also begun showing
Show so that’s one of my main aims cattle recently. It seems the thrill of a
now.” new venture is simply irresistible for
Breeding the very best sheep is this pair…..
now paramount to Tom. Recently
he has sold a few of his tups onto
fellow breeders and has also enjoyed Tom and Colin Willoughby
exploring new bloodlines. Woodend Farm,
Redmire, near Leyburn DL8 4HB
“That’s important because one bad
Tel: 01969 622348
tup can make a mess of your flock.

Agricultural Services W.C. Stones & Son,

Pepper Hall,
Self Loading Forage Wagon Arkengarthdale
We provide a full range of accounting services Other Services Available Richmond
from book keeping/VAT returns to account preparation North Yorkshire DL11 6EH
and Tax Returns, specialising in the Agricultural Sector
Tel: 01748 884360
01748 884718
Kiln Hill, Market Place, Hawes, DL8 3RA
Tel: 01969 667428 Fax: 01969 667849 Mobile: 07974 406647
E-mail: denisepercival@oreillyhawes.co.uk
Pleased to be Contractors for the Willoughby’s and wish
www.o-reilly.co.uk them continued success for the future

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 41

 watson

Pedigree livestock PUT arable

farm firmly on the map
Through successful embryo transfer
work, in just over a decade at
Bowsden Moor near Berwick,
Jonathan and Jayne Watson and
Jonathan’s uncle Brian Redhead
(trading as Redhead and Watson)
have established pedigree British
Blue and Limousin herds which are
achieving creditable prices through
the sale ring, alongside pedigree
Suffolk and Texel flocks.
The partnership moved to the
Borders in 1987 from West Cumbria
and they own 330 acres, with a
further 220 acres neighbouring
Bowsden Moor plus 200 acres of British Blue heifers (inside) and calves
seasonal grazing. All the land is with their natural and recipient dams
suitable for arable cropping, but only
150 acres are put down to cereals
in rotation with the grassland. They our herd of pedigree Limousins,” It was a visit to the Carlisle Limousin Females have ben selected for their
employ one full time man, Thomas said Jonathan. Red Ladies sale in 1999 that set off size and bone to produce progeny
Robson. “Another issue we had was with the the herd and subsequent purchases of good weight gain potential
health status of the cattle, so we from Denis Lomas (Glebedale), along with superior carcase quality
“We had 300 crossbred cows but Robert Graham’s (Grahams) and with selection also focusing on
when the Single Farm Payment expanded the numbers of Limousins
and also started a herd of British Roy Fisher (Castlewigg) herds temperament.
came in it was hard to make it established good foundation cow
stack up financially so we sold the Blues, both under the Tweeddale The star of the Glebedale purchases
prefix,” he added. families that have been expanded was Iloris, a daughter of the famous
commercial cows to concentrate on through ET work.

3URXGWREHDVVRFLDWHGZLWK-RQDWKDQ -D\QH:DWVRQ
KHOSLQJWKHP%XLOGLQJDEHWWHUIXWXUH

$JULFXOWXUDO%XLOGLQJ&RQWUDFWRUV
%XLOGLQJV ,QWHUQDOVPDGHWR\RXULQGLYLGXDOUHTXLUHPHQWV
&RPSHWLWLYH3ULFHV
6XSSOLHUVRI7HHPRUH&XELFOHV ,QWHULRU)LWWLQJV
5HJLVWHUHG¿WWHUVDQGVXSSOLHURI$&3&RQFUHWH3URGXFWV1DWLRQZLGH

Tel: 01253 799100 / 07876 453 367 Email: info@guyhallagriservices.co.uk

www.guyhallagriservices.co.uk

42 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


cow Silorie, who bred three supreme
champions at Carlisle Limousin
sales.
Two Grahams cows have been
consistent breeders with Grahams
Sharon producing two bulls which
sold for 10,000gns and 8.500gns.
The herd’s most recent purchase was
in February 2008, Newstart Abeille,
whose son produced by the most
recent stock bull Newhouse Cyclone
sold to Cogent at 10 months old.
Limousin herd now numbers 70
cattle and is closed. The herd’s first
stock bull was Sympa son, Haltcliffe
Argos whose first four sons sold
averaged £6,000 with a top of
8,500gns at the Carlisle February
2011 sale.
Embryo work carried out by Celltech,
Cheshire, produced between 60 and
70 Limousin and British Blue calves
a year.
As commercial producers recognising
the strength and qualities of the
Limousin meant it was a natural
step to establish a pedigree herd.
A Blue bull had also been used
commercially and again the breed
was the logical choice when starting
another pedigree beef herd.
The first purchase was Clarebrand
Bertha whose sons sold to a top
price of 5,800gns with others at
5,000gns and 4,000gns.
Two females were bought at Carlisle
from David Leggat’s Broomfield
herd. Nanette had a bull calf at foot
and she was flushed. Two embryo
bull calves at the Carlisle May 2010
show and sale sold for 6,000gns
each, one of which was the reserve
champion.
Five bulls averaged £5,000 while
six yearling heifers made an average
£3,000 a head.
More recent additions to the herd
have been three cows and four
heifers purchased from Belgium.
One of the first bull calves from the
imports Tweeddale Fearless has been
sold to Cogent. The first five bulls
watson
Jonathan with young Limousin
and British Blue bulls
and 11 heifers from these females for the best opposite sex to the
go through the ring at Borderway on champion went to Tweeddale Emise
May 21. at 10 months old, a daughter of one
The herd now numbers 20 cows, of the imported females which sold
half of which are bred naturally with privately at the show.
the remainder flushed for embryos. Another ET daughter, Tweeddale
At Borderway Agri-Expo 2010 the Flare was junior female champion
Border British Blue Club award at the Stars of the Future inaugural
Clean Ones Firm Ones Some As Big As Your Head
Charlie Cox’s Root-Crops Are The Best That Can Be Fed
CHAS COX LTD
Est. 1972
21 MOOR LANE,
ADDINGHAM, ILKLEY
WEST YORKSHIRE
LS29 0PS
TEL: 01943 830192 Mob: 07860 337848
E.C FEED HYGIENE REGULATION REG NO. GB 437 0285
We are proud to be suppliers to Jonathan & Jayne at A & GE
Redheads and wish them more success for the future
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 43
 watson
Scottish pedigree calf show for Blues
at Forfar.
Royal Highland Show 2010 was
the Watsons’ first major show
outing with British Blues. Ebony did
exceptionally well in the males and
Tweeddale Enhance did equally well
in the females. Enhance was a 15
month old heifer and achieved junior
champion. The first calves off her
are due in late May through embryo
transfer.
Also Tweeddale Ebony achieved
senior champion. Ebony also
achieved reserve junior champion
and reserve male champion at Royal
44 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
Highland Show 2010 and best
young bull in the Borders BB herd
competition and is now in stud at
Cogent.
Both herds are performance recorded
and are in the SAC health scheme.
The pedigree Suffolk flock goes
back the furthest to 1984 and
carries the Brijon prefix. Since the
establishment of the pedigree Texel
flock in 2000, Suffolk numbers have
been scaled back from 150 to 70
ewes. Both flocks are MV accredited
and closed.
Between 25 and 30 shearling rams
from each breed are sold at the
annual Kelso Ram Sale. The 70-ewe
Texel flock also carries the Brijon
prefix.
Rams have sold to a top price of
£7,000 for the Texels to average
between £600 and £800. The
Suffolk best price is £3,600 with a
similar average. The sheep are run
on a commercial basis to allow more
emphasis to be placed on the cattle
enterprise.
A flock of 500 Lleyn ewes is also
run to enable all the sheep to be MV
accredited and flock replacements to
be home bred. They are bred pure
as well as being crossed with the
Suffolk. Some of of the females are
kept and crossed with the Texel.
The Suffolks lamb at the end of
January with the Texels and Lleyns
following from the end of March-
beginning of April.
Jonathan and Jayne Watson
Bowsden Moor
Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Northumberland TD15 2TG
Tel: 01289 387322
Mob: 07970 131425
 machinery

THE BRYCE HD180 A POST DRIVER WITH A DIFFERENCE

You will already be familiar with that the tracked dumper is able to driver mounted forward on the
the Bryce Suma brand and the swivel through 180º without any chassis mounted over the turret.”
chances are you have heard of fuss and as such, gives the added
Kattrak International Ltd, but have versatility of being able to drive
you heard of the Bryce HD180? posts from either side or anywhere If you would like more
in between. The patent for the information on the HD180
Over the years people have
Bryce HD180 design is currently visit www.brycesuma.co.uk or
made conversions on small
pending and it looks set to make www.kattrak.com
tracked machines to suit their
own needs and applications. The a substantial impact on the market
in the coming months. Alternatively you can speak
HD180 is now a commercially
to Jock on 07970 730567 or
available machine and is a unique Jock added, “The only way I could
Peter on 07860 231138
combination of features that allow get the stability and features for
a post to be driven with precision this post driver was to use a swivel Jock Strikes a deal with
quickly and easily without having type track machine with the post Peter and Gareth
to move the tracked machine
itself for post alignment. This is
an important point when working
on wet greasy sloping ground as
moving the complete machine can
upset the alignment between post
and mast.
The Bryce HD180 is a lightweight
tracked machine that combines
the strength and stature of a
Suma Post Driver with the agility
of tracked dumpers supplied by
Kattrak. It is aimed at contractors
looking for a one-man machine
that is quick and efficient with the
performance and features of much
bigger and heavier machines. The
collaboration between Jock Bryce
and Kattrak Managing Director
Peter McLaughlin came about after
one of Bryce’s contracting clients,
Ian McAnespie, was supplied with
a tracked machine from Kattrak
- only this machine was different.
Before completing the sale Peter
was given the opportunity to do a
conversion by attaching a Bryce
HD2 Post Driver onto the tracked
dumper . Kattrak then gave Bryce
a tracked machine for the purpose
of developing a high spec.post
driver that was compatible with
this little machine and so the
Bryce HD180 was born the
virtues of a small tracked machine
are well-documented in that they
are compact and lightweight but
as Jock says “you can’t hang a big
performance post driver on the back
of them”. As a fencing contractor,
he has always been very focused
on speed and efficiency and has
found a way round this problem
by developing a machine that has
all the performance, features and
hitting power of the well-known
Bryce Suma in a small lightweight
tracked outfit.
The Bryce HD180 is a bespoke
piece of machinery exclusive to
both Bryce Suma and Kattrak
International – the agreement is
that Kattrak supplies the tracked
dumper and Bryce does the
conversion work. The machine’s
name is derived from the fact

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 45

 machinery

New Holland flies the flag

for The royal wedding
One of the more creative products
released to celebrate the royal
wedding this year has to be from
New Holland. The company offered
a complimentary Union Flag bonnet
to all customers who bought a tractor
from their range during April.
New Holland’s Marketing Manager
Richard Spencer says the royal
wedding was an occasion to be
celebrated and acknowledged.
“British royal weddings are always
a really special occasion, not just
for Great Britain, but for millions
of people across the world. This
was a truly historic event and New
Holland, a manufacturer that is proud
to build in Britain recognised its
significance.”
New Holland is already flying the
flag for Britain; last year its plant
in Basildon, an operation globally
renowned for the high standard of
Richard concludes: “The New T6000 Range and Power Command opportunity for our customers to
its World Class Manufacturing, was
Holland Union Flag has already or a T7 standard wheelbase tractor. celebrate with us!”
awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ at
proved a popular choice with our “The royal wedding gave us all a
the prestigious Manufacturer of the
customers who can request this chance to show how proud we are
Year Awards 2010, the first year New www.newholland.com
enhancement when they purchase a to be British and this was an ideal
Holland has entered.

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

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FOR PROTECH SALES PLEASE CALL WOOLRIDGE FARM, GLOUCESTER ROAD

ANDREW HOOPER ON 07971079751 HARTPURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL19 3BG
e-mail: protechmachinery@yahoo.co.uk
OR COME AND SEE US AT THE fax: 01386 750772
DRIFFIELD SHOW - STAND NO. FC www.protechmachinery.co.uk

46 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


‘Solitair’ – Flexibility Can Help the
Fight Against Black Grass
Black grass is a major problem to
UK arable growers. 100 black grass
ears per m2 can reduce wheat
yield by 1 tonne per hectare. With
wheat valued up to £200 / tonne,
that equates to £200 / hectare, or
£80,000 on a 400 hectare crop.
Short rotations without a spring
break crop, early drilling, the
increase in minimum tillage, and an
increased herbicide resistance, have
all contributed to increase the black
grass problem in recent years.
LEMKEN clearly recognise the
importance of black grass control.
In 2010 We started a long term
trial with Masstock to understand
how the crop establishment system
effects the control of black grass.
Although there is no clear data
available from that trial yet, most
agronomists recommend rotational
ploughing, and drilling not sooner
than mid-October, where black
grass is a problem. This is in
contrast to many farmers’ wishes
to adopt a high speed min-till crop
establishment policy, and completing
drilling early in the autumn before
the wet weather sets in.
LEMKEN has extended our Solitair
drill range giving farmers the ‘best
of both worlds’. Drills from 3m
mounted, to 6m semi-mounted can
now be mounted on, and easily
interchanged between a power
Heliodor 6m disc harrow
with drill removed
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
machinery
harrow and disc harrow.
For high speed min-till work,
LEMKEN recommend mounting the
Solitair drill on the Heliodor disc
harrow. The drills ‘double disc and
press wheels’ will accurately place
the seed even at high speed in min-
till situations.
Once the min-till work has been
done, the drill can be quickly
swapped onto a Zirkon power
harrow and used very successfully
on wet ploughed land in October
or November. Furthermore, the disc
harrow and power harrow can be
used without the drill as stand-alone
machines if required.
The 3m Heliodor / Solitair
combination was displayed for the
first time at LAMMA 2011. Cereals
will be the debut for the full range
of machines, with 3m mounted,
and 6m semi-mounted machines on
display.
www.lemken.co.uk
47
 machinery

A tractor fit for a King

If you’re an Elvis fan, you really
can’t help falling in love with this
John Deere 4010 die-cast model
tractor from the Ertl Prestige
Collection.
Suitable for ages 14 and over, this
beautifully made and highly detailed
1:16 scale model is an authentic
replica of the John Deere tractor,
built in 1963, that was owned and
operated by the King of Rock and
Roll. Elvis frequently enjoyed driving
the tractor on his Mississippi ranch
after he acquired it in 1966.
Displayed in its box against a
photograph of Graceland, the
tractor is equipped with a 46A front
loader, an accessory rarely found
on die-cast collectible models.
Elvis’ signature is picked out in
gold on the top of the bonnet, and
every individual box has an
Elvis Presley licensed product at the Elvis Presley Automobile available free from John Deere
holographic sticker and a Museum at Graceland in Memphis, dealers.
special collector’s insert. Tennessee.

The original tractor was
fully restored by students
at Northwest Mississippi
Community College in Senatobia,
Mississippi, with guidance from
John Deere, and is now on display
The John Deere 4010 Elvis Presley
To find your nearest dealer, click
tractor is now available to order,
on the website’s Dealer Locator
list price £80.86 (including
at www.JohnDeere.co.uk or call
VAT), and is featured in the
Freephone 0800 085 2522.
company’s new 2011
Collection catalogue,

48 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


WHATS NEW WITH BROCKHILLS
OF YORKSHIRE?
The last time we caught up with
Peter Swales he had plenty of
exciting news to tell us about, and
today it seems, is no different.
Since Peter bought what used to be
known as GE Brockhills four years
ago, he has not only successfully
re-branded the company to become
Brockhills of Yorkshire, but has also
introduced new lines of franchise
machinery including Krone, He-Va, &
Stewart Trailers.
Now though, Peter and his team at
Brockhills have an even bigger reason
to celebrate. The company recently
completed the sale of their 50th New
Fendt tractor in just four years
This is a huge achievement for Brockhills
who have been specialist suppliers of
Fendt Tractors since 1979.
As well as having impressive figures
with the new machinery, Brockhills
are also experiencing good figures
selling used Fendt tractors, in fact
since April 2007they have sold 53
used Fendt tractors many of which
have been sourced from other Fendt
brockhills of yorkshire
WE TALK WITH MANAGING DIRECTOR
PETER SWALES
dealers within the UK..
Brockhills’ main franchise lines are
now Krone, He-va, Lemken, Guttler,
Votex, Stewart Trailers and of course
Fendt and whilst each brand is
proving just as popular as the next,
Peter is happy with those he has
chosen to supply.
He tells us, “I’m not looking to
introduce any new franchise lines
in the near future because I am
very happy with how things stand
at the minute. Our commitment to
the quality end of our equipment is
what matters most to me and I am Peter swales
certain that with the machinery we
have now, our high standards are
maintained.” last summer means that we now much rather continue being specialist
have machinery to cover all areas in what we do rather then become a
For Peter the “final piece of the
of agriculture whether its live-stock jack of all trades.”
jigsaw” came in February this year
farming, cultivation work or general And rightly so….
when he added Stewart Trailers to
agricultural contracting.”
his product line.
New additions Krone and Stewart
“Since I first took over here one of my If you would like more information
Trailers have been welcomed by both
main goals was to generate a healthy on Brockhills of Yorkshire Ltd
new and existing Brockhills customers.
presence within the arable market, visit www.brockhills.co.uk
and I think we definitely achieved “Our job is now to build on what
or call 01845 577242
that now. The addition of Krone we have and consolidate. We would
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 49
 handley

GLORIOUS SURROUNDINGS,
GLORIOUS STOCK!
LUCIE CARTER HEADS TO GUNNERFLEET FARM, NEAR INGLETON
TO MEET WITH THE HANDLEYS
Have you ever walked the three
peaks? Or witnessed the beauty
of the famous Ingleton viaduct? If
your answer is yes, then chances
are you will have been only a short
distance from Gunnerfleet Farm,
home of the Handley family.
Jim Handley first came to Gunnerfleet
Farm with his Mother and his Sister
in 1947, back then the farm was
covered an impressive 500 acres
that Jim managed to maintain himself
singlehandedly for many years. In
1959 Jim Handley married Janie, a
local girl whose father had farmed in
the nearby village of Newby Head.
When Jim and Janie eventually had
children of their own they decided
to raise them on the farm and teach from left: PETer,
them all there was to know about jim, janie, jock
breeding, buying, showing and selling. and ian
Now as adults, each son has
developed their own area of expertise;
John is the Managing Director of a introduced onto the farm in 1989 and we have been breeding up ever “Because it can be quite hard
local Landrover dealership, Peter is a when the pair realised the breed since. It has taken a long time to getting all the stock ready for so
dedicated sheep breeder responsible would not only bring them plenty of get the herd up to where we have it many sale days,” explains Ian, “Jock
for 300 pedigree Swales and Blue- enjoyment but would be profitable now, but I think we are very much comes over about twice a week to
Faced Leciesters and Ian is an expert too. there now.” help out.”
in Limousin cattle. Ian explains, “It all started when I To make sure their 70-strong herd is When asked whether or not he
Ian and his Wife Diane also farm at left school; I knew that I wanted to just as good as the next mans, the thinks the family have now made
Gunnerfleet Farm and have raised go straight into breeding pedigree Handleys regularly attend the breed a name for themselves in the world
their three daughters Chloe (9), Limousins and I actually think I took shows at Carlisle H&H auctions in of Limousin breeders Jim and Ian
Imogen (7) and young Katie (2) to it quite naturally. I find Limousins May, June and October. answer collectively; “I think we
there too. to have a good spirit; they are a To help prepare for such mammoth achieved that around about the
natural, muscular breed which are dates in the Limousin-breeder time of foot and mouth because
Breeding and rearing Limousin cattle
easy to manage, have good long calendar, the Handleys often bring we weren’t affected, although we
is now perhaps the most prominent
livers, and are incredibly hardy.” Stockman Jock Willey of JMW couldn’t trade whatsoever. It was
part of Gunnerfleet Farm as Ian
“We got the herd going by buying Livestock Services on board to help about the same time that we had
and Jim’s passion for the breed
two cows and a heifer from Mike them get the cattle up to scratch a bull called ‘Monkey-Tricks’ that
has continued to develop year-on-
Keeble when he decided to sell up and looking their very best. was doing very well and we were
year. Limousin cattle were originally

J M W Livestock Services
Glenfield, Back O’th Fell Road, Lindale, Grange Over Sands,
Cumbria LA11 6NB

Professional Show & Sales Preparation

+
General Farm Contract work

Contact Jock Wyllie

Call 07530 299864
Email jmwlstockservices@yahoo.co.uk

50 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


averaging between 7000gns and
8000gns with bulls at every sale.”
So how are prices at the minute we
ask? “The market has its ups and
downs these days,” admits Ian. “It
all depends on how the industry is
shaping up at that particular time.
At the moment we are finding that
a lot of beef farmers are packing up
because the price of fertilizer and
feed is going up. So we must now
really start to stand our ground.”
VSUHPLHUKLOOVKHHSEUHHG
handley
The farm building tHat ian plans to convert into holiday cottages
Exfactor’, a champion stock bull for If you would like more information on
38,000gns and sold two bulls for an Gunnerfleet Farm call the family on
impressive 7000gns and 9000gns! 01524 242366 or visit their website
The Handley’s main priority now is at www.gunnerfleet.co.uk.
to continually improve the quality
of their stock. To do so, Ian and
Ian Handley
Jim worked closely with genetics
Gunnerfleet Farm
and bloodlines, import and export
Chapel-le-dale
regularly, sell semen across the
Ingleton, Via Carnforth
world and enrole their stock under
Lancashire LA6 3AU
the Johnes testing accreditation.
stockman jock wyllie
Although this is a real concern for
the family, Stockman Jock insists its
all part and parcel of this industry;
“It is a worry yes because the less
customers you have coming to
these sales, the less likely you are
to sell. What we have noticed over
these last couple of years is that
there is a hell of a lot of interest in
commercials now.”
At a recent sale dale in Carlisle
the Handleys purchased ‘Bankdale
(QJODQG
$GDSWDEOHDQGYHUVDWLOH
/DPELVOHDQDQGULFKLQÁDYRXU
7+(027+(52)7+(&(/(%5$7('1257+2)(1*/$1'08/(
)RUIXUWKHUGHWDLOVSOHDVHFRQWDFWWKH6HFUHWDU\
-RKQ6WHSKHQVRQ
7HO
HPDLOMVWHSKHQVRQ#VZDOHGDOHVKHHSFRP
ZZZVZDOHGDOHVKHHSFRP
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 51
 nesbitt

High achievers at Alwent Hall

Chris Berry talks with Doug Nesbitt at Winston
Have you ever heard the phrase
‘selling coals to Newcastle’? Doug
Nesbitt and his family are the
farming equivalent as he proudly
tells of their achievements at
Alwent Hall Farm, Winston in
County Durham.
‘We were the first flock to sell female
Texels back to Holland and now
we’re the first herd to sell Charolais
embryos back to France for trials.’
None of this will come as a shock
to those in the livestock world who
have been involved in some way with
Doug over the years as his stock has
long been considered amongst the
best in the UK.
‘We run just over 100 pedigree Texel
ewes and have two flocks – Alwent
and Deneside. They are all based
here on this one farm and our main
business is in producing commercial
type high index commercial rams.
The jam on our bread is the pedigrees
and each year we flush about six of
our best ewes on multiple ovulation.
This year we have some very good Doug Nesbitt with his top ram
lambs in the Deneside flock by a
tup that we bought a quarter share
in. The tup cost 18,000 guineas produce high performing sheep. We
at Lanark and is called Allanfould think performance is the key and
Rockerfella. We also have a one- more and more people are starting to
third share in another ram Ettrick recognise that. Commercial men are
Rainbow Warrior which cost 10,500 looking for sheep with figures now
guineas. They are both very high and they are prepared to pay decent
index rams – Rockerfella is 391 and money for them. Most commercial
Rainbow Warrior is 361. That puts men want something that can breed
them both in the top 1% for the faster growing commercial sheep.’
breed.’ The Nesbitts sell around 50 rams
Prior to Foot and Mouth Disease in a year and Doug admits to being
2001 the Nesbitts – two of Doug’s one sheep farmer who is delighted
sons, Steven and David, are also to see just a single ram lamb born
very much involved – had close on from a ewe – either that or twin ewe
200 Texels. lambs.
‘We cut down a bit after that but Showing their cattle or sheep is not a
we’ve always had the same aim to large part of the family activity these

Professional, practical and

comprehensive animal healthcare.
Support and advice for farmers
in Teesdale and beyond.

We are pleased to be associated with

Doug Nesbitt and Family
and wish them continued success for the future.

Tel: 01833 695695 Fax: 01833 690085

E-mail: enquiries@castlevets.net
Montalbo Road, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 8ED
www.castlevets.net

52 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


days and they now show at just the
Northumberland County Show at
Corbridge and the Great Yorkshire
Show in Harrogate.
‘We have shown at the Royal Show,
but of course that is no longer, and
the Royal Highland Show, but it
takes up a lot of time. We’ve done
okay at the Great Yorkshire. We
have had the male, female and
overall Texel breed champion there.
First prize is quite an achievement
at Harrogate because it is a terribly
strong show for Texels. We showed
the Charolais cattle at the Royal just
after Foot and Mouth but we haven’t
shown them much since.’
Doug has lived at Alwent Hall all
of his 78 years. His grandfather
Thomas Nesbitt moved here in
1925 and his father, also Thomas,
took over. Doug is also a Thomas,
christened Thomas Douglas Nesbitt.
He and his wife Marjorie have four
offspring, three boys and a girl –
Martin, Steven, David and Jane.
‘I have no qualifications whatsoever
apart from O levels. Steven and
David went to Houghall College.
The only one on the farm who has
an agricultural degree is Brian who
works with us. He went to Newcastle
University.
nesbitt / graham edwards
David works more on the sheep Qualifications or the lack of them
side, with Steven looking after the have clearly never hampered Doug in
cattle. Steven is a man in demand his quest to produce the best quality
and just as we were going to press stock of cattle or sheep. He is also
with this issue he was jetting off to a past chairman of the Texel Sheep
Mexico to judge Charolais across the Society. It just might be worth your
Atlantic. while taking a look at the Nesbitts’
‘We have a herd of 25 pedigree latest ram lambs this year too!
Charolais and we are finding that
there is a lot of interest in the polled
Doug Nesbitt
Charolais at the moment because
Alwent Hall Farm,
of its easier calving, as well as not
Winston, County Durham
having to dehorn them. We have a
Tel: 01833 660769
bull of our own but we have been
using and marketing semen from
France. We sell bulls up at Perth or
Carlisle.’

PROGRESSIVE BREEDING
WITH QUALITY FEEDING

Forage and Soil analysis

Carrs Fertilisers
Animal Health Products
Spray chemicals
Minerals
Forage Additives
Crop Packaging
Livestock Handling Equipment
Also Main Dealers for Massey Ferguson,
Kuhn, Krone, Honda BVL, Kawasaki
and much more
Full Sales, Service and Parts
Carrs Billington would like to wish
Philip Sharman
Tel: 01833 637537 Doug Nesbitt
Mob: 07889 089188
www.carrs-billington.com continued success

Extra Length from Graham Edwards

New livestock trailer for those who want something bigger

‘We have always prided ourselves
on producing what our customers
want,’ says Matthew Edwards. ‘And
that means listening to what they
have to say. That’s why we have
come up with the latest trailer in our
range which is longer than many of
our traditional livestock trailers.’
Graham Edwards Trailers latest model
to join the fleet is the TDL6418,
which is an 18ft x 7ft tractor-drawn
livestock trailer.
‘A lot of people were using our 14ft
model but wanted something bigger
to carry more stock than they have
been able to. What they didn’t want
was the expense or the weight of a
bale trailer with container. That’s why
what we have come up with is an
18ft model that is a 6.4 tonne non
demountable trailer.
The idea has already proved a hit with
customers and Matt believes that this
year’s agricultural show season will
see a number of his customers taking
a closer look.
‘It is all about responding to customers’
needs. This 18ft demountable trailer
fits the farmers’ pockets well too.
Contact us now for early delivery.
If you feel you need a trailer with
that bit extra space to transport
more stock for little extra cost the
TDL6418 is the one for you.’
www.edwardstrailers.co.uk

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 53

 young farmers
Yorkshire Young Farmers 24
Carrot coast to coast Challenge
Yorkshire Young Farmers recently
travelled coast to coast to the
National YFC Annual convention
at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens &
Opera House on a pedal powered
four man bike. Members chose
the theme of carrots as this year’s
Yorkshire’s greatest export and
pedaled the Carrot bike 148 miles
from Scarborough to the golden
mile promoting YFC and raising
funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust
as they go.
There was stiff competition between
many of the county YFC Federations
to arrive in style in Blackpool where
over 5000 members gathered.
In previous years Yorkshire
YFC members have travelled to
conventions by tractors, baths,
three wheeled cars, and even a
giant pedal-powered crisp box. Last
year they arrived at Torquay on a
homemade pedal amphibious craft
via inland waterways and the sea!
Tim Atkinson, Vice Chairman of
Yorkshire YFCs Development and
Marketing committee is delighted how
CUMBRIA YFC TOP COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY
The National Federation of Young
Farmers Clubs, with 662 Clubs
and 25,000 members held their
annual general meeting at the
Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Over
500 young farmers from Cumbria
travelled down for the weekend to
support Cumbrian Young farmers’
part in competitions there.
Last year’s County Chairman Steven
Dixon was proud to receive the
YFC SPEAKS UP FOR CUMBRIA
Cumbrian Young Farmers proved they are the best public speakers in
the North of England when they competed against Young Farmers from
Durham, Northumberland, Yorkshire, East Riding and Lancashire at Whitby
in the Northern Area Sports and Speaking Finals.
54 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
this year’s challenge shaped up. He
said, “Members chose the carrot this
year as it is visually striking and many
people don’t realise just how many
carrots are grown in and exported
from Yorkshire. We are delighted that
Poskitts Carrotts came on board as
our main sponsor and we are pleased
with how this fabulous event has
promoted YFC and the charity work
the club carries out.”
Aside from providing funding for
the creation of the ‘Carrot bike’ Mr
Poskitt owner of the sponsoring firm
has chosen the Teenage Cancer
Trust as the chosen charity to
benefit from this event. The Teenage
Cancer Trust is a charity devoted to
improving the lives of young people
with cancer.
Sisters Rachael and Jennifer Moore
from Worth Valley Young Farmers
Club near Keighley were part of the
team cycling the route. Rachael
said, “We thought we might be
shattered with a very numb bum
by the time we reached Blackpool,
but it has definitely been worth
NFU Trophy from the new NFYFC
President Matt Baker. This is
presented to the Champion County
Federation in the country. Cumbria’s
Drigg YFC was also thrilled to receive
a new trophy presented by outgoing
President, Lionel Hill. This was for the
Club who had collect most money for
charity; Drigg raised £23,000 for the
Special Care Baby Unit at the West
Cumberland Hospital.
Cumbria won the Junior Member
of the Year, Emma Armstrong,
Caldbeck; Senior Member of the
Year, Craig Brough, Raughton Head;
Creative Writing, Rachel Edminson,
Longtown; Intermediate Just A
Minute, Lisa Bowe, Emma Salthouse
and Josie Mitchinson of Raughton
Head and Senior After Dinner
Speaking, Lisa Mason, Dennis Sharp,
it because the money raised will Lancashire. Finally on Friday 6th the
hopefully make the lives of those team dropped down to Blackpool to
people our age that suffer from cross the finish line!”
cancer a little easier.”
The team of Young Farmers
Anyone wishing to support the
launched the event on Monday
charity aspect of our ride should
2nd May on Scarborough’s South
contact Rachael Moore on
Bay. The route took the team from
07887 530 187 and for more
Scarborough to Thirsk on Day 1, and
information contact the Yorkshire
through Northallerton, Bedale and
YFC office on 01423 865 870
Hawes on Day 2. From there the
cycle team pushed on through the
EDS note: Well done on
peaks and troughs of the Yorkshire
raising £600 so far!
Dales and headed to Cockerham in
County Organiser Jan Davinson said,
“This has been an amazing weekend
for Cumbria and I am pleased that
the hard work put in by members,
advisory and parents has been
recognised. It is a huge honour to
win the NFU Trophy.”
Visit www.cumbriayfc.co.uk
for more information Matt presenting the trophy
Emily Jenkinson and Sam Tyson from
Drigg YFC were 2nd in Jazz Dancing
and Pennine’s Ladies 5 a-side
Daniel Asplin, Craig Brough and Tom Football team of Megan Robinson,
Redmayne. Hayley Pattinson, Charlotte Bell,
Aimee Wilson and Laura Smithson
Caldbeck’s Laura Potts, Amy Clarke,
were also placed 2nd.
Sarah Gate and Ben Wilde won the
swimming and Raughton Head’s 60 County Chairman, Craig Brough said
strong cast won the Entertainment “It has been a brilliant weekend
with fantastic results. I am really
Competition.
proud of all the members who put
Laura Potts and Ben Wilde plus
so much time and effort into these
Emma Armstrong came 2nd in
competitions. All these members will
Junior Speaking and Laura was also
now compete at National Finals.”
2nd in Junior Member of the Year.
Skelton’s Juniors, Mark-Lucas
Winspear, Flora Blackburn and Congratulations to all
Elaine Holme were 2nd in Junior of the winners!
Reading; Chelle Buchanan, Julie and
 robson tractors OPEN DAY
Not just tractors at
Carlton Husthwaite
farmersmart talks with David Franks of Robson Tractors
Farm machinery open days are
annual events for some companies,
but not Robson Tractors at Carlton
Husthwaite who held theirs
recently.
‘This is our first since February
2005,’ said David Franks, partner
in the business. ‘We’ve had over
500 here already and it’s only just
into the afternoon. It was supposed
to be a 10am start but we had
people last night and others started
arriving at 9.30am.’
David and his team, which included
the team from the Malton branch,
were out in force on the day.
‘We had quite a lot to show people
and we wanted to get the message
across that we don’t just deal in
tractors but the full range of farm
machinery. We have just taken on
56 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
the McHale franchise so we wanted
people to be able to come and take
a closer look at that too. McHale
had approached us around three
years ago and we didn’t take it on
previously because we didn’t believe
we could do it justice at the time.’
‘We were short of a baler franchise
though and that’s what led to our
eventual decision to take it on.
Usually you get into the situation
whereby you have to have not just
the company’s balers but their
mowers, rakes and tedders too.
We were already well covered in
that department by Pottinger which
we’re very happy with, so I didn’t
want anything to detract from
that.’
Robson Tractors made its name as
a used farm machinery dealership
prior to taking on the Massey
Ferguson franchise and opening
up its second centre on the road
between Malton and Pickering.
David believes that the company
is standing up well in the face of
difficult trading conditions in the
farm machinery market place.
‘Although it is fair to say that corn
prices and livestock prices have
gone up I’d say it is not as easy
to sell farm machinery as it was
around 2-3 years ago. The market
has changed and become more
difficult. High input prices are
causing some farmers to hold on to
the farm equipment they have for a
while longer.’
In addition to the new McHale
franchise Robson Tractors also
launched another at their open day
– Dal-Bo rollers from Denmark.
But the open day wasn’t all
about announcing new machinery
franchises. It was also an ideal time
for David’s two new salespeople to
find their feet.
‘Having additional sales people on
the team is another of the reasons
why I am more confident in our
ability to handle the new franchises
that have come on board,’ said
David.
There were hundreds of machines
on display and sales were made
throughout the day.
www.robsontractors.co.uk
 robson tractors OPEN DAY

David Franks (left) at Robson Tractors Open Day lIVE MACHINERY DEMONSTRATION

THE SUN STAYED OUT

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 57

 lumley
REAP THE REWARDS BY
BREEDING YOUR OWN
jennifer mackenzie talks to denis lumley at nookton
The sheep need to be tough at
Nookton, Blanchland, and as a result
Denis Lumley and his sons Stephen
and John have taken the somewhat
unusual step of using mostly home-
bred tups.
The enclosed fell on the 2,000 acre
hill farm in County Durham is hard
and mostly black heather and Denis
who took over from his father who
started farming there in 1967 has
adopted the policy of using both
Swaledale and Bluefaced Leicester
stock rams bred to the harsh
conditions.
“Our predecessor at Nookton, the
late George Middleton, warned us
from the start, never buy a soft tup
that had as he put it ‘been stuffed
58 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
at both ends’,” said Denis. “He would
regularly buy a tup, for no other
reason than it had entered the sale
ring, and promptly jumped straight
out. Taken that as a clue to vigour,
we carried on the tradition.
“The ewes however were tremendous,
we only discovered how tremendous
when we lost them in the foot and
mouth cull.”
Half of the 800 Swaledale ewes
at Nookton are bred pure for
replacements and stock tups while
the remainder are crossed with the
Bluefaced Leicester from the farm’s
own 20-ewe flock.
“In appearance, what we replaced
the Swaledale ewes with after foot
and mouth were far superior, but
performance was all over the place,
not necessarily how you would think.
One of the biggest problems was the
sheer number of lambs, twins and
triplets. The cake bill went through
the roof and we then spent that
summer run ragged, with loads of
sheep in fields, and 1600 acres of
fell largely unstocked,” said Dennis.
Now by breeding with their own
known tups, Denis says they are
saving between £6,000 and £8,000
a year, mainly on concentrate feed
costs but also the price of bought in
rams. The ewes are also lasting so
much longer.
Denis and Stephen - John also runs
his own machinery business - have
opted for an easy care type of sheep
which in effect is turning back the
clock a few decades and relying on
old fashioned stockmanship.
Keeping only single tup lambs off
ewes at least three crop that had
lambed every year without problems,
seven years on there are tup hoggs,
triplets are almost non existent, twins
off gimmers are getting less, geld
ewes less and the fell sheep are
producing about 10% twins, rising
to 50% when brought inside to the
Leicester.
Mule gimmer lambs and wethers are
sold privately off the farm to regular
customers.
Using home-bred tups on three

THREE GENERATIONS OF LUMLEYS
quarters of the Swaledales, two
shearling rams were bought in last
autumn to provide an outcross. One
was bought for £3,000 at Hawes
from John Mason, Oddacres, Skipton,
the other a Swaledale cross Blackface
bought privately from Michael Gibson,
Thornton Towers, Newbrough.
Surplus shearling rams are sold at
home in the autumn with 14 for sale
this year.
This drive towards self sufficiency and
keeping input costs to a minimum
is also followed with the Bluefaced
Leicesters which are registered
crossing types. Again surplus tups are
sold privately, mainly to Scotland.
“We produce them like we would
want to buy them ourselves. The
key is them staying alive. In the past
we have found we have bought in
problems. We are just commercial
farmers and we have come into
the tup job for our own use,” said
Denis, a former chairman of the
Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders’
Association.
Some stock rams have been bought
in recent years including from
Nunscleugh, Duhonu and Lowesfell.
Sheep with any problems are taken
out of the flock.
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and wish them continued success for the future
lumley
SO CUTE!
Nookton has taken a stand at
Northsheep on June 8 with three
pens of its sheep.
The farm also has a herd of 30
Angus cross cows which have been
run in favour of continental crosses
for the last decade. Only heifers off
cows that calve every year are kept
as replacements and surplus calves
are sold well-grown and in store
condition at a year old at Hexham
Mart, mostly going to finishers for
specialist schemes.
The cows also by necessity are hardy
and they are bred to bulls from John
Elliot’s Rawburn herd at Kelso which
also have excellent mothering ability.
The cows are wintered on straw and
silage and calves are fed a rolled
barley mix.
Denis Lumley
Nookton Farm, Blanchland
Consett DH8 9UH
Tel: 01434 675233
The Granary Steps
Slaley, Hexham
Tel: 01434 673204
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 59
 great newsome brewery

Working up a thirst
in Holderness
Chris Berry talks with Matthew Hodgson at Great Newsome Brewery
Sleck Dust, Pricky Back Ochan,
Frothingham Best and Jem’s Stout Matthew Hodgson
- up until the last two you might
have been struggling to work out
what connected the titles, but of
course they are all beers.
They are all produced by the
Hodgson family who farm at Great
Newsome near Withernsea on the
Holderness coast. They started
Great Newsome Brewery four years
ago as an additional enterprise to
support the traditional family arable
farming business.
‘We had a passion for real ale,’ says
Matthew Hodgson, who runs the
brewery operation with his brother
Jonathan running the farming side.
‘We first looked at starting a brewery
in 1999 but it wasn’t until 2006
that we found the time was right.
The market for real ale was growing
at the time and it has grown a lot
since. It’s worked in our favour.’
Situated where they are, bounded
by water four miles to the east by
the North Sea and seven miles to
the south by the River Humber,
their local trading area is not the
largest but they have succeeded in
building a viable and sustainable
enterprise in just a short time.
‘There’s always a degree of doubt
over whether new ideas are going
to work but the feedback we were are constantly coming up with new and Huddersfield.’ ‘On the arable side things are a lot
getting from people was that they beers. Overall we have brewed over Whilst the original intention was different to when we started the
were looking for a local product. 20 beers. We’ve done well in our for the brewery to assist the farm brewery. We were going through
We knew that if we made a decent local area and one or two of our business the Hodgsons have been two years of poor commodity prices
product and gave it good local customers now promote it as a enjoying a successful time with and high fertiliser costs. Things
branding that it should work.’ local product.’ both enterprises. were pretty bleak. We were selling
Whilst the bottled beers make for wheat for £58/tonne. That was just
They didn’t skimp on the kit they
needed to produce quality beer and a good photograph Matthew tells of
set about putting together a sound 85% of their trade being cask beer.
business plan. ‘Cask beer is growing but we are also
‘Fashion has driven the popularity finding that our bottled beer market
of real ale. I think CAMRA deserve is growing at an even greater rate.
a degree of praise for that. They are That means the brewery is growing
constantly trying to bring real ale too. Between 2009 and 2010 our
to a wider audience. We also pay sales increased by 69% and we are
a lower rate of beer duties than still finding new customers.’
the larger breweries and that has ‘We are bordered on two sides by
helped us out too.’ water but that said we have pretty
SLECK DUST was their first beer good transport links to and through
Halsham, Hull HU12 0BT
and it remains their most popular. the city of Hull. Our local market
Tel 01964 614233 Fax 01964 613227
It is 3.8% strength and it makes up takes us to the edge of the Yorkshire
www.northfieldagric.com
around 25% of all the beer they sell. Wolds, above Driffield; to the North
York Moors and the east coast; and
‘We have four core brands, a Wishing Great Newsome Brewery continued
over the Humber into Lincolnshire.
couple of occasional ones, and we success for the future!
We also do pretty well in Sheffield

60 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 great newsome brewery

Jonathan & Matthew Hodgson Roll out the barrel at Great Newsome

prior to starting the brewery. Just
recently we have been selling wheat
for £200/tonne.’
The Hodgsons have also increased
the amount of land they farm, now
running up to 1000 acres following
semi retirement of a neighbour and
retirement of a relative. They own
all but 220 acres.
‘Jonathan is involved with satellite
technology. It’s something we’re
really keen on and it is moving
things forward on the farm. We
currently grow wheat on around
60% of the farm with first and
second wheats; plus we have
oilseed rape, beans and vining weeks a month on the deliveries.
peas as break crops.’ Right! Time for a pint of Sleck
Great Newsome Brewery now Dust please!
operates with Matthew and a local
man, Nick, who started with them
part-time but is now their full-time www.greatnewsomebrewery.co.uk
brewer. They have also just taken
on a part-time driver. He works two

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 61

 rising sun farm

A WONDERFULLY REFRESHING
FARMING ENTERPRISE
WE VISIT RISING SUN FARM TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
Rising Sun Farm situated just
outside of Wallsend, Tyne and Wear
is the perfect representation of
how a fully-functioning agricultural
enterprise can work in equal
partnership with the community
that surrounds it, and do so
successfully.
The organic community farm was
established in the early nineties by
the Rising Sun Farm Trust, a local
organisation that was formed to bring
members of the public closer to the
rural land that lay on their doorstep
whilst also creating educational,
social and recreational significance
within the community. Julie (Farm Manager) and margaret Hall (trust chair Person)
Margret Hall has led the Trust since
it began and has played a key role in by the local authority of 444 acres In 1986 the local authority had the for children within the area. Of
seeing the organisation successfully of conservation park land, including opportunity to buy the old hospital course Rising Sun Farm was situated
into the 21st century. The farm of a teaching centre developed from an and created a Nature Reserve that on the land too.
175 acres is in a country park run old isolation hospital. was to be used as a teaching centre

62 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


The lease of Rising Sun Farm was
purchased by the local authority
and it quickly became clear that the
best way to run the farm would be
as a dedicated charitable trust, now
known as the Rising Sun Farm Trust.
Being a community farm isn’t the
only significance here though,
because Rising Sun is also an
organic farm a factor which was
very much ahead of local thinking of
the time. The Trust has worked hard
to create an organic farm from what
was once the site of one of Europe’s
largest coal mining pits. The farm
has been Soil Association certified
since 1993, a circumstance that
has both benefitted and burdened
the Trust.
Margaret admits that even though
being an organic farm is somewhat
fashionable these days, it certainly
the future to look forward to. The
staff and volunteers who run the
farm daily now work to promote
education and knowledge of farming
and the countryside; “The farm
has been home to a special needs
Day Service since 1995,” explains
Margret, “and we work closely with
people with learning difficulties in
growing our beautiful produce”.
There are currently two farm
managers working at Rising Sun,
Julie Taylor and Mark Wright. Both
started working as volunteers on the
farm and were officially employed by
the Trust in February this year.
Although the last seven years of
Julie’s working life have been spent
at Rising Sun Farm, when she first
left agricultural college eight years
ago she wasn’t even aware that such
a successful and unique enterprise
rising sun farm
Rising Sun Farm now invites
members of the public to come
on site and really get their hands
dirty. Visitors can help twelve of
the regular volunteers with sheep,
pigs and goats, can nurture crops,
grow vegetables and can work
on the arable land. An extremely
popular livery business is also run
on site and welcomes community
involvement too.
Students of all ages are encouraged
to pay the farm a visit whether it’s
through a guided tour-like session
or on an academic trip. As well as
welcoming students looking to gain
0*&2857<
invaluable hands-on experience,
older people in search of that
practical, rewarding pastime are also
invited onto the farm.
“We also get trainees from an
organisation called Nacro which
works with disadvantaged teens that
find themselves at risk of falling into
crime and gives them something
more constructive to do. As well as
this we have a day centre for adults
with learning difficulties.”
With so much going on at Rising
Sun Farm it’s easy to forget that
Continues page 64

wasn’t all those years ago.
She tells us “Organic status is very
important to us, but I must admit it
has become increasingly demanding
year-on-year to ensure that we retain
our certification, it’s an expensive
classification to keep hold of so
to think that we’ve managed it is
absolutely fantastic.”
Having dodged two recessions
and endured the horror of foot and
mouth, Rising Sun Farm now has
%8,/'(5/7' 
was situated just around the corner.
She tells us, “When I finished
studying I wanted to gain more
experience so my lecturer pointed
me in this direction. I’d never heard
about this farm believe it or not.
I think this was because we are 63(&,$/,67,17,0%(5)5$0('%8,/',1*6
actually on an urban fringe here
within a fairly built up area, so
not many people know we’re here.
That’s one of our main aims now to :HDUHSOHDVHGWREHDVVRFLDWHGZLWK
5LVLQJ6XQ)DUP
show people where we are and what
we do.”
DQGZHZLVKWKHPFRQWLQXHG
VXFFHVVIRUWKHIXWXUH
7HO
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'LWFKEXUQ5RDG6RXWK&KDUOWRQ
$OQZLFN1RUWKXPEHUODQG1(-8
(PDLOWKHFRXUW\V#JRRJOHPDLOFRP
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 63
 rising sun farm
Battle Hill Primary School who came
for a farm tour and to plant some potatoes
the farm does in fact house sheep,
goats, pigs and chickens, to name
but a few!
“When I first came here there were
no animals here at all,” explains
Julie. “I was quite keen to bring
livestock back to the farm to make it
more than just a local attraction. We
now have two flocks of Wensleydale
and poll Dorset sheep, Saddleback
and Berkshire pigs which lend
themselves quite well to the organic
system that we have here, because
being a native breed they are hardy
and love the outdoor life. We also
have goats including the rare Golden
Guernsey, they’re a big hit with
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64 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
visitors especially now we have
some goat kids running around.”
Without a doubt the most exciting
development at Rising Sun Farm
came just last year when years
of unsuccessful grant applications
came to a triumphant end.
“Our Hands on the Land” was the
project that broke the mould. After
the Trust and the entire staffing
team at Rising Sun Farm put forward
their funding application plans to the
National Lottery Fund, they hoped
that the intricacy, importance and
local relevance of the project would
do the job, and it certainly did.
structures provide adequate shelter
for livestock, but they’re adaptable
to include space for feed, crop, and
equipment storage.
A variety of doors can also be
added in various styles and sizes
to add to the ease of access and
the versatility of your steel building;
makes it a lot easier for cattle,
horses and tractors to get in and
out and unique features and layouts
are available and suit even the
strictest of budgets.
For more information or
to find out how SA Steel
Buildings can help maximise
your farming potential visit
www.sasteelbuildings.co.uk
or call 0191 2531452
Gen Barlow, Project Manager of
“Our Hands on the Land” tells us,
“Essentially it is about reconnecting
children and their families with the
land as a source of food. The funding
has helped to encourage children,
families and the whole community to
engage with the land and understand
exactly where their food comes
from. Another aspect of our project
mission is to get community groups
to use the facilities we have and to
recognise what they can actually do
here on the site.”
“Our grant was put forward in
partnership with the local council,
local PCT and our local hospital
trust. Now we are getting underway
and the plans are becoming a reality
it is incredibly exciting!”
Since receiving the substantial amount
of funding major development work
has been carried in and around the
farm. A brand new timber building
has been constructed on site by MG
Courty Building Contractors that
comprises of two state-of-the-art
class rooms, the Cook Room and
the Orchard Room.
In addition to the new timber
buildings, a brand new steel sheep
shed has also been erected at Rising
Sun Farm. The structure is currently
in the process of being constructed
by the Whitley Bay-based firm SA
Steel Buildings, and as you will see
from our photos is already looking
very impressive indeed. The steel
shed will house sheep primarily
but it will also provide the perfect
environment for hands-on interaction
between visitors and the farms
inhabitants.
Julie tells us how these facilities will
be used, “These classrooms can
give students and adults the chance
to learn how to grow the food, sow
the plants, harvest them, cook them
and of course eat them. It brings the
whole thing together in one place.”
The money has also been used to
employ two new Food Facilitators
who will both work throughout the
farm and lead sessions in the new
buildings. The Rising Sun Farm Trust
are now seeking a feasibility study to
see what they can do with the older,
dilapidated farm buildings but they
are keen to ensure that any new
investments remain in tune with
everything else on the farm.
For more information on
Rising Sun Farm visit
www.risingsunfarm.co.uk or call
0191 234 0114
Rising Sun Farm
King’s Road North, Wallsend
Tyne & Wear NE28 9JL
 BRIAN ROBINSON
Grand Open Day at East Cowton
Chris Berry talks with Brian & Christine Robinson
Hundreds turned out in force for
Brian Robinson Machinery’s open
day at East Cowton in May. They
were treated to a massive array
of machinery from all of the BRM
franchises and for some it was their
first opportunity to take a look inside
the new building which houses the
stores department, shop, offices
and new training/meeting facilities.
‘The main reason for this open
day is celebrate the completion of
our newly refurbished building and
retail area, which we moved into in
December last year. It has 6500 sq
ft of space and we’re extending it at
the end of the year when we will put
on a further 9000 sq ft for our new
workshop which will put everything
under one roof.’
It’s quite a change from when Brian
started out with his wife Christine.
‘’We started off with a small workshop
and after 2 years in business built a
2000 sq ft workshop which at the
time I felt was massive. We outgrew
that as machinery grew larger and
19 years ago we opened up what
I thought again was a massive area
with a 4000 sq ft workshop. Now
we have this fantastic new building.’
Christine is just as proud as Brian
over how far they have come.
‘We’re not a company where we
have taken over from previous
family members. Everything we have
done has been how we and the
people who work with us, including
manufacturers, have helped to
develop the business over the past
29 years. This building was once
just used as a machinery store, now
it looks great and we are also looking
forward to lots of bookings for our
new meeting and training facility.’
Another reason for our open day is to
celebrate Valtra’s 60th anniversary,’
said Brian. ‘We have now been
selling the brand that was originally
called Valmet for the past 21 years.
Valtra tractors, parts and service
makes up around 40% of the total
Brian Robinson Machinery business.
‘We now have hundreds of Valtra
tractors on farms. When we sell a
tractor we hope that the tractor will
stay on that farm for a number of
years and we will benefit from the
workshop and parts business. That’s
the way it pretty much works out.
They are high spec, reliable tractors
and their ‘a la carte’ system of
manufacturing to each customer’s
requirements is still what customers
like.
66 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
Christine Robinson - raising funds Brian on a tractor
for Yorkshire Air Ambulance from yesteryear
If you ever get chance to visit Valtra’s both one-pass cultivation and caught out by not understanding the
production line in Finland you will precision farming. horsepower requirements of such an
notice their attention to individual ‘There has been a noticeable shift exercise. The thing is that if you use
detail.’ in seedbed preparation around here. the power harrow combination over
But Brian Robinson Machinery is far There had been a move towards two days it isn’t far removed from
more than just about one brand, as one-pass, but there has now been what you’d get done with a one
pass system because you would still
was plainly evident at the open day. a definite movement back to power
spend a day in preparation for one-
‘Our oldest franchise is JF which is harrow combinations. The power
pass.’
now JF-STOLL. We’ve done really harrow and drill combination is now
well with their diet feeders especially back as the preferred method. I ‘There has been a lot more talk about
on both dairy and beef farms. think a lot of people who went down precision farming lately. We now
POTTINGER and JOSKIN have also the route of one-pass have been have a few customers using simpler
been good mainstays for us and
KUHN is now very much a part of
our stable of franchises. We don’t
stock the full KUHN range but we
do have balers, wrappers, tedders,
rakes and sprayers. We have three
sprayer franchises in all – Technoma,
Kuhn and Lemken – and they all
have very different features. On the
arable side LEMKEN has been an
excellent product for us with all of
their cultivation equipment. Readers
may also be interested to know
that Brian Robinson is now the
newly appointed area distributor for
HUDSON TRAILERS.
Elsewhere we have just decided to
expand into horticulture and have
taken on the ISEKI tractor franchise,
and our POLARIS quads business
has been transformed in the past 8-
9 months thanks to the launch of a
diesel model.’
‘Overall this year is going very well.
It’s not quite as buoyant as 2008
when our business went through the
roof, but after a slight dip last year
we’re currently enjoying good solid
growth. Diesel costs are uppermost
in farmers minds at present, in
addition to the problems of diesel
storage regulations from February of
this year. We are doing our best to
offer advice in terms of storage and
consumption.’
Brian believes there has been a shift
in arable farmers’ attitudes towards
 BRIAN ROBINSON

Collar in - Collar out -

get it sorted lads

Brian Robinson - The Man! Now are you sure you don’t want it?

satellite systems and we are about to
have a demonstration with a system
being put forward by AGCO. I think
there is a greater understanding
from customers over what they are
trying to achieve. They are applying
high quality and expensive fertilisers
and they want to make sure they are
putting it on accurately, cutting out
waste and making the most of what
they have.’
Inside the new Brian Robinson
Machinery premises was a stand
for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and we
pictured Christine alongside it for
one very good reason.
‘I’m raising funds for the charity by
completing the Coast to Coast Walk
from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay
during May,’ says Christine. ‘Take a
look at my Blog via our website and
you can see how I’ve been training
and I will continue to update my blog
while I’m walking – talking about the
good days and the bad!
If you would like to sponsor Christine,
go to the Brian Robinson Company
website www.brianrobinson.co.uk
and donate through her blog page or
offer a donation through her email
christine@brianrobinson.co.uk.
To end the Open Day, a presentation
was made to Mike Donaldson to
celebrate the past 25 years working
at Brian Robinson Machinery as an
agricultural engineer, specialising in
MF combines. Brian says it was a big
decision for Mike, as he already had
a full time job at Gill’s at Leeming
Bar and a huge responsibility for
me to take on my first employee
all those years ago back in 1986.
Mike was thrilled with the Border
Fine Art’s limited edition ‘Checking
the Ewes’ presentation gift.
www.brianrobinson.co.uk

East Cowton, Nr. Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 0DX

01325 378552 www.brianrobinson.co.uk

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 67

 west nubbock
West Nubbock
a modern hill and upland farm
NSA North Sheep hosts, Lewis and
Helen Forster are playing their role
as modern hill and upland farmers;
they’re achieving a balance
between food production, rearing
breeding stock for the lowlands
and managing the landscape.
Furthermore, with a world increase
in demand for protein food, they are
optimistic about the unit’s future.
“We are operating a commercial
farming business which is balanced
with environmental management,”
Lewis explains. “We have adopted
a twin approach to production.
We are focused on maximising the
breeding value of our flock, while the
vast majority of the farm is in HLS
and the remainder the HLS entry
scheme, so we aim to produce the
maximum number of kilos of lamb
from the permitted ewe stocking
rate, and our lamb crop has to be
of consistent quality from top to
bottom. Last season for example,
our Mule ewe lamb crop peaked at
£116 and sold for a very acceptable
68 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
average of £102 a head.
“First and foremost this is a livestock
farm, at the same time we really do
enjoy the stewardship element. In the
last 10 years we have rebuilt 1,500
metres of stone wall, planted 8,000
trees, re-laid 700 metres of hedge,
excavated ponds, and manage the
vegetation to encourage the farm’s
healthy population of Black Grouse,
Curlew, Lapwing and many other
ground nesting birds. We have a
good working relationship with our
landlord and land agent who are
very enthusiastic about our farming lewis and helen forster
practices. It works to everyone’s
mutual benefit.” yearlings at Hexham mart in May. basket and maximise the potential of
West Nubbock, Hexham is a 1,200 Stephen Craigie has worked full the different land values.
acre tenanted unit lying to average time on the unit for over 30 years The sheep enterprise is headed by
around 800’, all of which is in the and Thomas Nattrass helps at peak a core flock of North of England
SDA, DA and SSSI, Most of the farm times and with stone walling. The Blackface, genetics which are
is in the Northern Pennines AONB, farm’s mix of managed heather extremely well suited to the land
and carries a flock of 1,000 ewes moorland, rough grazing and sound type, says Lewis. “We’ve tried other
plus hoggs, together with a 140 in bye pasture perfectly lends itself hill breeds, however none match the
cow suckler herd. The Charolais to a stratified sheep farming system North of England Blackie – they just
cross calves are mainly sold as which also enables the Forsters to suit here.”
place their eggs in more than one

A portion of these Blackface ewes
are bred pure for replacement
purposes, and the remainder put to
the Bluefaced Leicester ram, manily
bred from the Forster’s own small
flock. The cream of the crop of Mule
ewe lambs are sold to repeat buyers
for breeding purposes either through
Hexham mart or privately at the farm,
and the remainder retained and put
to the Texel. These Texel cross lambs
together with the Blackface and
Mule wethers are finished off clover
rich swards to 45kg+ live target
weight and marketed direct from the
end of July to independent procurer,
Stephen Kirkup and Blackies, if
possible to Dunbia/Sainsbury’s Taste
the Difference scheme. The vast
majority of these lambs are away
by December, enabling concentrate
fed to be reduced to an absolute
minimal.
While the system may be very
traditional, the genetics are new to
West Nubbock and the management
practices bang up to date. “We
lost 80 years of North of England
Blackface breeding to FMD, and it
has taken us 10 years to restock,
however we are still not quite back
to where we would like to be. We’ve
got the weight back in the lambs,
however we still need to improve on
quality. We’re nearly a completely
closed flock, apart from buying in
College Centre for Agricultural
Innovation opened by CLA President
The recently established Bishop
Burton Centre for Agricultural
Innovation received a boost today
as its official home, a newly built
suite of offices, classrooms and
research units on the Bishop Burton
College campus in East Yorkshire,
was opened by the Country Land
and Business Association (CLA)
President William Worsley.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution
of Chartered Surveyors and lives at
Hovingham, North Yorkshire, where
he runs a family business involving
farming, forestry and residential and
commercial property in Hovingham,
North Yorkshire. He is also a non-
executive director of the Skipton
Building Society and The Brunner
Investment Trust plc.
William was invited to open the new
building by College Principal Jeanette
Dawson who said: “It’s extremely
beneficial for our students to meet
industry representatives such as
president of the CLA, who can offer
advice, encouragement and provide
inspiration.
west nubbock
tups, Blackies, Bluefaced Leicesters 1920s. Whether or not the couple’s will continue to strive to improve
and Texels, all of which we select on daughters, 16 year old Lucy and our performance efficiency, however,
confirmation.” Sophie, 13 years will be the next as feed, fertilizer and fuel costs
The Forsters have a close working to take on the challenge remains continue to spiral and having to
relationship with their local vet to be seen. “The opportunity will work within the current legislative
practice, Intake Veterinary Services, be theirs,” says Lewis. “As well as framework, we would prefer to
Hexham which encouraged them to being active members of Whitley be price makers rather than price
adopt a Farm Health Plan for both Chapel YFC, South Northumberland takers for our lamb and beef. Until
the flock and the suckler herd. “We’ve Pony Club and the Haydon Hunt, then, we will still be dependent on
since introduced proactive strategies, both our girls are very much hands payments to enable us to reinvest
for example for worming, vaccination on helping out on the farm whether and maintain a sustainable family
and feet issues, which enable us to it’s lambing or planting trees.” farming business.”
put a preventative plan in place and He adds: “Overall, we are optimistic
avoid fire brigade action.” for our future as well as theirs,
For more information call
Grassland management is also high simply because of the expanding
01434 603452
on the agenda. “We reseed annually world population and accompanying
around 25 acres of ley within a four increase in demand for food. We
to 10 year rotation,” Lewis explains.
“After the silage cut, we direct drill a
long term perennial rye mix rich in
red or white clovers. I believe that
it’s far better to invest in a good ley
both for grazing and conservation
purposes, than buy in fertiliser to
invigorate tired swards,” he explains.
“The result is to achieve better grass
growth from a minimum amount
of nitrogen application. We operate
a rotational grazing system which
includes a 10 day break every few
weeks to freshen up the swards that
are topped later in the season to
prevent reseeding.”
Lewis is the third generation of
Forsters to farm at West Nubbock,
who have been here since the
“William Worsley is a fantastic
character, and a great advocate
not only for Yorkshire, but for rural
England and all that includes, and
our learners and staff feel privileged
to have met and spent time with him
– it is something they will remember
for a long time.”
The College’s Centre for Agricultural
Innovation has been established to
draw together all strands of land-
based research currently carried out
by staff and students at the College William Worsley, Harriet Clark and Jeanette Dawson
as Mrs Dawson explains:
“We hope that by establishing a Centre He said: “I’m hugely impressed these businesses are so on board
such as this, the results of valuable by the immaculate campus and with it, and that the students are
applied research can be used, built how everything is so beautifully able to approach organisations with
upon and promoted effectively to the organised. The idea of the Centre for their ideas and get such positive
betterment of agricultural and allied Agricultural Innovation is a brilliant responses.
industries.” one. Both the idea and the building “It’s really important to the CLA that
William Worsley was impressed the are very efficiently laid out and the young people are engaged with land
College’s facilities and the students he students are clearly engaged. I’m management and agriculture, and
met during his visit, which included a very encouraged by the quality of the we have recently launched a student
tour of the campus and the chance to dissertations. membership to encourage this.”
meet some of the College’s agriculture “I’m also encouraged by their
degree students, who spoke to him engagement with commercial
about their dissertation projects and www.bishopburton.ac.uk
enterprises and the sponsorship they
their plans for the future. have obtained, it’s impressive that
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 69
 field to fork

alison and john spenslEy

working in partnership

SEEING IT THROUGH FROM

FIELD TO FORK
WE LEARN MORE ABOUT AN EXCITING INCENTIVE DEVELOPED
IN THE HEART OF SKIPTON
The traceability of food is now
proving more popular than ever; as
more and more of you turn to your
local butcher for only the finest
cuts of meat, it’s becoming clear
that pre-packaged, formulated food
will no longer satisfy those niggling
hunger cravings.
Almost five years ago, Skipton-based
farmers John and Alison Spensley were
approached by Drake and Macefield,
one of Skipton’s most traditional and
highly-regarded butchers, and asked if
they would consider selling their cattle
directly through the shop, which is
situated in the heart of the town’s
bustling centre.
The Spensleys were eager to say yes
and a field-to-plate partnership was
quickly formed. John tells us, “It was
an entirely new enterprise for us and
we were very keen to get the ball
rolling. For many years I’ve sold cattle
through the auctions and onto the
abbatoir, but I’d never had a major
involvement with the end product
until this partnership began.”
Drake & Macefield have been serving
the finest meat at their shops in
Skipton and Settle for 113 years; in
fact they are now Craven’s longest-
standing traditional butchers. Since its
formation in 1898, the business has
looked to supply only the best locally-
reared produce to its loyal customers.

E
for stab
ove lish
r 3 ed
0y
ea
rs

Specialists in Farm Accounts and Agricultural Taxation

Contact Alastair Cromarty
1-5 Alma Terrace, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1EJ
Tel: 01756 795417 Fax: 01756 701047

We are pleased to be associated with John and Alison Spensley

and wish them continued success for the future

70 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 field to fork

ian thompson and richard teal JACK macefield

Now, in 2011, Richard Teal and
Ian Thompson run the business in
partnership and continue to ensure
that the stock remains in line with
the standard first introduced by its
founder, the late Jack Macefield all
those years ago.
After the field-to-plate partnership
was agreed, the Spensleys, who
farm at Manor Farm in Thorlby,
began selling prime beef (British
Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus
breeds) and lamb, all of which are
raised completely naturally on the
560 acres of rich pasture land. Their
livestock is grass-fed in the summer
months and finished on a special
high-energy diet of potatoes, maize,
grass sileage, crushed and rolled
barley, and protein pellets.
John continues, “In total we sell
three cattle and eight lambs a week
to Richard and Ian and we do so
fifty-two weeks a year. Drake and has it strengthened local business “It’s perfect because we are
Macefield are literally only two miles relations, but it has also given doing something positive for the
away and are, I think, the only them a guaranteed income, which consumer,” John continues, “but
butchers in Skipton doing this sort in this turbulent industry accounts also for ourselves now because the
of thing.” for plenty. trading relationship with Drake and
Indeed they are. The Q Guild
accredited butchers are now receiving
recognition for their field-to-plate
incentive. Ian and Richard are finding
more and more customers are coming
into the shop having heard about their
partnership with the Spensleys.
Ian tells us, “It’s definitely a selling
point for our customers. Sourcing
locally proves that you don’t have
to look far and wide to sell the very
Bulk Haulage & Straw
best. After our customers taste the
19 Brackenley Lane, Embsay, Skipton,
meat they’ll often ask where it comes
North Yorkshire, BD23 6NW
from and are more than happy to
support this local initiative.” Tel/Fax: 01756 700454
On a personal level, John and Alison
Mobile: 07702 876153
favour their partnership with Drake
and Macefield because not only Pleasure to be associated with Alison & John Spensley

Slater Plant Hire Ltd

Agricultural contractors & Construction
EddiE B. WEBstErs & sons Ltd
Whittakers Barn Farm Cracoe
1 Sour Lane, Thorlby, Skipton
Nr. Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6LB
North Yorkshire BD23 3LJ Pleased to be
Telephone 01756 730287 Fax 01756 730004 associated
Mobile 07801 123185 with the
Email office@eddiebwebster.co.uk
Mobile 07802 534704 Spensley’s
Email sphltd@hotmail.co.uk
Lime and Slag Spreading • Haulage and Excavation

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 71

 field to fork

le bistro des amis

delicious pies - trust us, we’ve tried them

We are pleased to be long standing suppliers of ingredients

and packaging to Drake & Macefield Butchers
& wish them continued success for the future

Dalziel Ltd, Unit F1 Summit Park, Glasshoughton, West Yorkshire WF10 5HX

Tel 01977 605590

72 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
 bolster
field tomoor
fork

the end product Luc daguzan

Macefield is consistent and reliable.
When we first started supplying Ian
and Richard they were after only one
heifer each week, so the fact that
they have increased order numbers
so substantially actually speaks
volumes.”
“It’s a much less volatile way to sell
stock; I know I am selling at a fixed
price each time and that prices won’t
fluctuate in any way. It’s not at all
similar to selling at auction really,
because there you never know if
you’ll have a good or bad day.”
The meat supplied in the shop is
now proving more popular than ever
and Ian accredits this to how well it
is farmed by the Spensleys; “John’s
cattle are incredabily lean and show
a low proportion of bone and fat,
which is ideal to butcher,” he says.
To complete the field-to-plate
connection, newly opened Skipton
restaurant Le Bistro des Amis
recently hopped on board to become
the final piece of the puzzle by taking
prime beef from - yes you guessed it
- Drake & Macefield.
Luc Daguzan, who launched Le Bistro
des Amis with business partner Liz
Weatherby late last year, explained:
“Developing on-the-doorstep field-to-
table partnerships such as this allows
us to have hands-on control over the
supply process.
“This means we are able to ensure
quality, along with full traceability,
which is important to us, as many of
our customers want to know where
the meat they eat comes from and
we are happy to provide them with bacon. Some of the bacon comes
this valuable information. Moreover, from rare breed Saddleback pigs
our local supply ethos both helps raised by Ian Thompson himself on
keep food miles to a minimum and the outskirts of Skipton.
supports the local economy.”
After a fact-finding visit to the
For more information on Drake
Spensleys’ holding, Luc explained:
and Macefield, visit their website
“I was extremely impressed by the
at www.drakeandmacefield.
high standards maintained. The fact
co.uk or call the Skipton
that the farm has to undergo rigorous
shop on 01756 792802.
annual inspections, guaranteeing
all aspects of animal welfare and
environmental care, is extremely Alternatively, you can contact
important to us, as I am sure it is to John and Alison Spensley at
our customers.” Manor Farm on 01756 792185
or perhaps you’d like to find out
Le Bistro des Amis also sources
more on Le Bistro des Amis.
other meat products through Drake
If so, contact the restaurant
& Macefield Butchers, including
directly on 01756 797919.
prime lamb, also from the Spensleys,
free-range chickens, and home-cured

Rowland Agar
(Wholesale Butchers) Ltd

SUPPLIERS OF THREE DALES

QUALITY MEAT

Ilkley Abattoir, Little Lane, Ilkley, LS29 8HX

Tel: 01943 608042 www.threedales.co.uk
Fax: 01943 601586

Pleased to be associated with Drake And Macefield

Butchers and wish them continued success

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 73

 bolster moor
Simply the best at Bolster Moor
Chris Berry talks with Simon Haigh at Golcar, near Huddersfield
Have you ever tasted a British
Magical Sausage champion? Or a
BPEX Sausage of the Year? Or a
Countryside Live Sausage Sizzle
champion?
Bolster Moor Farm Shop, based just
outside Golcar, near Huddersfield
has produced all of these and has
earned itself a tremendous reputation
not just for its sausages but for all of
its meat and its pork pies.
Second cousins Simon Haigh and
Andrew Whitwam are partners in
the business and started working
together when they were both at
Hinchliffes at Netherton Moor.
‘Both myself and Andrew wholly
owned Hinchliffes butchers from
1996 to 2010,’ says Simon. ‘We had
expanded the business massively for
ten of those fifteen years but the last
five we hadn’t seen any growth at all.
We felt that it had got to the stage
where the market was saturated. We
thought Bolster Moor would be ideal
to expand our activity. We knew we
had the knowledge and having bred
6 children, all boys, between the two
of us we wanted to be able to give
74 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
them an employment opportunity
in the future. My eldest son, Luke, Simon Haigh and Andrew Whitwam
is doing well in the butchery and is of Bolster Moor Farm Shop
winning competitions already, whilst
my middle son Jack is studying
agriculture at Askham Bryan
College.’
‘We believed that there was room
for a shop here in Colne valley. This
place is a little off the beaten track
but there was plenty of space for
what we needed. The reputation
we had built up at Hinchliffes and
our experience led to people coming
over here to support us and we have
done exceptionally well since opening
up here in November 2009.’
Their quest to use all things
British has led them to expand
their own farming enterprise which
was originally set up by Simon’s
grandfather Joe Haigh in 1953. At around 50-60 acres with Simon and and both Angus and Texels are going
the time the farm ran to just 8-10 Andrew now running it. through the farm shop. We’re now
acres at Harden Road Farm. Joe was ‘We have spent the past 4-5 years growing the farming side especially
a butcher too. It was Simon’s father concentrating on what we have been with store cattle and we will have
John and also Andrew’s father Harry trying to achieve with Bolster Moor around 100 cattle on at present. We
who took over the reins in 1963 Farm Shop, but we are now starting buy from local farms too and bring
who started the poultry enterprise. to build up our livestock enterprise. the cattle on ourselves so that we
We buy-in quite a few store cattle have them killed at the stage we
The farm enterprise today runs to

want them. We like all our cattle to
have grazed; we don’t particularly
want heifers that have never seen
the light of day.’
Simon also has his own sources
up in Scotland, through family
connections.
‘My brother farms in a big way
near Stranraer where he has 450
acres. He keeps us nicely supplied
with strong store cattle. We’ve
been killing six cattle a week since
Christmas, which means we need
around 300 cattle a year to keep up
with demand.’
Using local produce and keeping
the whole business as locally as
they can is another of their favoured
methods. The abattoir (Woods) they
use is just 2 miles away.
‘We’re conscious of everything we
produce being British. What people
expect when they come through the
door is that even if the meat isn’t
produced by ourselves it is still
produced locally and it is quality. We
buy shoulders of English pork but we
don’t beat the wholesalers to death
on price. If we can give better than
the average market price we will and
we’re happy to support pig farmers.
After all, we would be the first to
squeal if they’re gone. What we
want is that something better than
the supermarkets produce. We’re
looking for freshness and taste. We
go through 22-24 pigs a week.’
‘Our trade has been unbelievable
since we started here. We have
a staff of 30 with over 20 on the
butchery side, including our pie
makers. One of the reasons we
need so many is because we make,
cut and manufacture everything
ourselves. Everything is on display.
That’s what customers want these
days. They want to see the theatre
of what is going on and to be able
to talk to those who are making the
cuts. We serve all of our customers
personally and we are always
bolster moor
prepared to offer advice on how to
get the best out of your meat.’
That’s why as well as including
many of the other aspects of a farm
shop Simon and Andrew have now
opened up a bakery alongside the
butcher’s counter, and are currently
in the process of building a coffee
shop which they intend to open in
August.
Bolster Moor Farm Shop
Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4JU
Tel: 01484 648274

We are pleased to be associated with

Bolster Farm Shop
and we wish them continued success for the future

1258 Manchester Road, Linthwaite

Huddersfield HD7 5QA

Tel 01484 844897 / Fax 01484 844900

www.accountantinhuddersfield.co.uk

We are pleased to be long standing suppliers of ingredients

and packaging to Bolster Moor Farm Shop
& wish them continued success for the future

Dalziel Ltd, Unit F1 Summit Park, Glasshoughton, West Yorkshire WF10 5HX

Tel 01977 605590

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 75
 hazard

BREEDERS OF THE VERY BEST

LIMOUSIN CATTLE
LUCIE CARTER VISITS THE HAZARD FAMILY AT SALTBY HEATH FARM IN SPROXTON NEAR GRANTHAM
With the summer showing season
just around the corner, many of
you will already be preparing your
animals and perhaps yourselves for
your busiest time of the year.
As competitors up and down the
country get ready for their farming
schedules to erupt, the Hazard
family are busy doing what they do
best; breeding, breeding and more
breeding.
Indeed, because of their reputation,
it’s likely that you may already be
familiar with the Hazard name. It’s
a recognised reputation that father
Roger, who recently completed his
role as President of the Limousin
Cattle Society, insists “has taken
years to formulate”.
So let’s go back to the very beginning
to find out just how what was once
was a regular dairy farm, transformed
into a successful, inspirational beef
breeding unit……
Roger Hazard first came to Saltby
Heath Farm with his late father in
1947 and it was this relationship
which he accredits to him gaining all
the farming knowledge he needed. In
those early years the land at Saltby
Heath stretched over a respectable
200 acres, but now Roger, with
his Wife Susan and their two sons
Duncan and James the farm has
expanded the land to cover just over
700 acres.
History most certainly repeated
itself at Saltby Heath Farm because
as Duncan and James grew up they
too learnt from their father who they
now describe as being “the best From Left: Duncan, Roger and james
teacher” and “the biggest inspiration”
to them. So much so that as the
working relationship between the into their early twenties both James them stronger.
and Duncan studied agriculture and
three of them solidified and similar Duncan tells us, “Studying definitely
land-based studies at college and
areas of interest were formed, the helped me; I suppose if its something
university, but once graduated the
three of them together were a real you’re involved in and enjoy you tend
pair explored different areas of the
force to be reckoned with. to take more of an interest don’t you?
industry and it seems it only made
Throughout their teenage years and When I left school and became more

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76 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


involved in the business I developed
a particular interest in feed and
minerals, whereas James became
more interested in genetics and
bloodlines and now he is absolutely
brilliant at that sort of thing.”
The two school leavers didn’t relax
for long after their academic years
were over, they dabbled in a bit of
showing here and there and of course
helped their father to milk cows and
expand the pedigree Limousin side
of the business.
Although Roger has bred his
beloved Mereside Herd of Limousins
since 1983, that original herd was
relatively small when compared to
the 300-strong one we now see
roaming the land at Saltby Heath
Farm. When the family eventually
did decide to leave the world of dairy
farming behind and make Limousin
breeding their number one priority,
they moved full steam ahead.
Whilst Duncan continued to work
on the farm with his father, James
decided that after graduating from
college he would travel to one of
France’s most renowned Limousin-
breeding districts ‘Limoges’ to gain
further invaluable knowledge.
He tells us, “I lived in Limoges for
six months because we already had
some really good contacts there and
I wanted to learn more about the
breeding process, growth rate and
carcass production.”
After working in France, James was
able to see just how many fresh and
varied bloodlines were available for
the breed here in the UK.
Duncan tells us why those new
bloodlines were so attractive, “Our
intention was to buy something that
was from a completely different pool
of genetics without the horrendous
expenditure you get over here when
trying to purchase females to form
new families but of course this was
much easier when the exchange rate
was better.”
In Rogers words, “It all comes down
to the family” and both Duncan and
James thoroughly agree; “It just so
happens now that all our best animals
have come out of the same families
from when Dad first started,” admits
Duncan, “Families such as Uplands
Tamara, Broadmeadows Ukulele,
Lumbylaw Upside and Tankersley
Trixie. All those lines still remain
today and still remain the best.”
By maintaining only the best blood
lines the Hazard family are now
known both locally and nationally
for the quality of their pedigree
stock. Despite the country’s current
economical climate, the Hazards insist
that business is indeed booming.
“We are selling our stock all the time,
in fact trade at the minute is great,”
says James. “For years we have
sold a lot of stock privately here on
the farm to people wanting a stock
bull as well as a number of people
wanting females. We also sell all
the killing cattle live-weight through
the market so that people can see
the type of stock we are producing.
It’s just as important for us to attend
auctions because it means we have
a presence there.”
And a presence is exactly what the
Hazards now have. In total the family
has advised four other farms within the
area to take on the Limousin breed and
many of the people who have bought
from them are now experiencing top-
quality, award-winning cattle with the
same pre-fixes.
For Roger, Duncan and James the
art of breeding stock and the study
of the breed itself has always been
the most crucial part of what they
do. They are currently part of the
‘HI Herd Health Scheme’ which
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
hazard
monitors the herd for any diseases,
and more recently they have been
selling semen from a good-looking
bull they purchased in France.
In truth the Hazard don’t completely
shy away from the glare of the show
ring because for many years Roger
has had the privilege of judging
Limousin classes at shows up and
down the county. And in just a few
days time the family will be hosting
a Limousin showcase day on behalf
of the National Beef Expo Show who
chose Saltby Heath Farm specifically
for this one day event (25th May).
On the day coach-loads of visitors
will arrive on the farm to observe the
Mereside Herd in all its glory and to
find out more about the breed from
the Hazards, who it’s fair to say are
now experts in their field.
For more information on the Hazards,
the Mereside Herd or the Limousin
breed visit the incredibly popular
website www.meresidelimousins.
co.uk or call the family directly on
01476 860282.
R.M. Hazard & Sons
Saltby Heath Farm
Skillington GRANTHAM
Lincolnshire NG33 5HL
Don’t forget Beef EXPO
on 26th May 2011.
77
 marwood
The machinery line-up is complete
FARMERSMART talks with Andrew Marwood at Full Sutton
Andrew Marwood
Four years ago Andrew Marwood
relocated his farm machinery
business from Old Malton to Full
Sutton. The move was just 15
miles but it has made the world of
a difference to Andrew.
‘Coming here was like emigrating.
We set up a new customer base.
Everyone around here kept telling me
they hadn’t had a farm machinery
dealer in the area since Burgess
over a decade ago. They were
looking out for someone who could
give a reliable service and I wanted
an area where I could establish that
core everyday business of parts.
We’ve now established that and it’s
growing on a week to week basis.’
Andrew now operates with two
tractor franchises – Landini and
McCormick.
‘Landini has a small but very loyal
following of regular customers. If
people who haven’t had a Landini
can get beyond the name not being
one of the biggest sellers they
will find it is a very good, reliable
product.
‘I took on McCormick because
it already has substantial repeat
business. There are 200+ machines
already out there from the previous
dealer and it has given us parts
business from day one. It’s a tractor
that isn’t full of gizmos which is what
a lot of my customers want.’
The other main franchises in
Andrew’s business are Dieci
telehandlers and Trioliet feeders,
although going to press Andrew
announces the arrival of his new
baler franchise with Vicon.
‘Dieci have now established a base
in the UK and that will give us even
greater back-up as a distributor. It’s
a huge step forward and will up
the ante amongst its competitors.
It should give us an additional
78 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
SAM PADFIELD (STOCKMAN)
Trioliet with Sam Padfield – CW FOSTER, MANOR FARM,
YOULTHORPE
‘The farm runs to 2000 acres with
300 acres of potatoes, plus cereals
and grass. The livestock enterprise
runs to 400 head of cattle with
40 being pedigree South Devons.
We have just taken delivery of the
Trioliet which has impressed us
with how it works. It’s a quality
machine that chops bales and
mixes well.
Simon Foster made the decision to
take it on and I can see why. ‘The
way it mixes the food compared to
advantage when talking with so handy for getting into tight spaces how we were doing it before is very
prospective customers.’ and for me it out manoeuvres other consistent. Every mix is the same
machines with its great turning as you can weigh what you’re
‘It’s my second season with Trioliet.
circle. It also seems a much stronger putting in. That way you have more
It’s getting to the point where you
machine than others and we give control of what the cattle are being
have to feed all year round and these
it some work. I’ve known Andrew fed. We’re very pleased with it.
diet feeders are ideal. They used to
a long while and if anything does We also run a Landini tractor from
come into the UK through Redrock
ever go wrong either he or one of Andrew.’
but Trioliet were interested in setting
up their own dealer network in the his mechanics will be straight out no
UK.’ matter what time of year it is. We
www.andrewmarwood.com
are also using a Trioliet diet feeder
‘Taking on the Vicon product
from Andrew too.’
enables us to offer the full range of
grassland and fertiliser equipment to
our customers and completes our
portfolio.’
‘I’m now in a position where I’m
confident with the team we have.
The team consists of Mike Smith,
our Stores and Service manager;
Alan Hornsey, Product Specialist,
who has recently rejoined us; Don
Toogood; Justin Lamb and Andrew
Smith – engineers who have a
wide range of knowledge of farm
machinery. Debra Marwood focuses
on financial matters and marketing,
and our recent addition to the team
Jonathon Leaf working alongside
myself in sales.’
SO WHAT DO ANDREW’S
CUSTOMERS THINK ABOUT THE
PRODUCTS THEY USE?
THOMAS HAGAR – BARTHORPE
LODGE, BARTHORPE
‘We have 1500 breeding sheep
and 1200 cattle. The sheep are
Texels and Charollais crossed on to
the Lleyn or Mule. The cattle are
mainly black and whites that we
bring in and take to fat. We send
our stock to Jewitt’s in Spennymoor.
We purchase DIECI handlers from
Andrew and this is our sixth one.
We normally replace every year but
we’re holding on to this one a little
longer. It’s the Agristar 37.7 and it’s
a really good all-round machine. It’s

FULFILLING A FARMING DESTINY
Neil Blyth’s story isn’t at all
dissimilar to that of a traditional,
second-generation farmer, but the
twists and turns along his journey
have only solidified the fact that this
man was born to farm.
The Blyth family began their
farming legacy almost twenty years
ago in Barnard Castle. As well as
maintaining the farm, Neil’s Father
Roy ran his very own Butchers shop
in nearby Hartlepool, (as he still does
today) and the family enjoyed farming
from field to fork.
Being from Hartlepool originally, the
Blyth family was always on the look
out for a farm ideally located near
to the butchers that would make
Roy’s working day that little bit more
manageable.
After making the move from Barnard
Castle to Middleton House Farm
neil blyth
Hartlepool, Neil immediately adapted
to the new farm and worked tirelessly
to make it the success it is today.
Rather than follow in his fathers
footsteps, Neil never contemplated
training as a butcher, but instead went
down an entirely different route.
“I decided that I wanted to go to
university and study to be a surveyor.
After I graduated from Nottingham
Trent University I worked for three
years as a surveyor but my heart just
wasn’t in it, I simply wanted to be a
farmer.”
Since he made the decision Neil
has been able to invest both time
and money into making Middleton
House Farm a profitable enterprise;
“The gradual growth has meant that
we now keep 120 Suckler Cows, 75
of which are Pedigree Charolais as
well as 300 ewes, mainly Suffolk
cross Mules that we put to Texel and
Charollais tups.”
As you’d probably expect the majority
of the stock produced at Middleton
House Farm goes directly through to
the Butchers shop which is now run
by Neil’s sister Alison on a full-time
basis.
“We do like to promote that fact
neil blyth
that all our produce is homebred. much on the farm is to breed the
Charolais cattle produce a good very best Pedigree Charolais he can,
carcase with nice marbling and an and he seems to be going the right
even covering of fat and they also way about it; having already sold to a
hang well. We have tried putting top price of 8000gns.
other breeds of cattle through the So if it’s good bulls and tasty local
shop but have found them either too produce you’re after, then the
fat or lean, the latter of which don’t Blyth Family should be your first
hang as well.” port of call.
Neil is also a regular at the Charolais
Society main sales at Carlisle and
Stirling with Bulls and Heifers. His Middleton House Farm, Hartlepool
main aim now having achieved so Tel: 01429 274549
GILL’S - LeemInG Bar
THe FAmiLY Firm eSTABLiSHeD 1912
Pleased to supply
Neil Blyth
and wish him
continued success
for the future
Tel: 01677 422127 Fax: 01677 426715 mob: 07786 972059
email: gillsleemingbar@btinternet.com
John H Gill & Sons, Unit 4, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 9AB
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 79
 green farm health

Plenty to see at Thirsk

Chris Berry visits one of the newest Open Days and Machinery Shows
The second Green Farm Health
Open Day and Spring Machinery
Show, held at Thirsk Mart in
March was heralded a success by
all of those who exhibited.
‘We have seen hundreds
customers today,’ said Chris Jeffery
of Green Farm Health. ‘Days like this
offer farmers the opportunity to see
just about everything they want to
see all in one morning or afternoon
of from animal health products to
cattle handling equipment to dog
and pet food, rural clothing and
of course all manner of tractor
and farm machinery. It makes life
a lot easier than having to make
several journeys when you can
take a look at what’s on offer all
in one place. Last year’s inaugural
event was such a success that we
just had to have another go this
year and the reaction we have had
from our customers has been very
favourable.’
Many of the farm machinery
suppliers including Brockhills of
Yorkshire, Kevin Walker and Ripon
Farm Services were impressed too.
‘We will see far more farmers on a
day like this than we would if we
were just back at our normal place
of business,’ said Kevin Walker.
‘Events like this can only help
what we are all trying to achieve.
The facilities here at Thirsk are
tremendous and the day has been
very good for prospective orders.’
Green Farm Health, fresh from
its triumph as agricultural store of
the year in the Pfizer-sponsored
awards, was very busy and the staff
were pretty much run off their feet
as customers chose this as an ideal
time to purchase.
‘Events like these are also great social
days too,’ said Chris. ‘Of course we
all want to do well in business,
but creating an atmosphere where
people can come along and spend
time together in a really nice social
setting is good news too. Thirsk
Market is a tremendous asset to the
farming community and we have
been delighted with the response
from the agricultural community in
their attendance once again.
www.greenfarmhealth.co.uk
Tel: 01845 522611

We are pleased to be associated with

Green Farm Health and we wish
them continued success for the future
Kevin Walker On Site Plant Services
Phone: 01845 577832 Fax: 01845 578700
Mobile: 07793208322
Email: enquiries@kramerallrad.co.uk
Web: www.kramerallrad.co.uk

80 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


From toy shops to Galloways
Chris Berry talks with David Heath at Wroot
You won’t find many Galloways
in Lincolnshire that’s for sure
but David Heath is expanding his
herd in the pursuit of commercial
success at Wroot, just a handful
of miles from Doncaster. For David
it’s pigs during the day and cattle
at night and at weekends.
‘I manage a boar stud for Rattlerow
Farms, that’s my day job. The cows
are just evenings and weekends. We
have 44 Galloways at present and
I’ve been involved with the breed
for the past 18 years. Originally I
just got them because I liked the
look of them. When I got up to
16 cows I thought they were a bit
much to handle on my own and
I started cutting back, but then
William wanted to get involved and
thought we could make a business
out of them, so we’re back building
up numbers.’
William is referred to as David’s
daughter’s ‘other half’. He’s William
Gagg and is a farm manager for
Higgins Agriculture Ltd, responsible
for 500+ acres of potatoes and
1600 acres of cereals.
‘I said it was alright building numbers
back up but we would need to sell at
the other end,’ says David.
William immediately set about
making contacts and they started
supplying a local farm shop, Bank
End Farm Shop.
‘They did okay but were struggling
with the amount they could sell, so I
got into the truck and started going
around local butchers. That’s when I
came across Sean Spellman. He has
two butchers shops in Scunthorpe
and Brigg and we’re now supplying
him regularly. A lot of high class
restaurants use Galloway beef and
we have one or two restaurants
directly.’
SpelmanS
F a m i ly B u T c h e r S
Sellers of David’s Galloway beef
15 Old Courts Road • Brigg • DN20 8JD
Tel: 01652 650760
35 Marsden Drive • Scunthorpe • South Humberside • DN15 8AL
Tel: 01724 864 768
Wishing David Heath every success in the future.
David and William are presently
buying-in additional stores, fattening
and then selling to Spellman’s.
‘It’s an old-fashioned, well-tasting
meat with a little bit of fat and
marbling,’ says David. ‘It’s slow-
grown utilising Lincolnshire Wildlife
Trust land. We pay a nominal fee for
each site where they graze. There’s
no way we could do this if we were
having to pay a commercial rate, but
the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust wants
native breeds on its land to tidy up
the scrub. Galloways are excellent for
conservation grazing land and will
eat almost anything. The land prices
around here are so high because of
the ‘pony brigade’. I just happened
to drop on the LWT a few years
ago and it has been an amicable
arrangement. As numbers grow we
are going to need more land, quite
where that’s going to come from I
don’t know unless they (LWT) buy
something else.’
They have their own bull who is now 5
years old, Black Jack of Laneleybield,
who came from the Peebles area and
was bought at Carlisle.
‘He’s from cracking bloodlines and
has been to the Great Yorkshire
Show twice. We got Reserve Male
with him last year and we’re hopeful
that this year will be third time lucky.
He looks really good. The only thing
the judge marked him down on last
year was a crack in his hoof. This
time we’re taking a cow and calf,
and a heifer in calf, as well as him.
That way we can enter the pairs
and team of three. It also keeps
the numbers up for the Galloways
– and we run the Galloway Society
bar too!’
David had a junior champion at
Harrogate in 2000, but he doesn’t
show anywhere else.
HEATH
William Gagg & David Heath
‘There’s nowhere else nearby that ‘My father also had another business,
has Galloway classes and there’s running toy shops. We had 5 at one
generally little point in putting them stage all around the Doncaster/
in with ‘any other breed’ classes as Rotherham area, but then Mr
the continentals always seem to be Scargill took all his men on an
put first.’ extended holiday and that messed
the job up because all of our shops
Having got the bit between their
were in mining villages. I was in that
teeth David, William and Debbie
trade for around 15-20 years. Then
(David’s wife) and Emma (daughter)
I moved into landscaping, eventually
are now the four partners in
ending up with my job with pigs
Ravenfield Livestock.
– and of course the Galloways.’
‘We’ve called it ‘livestock’ so that
Watch out on whether David
if we started with sheep it can
also come under the same banner. succeeds with his bull this July at
William has had sheep in the past the Great Yorkshire Show. The drink
and so we might start on with them will still be flowing at the Galloway
in the future.’ Cattle Society bar regardless!
David’s father farmed and his
brother, John, now farms out on the D R & D J Heath,
Holderness coast. He shows Jerseys Heathersgill, Field Lane
and Aberdeen Angus. But David Wroot, Doncaster
hasn’t taken the conventional route Tel: 01302 772950
to farming.
7$.($)5(6+/22.
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FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 81
 jeffrey
EXPERIENCING SUCCESS AFTER
JUST SIX YEARS
LUCIE CARTER TALKS WITH TIM JEFFREY AND CAROLINE THOMSON
Tim and Caroline certainly aren’t
strangers to the world of agriculture,
but up until 2005 they were
somewhat unfamiliar with Highland
cattle. Now however, after a chance
meeting brought them face to face
with this statuesque breed, Tim
has developed a strong interest in
rearing and showing Highlands.
Tim and Caroline moved to
Edgewold in the village of Huby
just five years ago after one of their
elderly neighbours sold them the
house and the subsequent land that
came with it. The four acres of land
hadn’t occupied animals before, but
now houses 11 Jacob sheep, a goat,
12 Horses, Ponies and Donkeys all
of which graze together on a further
six acres. To accompany them Tim
was keen to bring cattle onboard,
but realised that further land would
be required in order to achieve his
ambition.
Although he knew that he wanted
to keep cattle, Tim was unsure
of which breed to go for; “I had
showed a fondness for Highlands
for many years but things really got
going after my Dad and I watched
the cattle judging at Aldbrough
and Boroughbridge Show one year.
Whilst there I got talking to one
of the show’s exhibitors Marianne
Halford and she told me a bit about
Highland Cattle.”
After making their initial enquiry
Caroline and Tim were invited by
Marianne to come and observe her
own herd of Highlands.
Tim tells us, “Marianne showed
us round her visitor centre in
Northumberland and it was there
Steve Johnson Cattle Services
Freeze Branding In North Yorkshire
Tel: 01347
810980
Mobile: 07940 064991
Wishing Tim & Caroline every success
in their future business ventures
82 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
where I immediately took to them.
After we walked in the fields for a
closer look, Marianne told us that a
few of the Highlands were for sale.
I said I wouldn’t mind a couple so
promptly got the cheque book out!”
To ensure that the cattle had enough
land to roam freely, and make plenty
of winter feed, Tim extended their
small 10 acre holding at Huby to
include an additional twenty acres
of rented Grassland in the nearby
villages of Tollerton and Shipton.
Tim is a member of the North of
England Highland Cattle Breeders
Club and has 21 Highlands in total.
For now he isn’t looking to purchase
any more; “If I see something I like
I’ll buy it but obviously I don’t want
to overstretch myself with it being
more of a hobby. I have my own
Stock Bull which I hire out, and sell
my unwanted young stock as stores;
I don’t fatten them but rather select
the ones I want to keep.”
Tim’s professionally time is spent
working for himself as a tree
surgeon, hedge-cutter, agricultural
and fencing contractor under the
business name ‘Timbercare Country
Services’.
“I enjoy the blend between working
with the animals and working
professionally. It is manageable at the
minute because it is a hobby rather
than my main bread and butter and
I prefer it that way because I’m still
able to get the enjoyment out of it.”
Tim is now experiencing success
in the show ring and it seems the
pair has found the perfect balance
between cattle and equine showing.
caroline thomson and tim jeffrey
Caroline tells us, “I start showing Angus and Limousin cattle, so we
from May right through to September approached the shows organisers
and I’m out virtually every weekend and persuaded them to introduce a
from then on. Tim and I are usually at Highland class. They said if that’s
different ends of Yorkshire when the the case they may need help in
showing season gets underway!” sorting it all out, so we bought a cup
At last years Aldborough and to compete for, put classes together
and entry numbers quickly went
Boroughbridge Show Tim followed
in his partners winning footsteps from thirty animals in the previous
year to ninety!”
when he received the Championship
prize in the Highland category, Tim and Caroline’s young daughter
twice running at Ryedale Show, Hattie is now displaying an innate
and much success over the last 4 interest in showing with her Mum
years at the Great Yorkshire Show, and her Dad, so who knows the very
Tim and a Beef Shorthorn breeder best from the Jeffrey family may be
friend Steve Johnson played a key yet to come.
part in introducing a Native Breed
class onto the schedule of their local
Edgewold, Huby,
show.
near YorkYO61 1HJ
He tells us, “Huby and Sutton Show
Tel: 01347 811120
didn’t use to have any other breed
Mob: 07736106323
classes apart from commercial
Walker Bros.agriCulTural ConTraCTors
SpecialiSt in round bailing & wrapping (Silage)
Main Street, Huby, york, nortH yorkSHire yo61 1HQ
Phone numBer: 01347 811061
moBile: 07968 050238
Wishing Tim & Caroline all The suCCess for The fuTure
 DAIRY

TAKE IT FROM A MAN

WHO KNOWS...
DAIRY FARMER TIM GIBSON GIVES US HIS
PREDICTIONS FOR THIS SUMMER’S CONDITIONS
Dry weather has dominated the
conversations between farmers this
spring. With another dry spring on
the back of last year, should we be
getting used to these conditions or
is it in fact a blip?
2010 was an extremely dry year
especially throughout the East of
our region and forage stocks were
already looking low for the 2010/11
winter. Early wintery weather forced
the premature housing of cattle
and supplementing of sheep. This
subsequently put forage stocks under
further pressure and reaffirmed the
need for an early spring, but instead
we were greeted with an early
summer and droughty spring.
This is good for the sheep men, but
us dairy boys are scratching around
a bit. On my own farm we had only
20 inches of rain in 2010 and so
far we have had 3.5” (90mm) in
total in 2011. Going into winter
with virtually no first cut silage and
depending on whole crop wheat
(which should have sold for £200
a ton) and maize worried me about
the ration with little grass silage in
it, but we managed well and milk
yields are well up.
We now look to be entering another
year of similar weather, light showers
are just starting as I write and long
may they continue, because spring
barley sown in March looks set to
be a disaster and maize is yet to
germinate in the dry soil. First cut is
in full swing in Lancashire, but here
in Yorkshire we have burn hill tops
and winter wheat scorched across
the area. One little consolation
however, is that it is so dry even the
nettles are dying!
So what now for this summer?
Reports of a heat wave lasting until
July have been made, but with nature
you can be sure that the conditions
will generally balance on. So as we
prepare for a wet Yorkshire Show
and a difficult harvest, concerns
maybe should be on next winters
feed, will there be enough or should
extra be made just in case!?
For this we will just have to wait
with bated breath….
www.tim-gibson.com

AT LAST TRACTOR THEFTS SEEM

TO HAVE BEEN HALTED
Farming Insurance Broker, Ploughing and also Reversible The Reversible Ploughing was done See our summer edition for the
Harold Woolgar from Epworth Ploughing. This year’s Conventional this year by Colin Bowen of Craven shows results.
near Doncaster, states that the Ploughing section is represented by Arms in Shropshire who hoped
tremendous take-up of the fitment John Hill, Chairman of the Barugh to emulate John’s several World
of security devices such as M-Track Green Ploughing Society and a dairy Championships in the reversible For more information call
and Plant I, together with various farmer from Hoylandswaine. ploughing section. Harold Woolgar Insurance
makes of immobilisers, seem to on 01427 873888
have turned the previous raging tide
of stolen tractors.
In the previous 12 months period
Mr Woolgar reported thefts of over
£1million in tractors, Land Rovers
and Discoveries. The police in West
Yorkshire are delighted with the 99%
recovery rate on the four separate
tractor theft incidents, and moreover
the arrest of the perpetrators.
Gone are the days of where we
can simply leave a tractor parked
in a field, without the need for
some sort of physical satellite
motivated surveillance system. Such
systems keep a watching eye on
the equipment, and also alert the
farmer and the control centre when
the vehicle has been moved or when
there is any suspicious activity.
England waits with baited
breath….
Sticking with good news, The World
Ploughing event in Linderads, Sweden
The H team are all either farmers daughters, sisters, or come from a farming , legal
were recently held (14 & 15 May)
or Insurance background, that is why they and we, understand, farming insurance and
and determined the World Champion
farmers . We work for the Client, not the Insurer, there is a real difference.
in both classes for Conventional

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 83

 fawcett

Cattle and caravans add to

sheep reputation
farmersmart visit the Fawcetts of Kissthorn Farm, Sand Hutton
There has been quite a change to life
on Kissthorn Farm during the past The Fawcett boys
four years. Carl and Kathy Fawcett
had built up a strong reputation for
their Texels over many years. It was
what they were known for – and
they still are – but the family is now
developing a formidable reputation
for their cattle, particularly their
British Blondes.
And that’s not all! In the past four
years they have also diversified into
running a very smart and beautifully
positioned touring caravan and
camping site, called Foxhill Park.
The driving force behind the move
towards cattle has come from
Carl and Kathy’s three sons – Ed,
William and Jimmy aged 23,21 and
14 respectively, although Jimmy
is so big already that he looks like
he wouldn’t have trouble ever being
served a pint! Carl and Kathy also
have a daughter, Lucy, aged 11.
Kissthorn Farm is in the village

of Sand Hutton, with the caravan
site situated less than a mile away
at Claxton. The Fawcetts are part
tenants and part landowners.
ATV SPECIALISTS ‘We have approximately 450 acres
with them at the Christmas Fatstock
Show at Malton Market four years in
a row.’
The Fawcetts also have a small flock
of 60 Swaledale ewes that are put

D H WADSWORTH & SONS

of which 300 acres belong to the
Church Commissioners. We keep
(Malton) LTD buying bits of land as time goes
28 Derwent Road York Road, Industrial Estate, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6YB on,’ says Carl. ‘Our Texel flock is
still going strong and we have 160
Tel: 01653 692244
Texel ewes and another 30 pedigree
www.wadsworthquads.co.uk Texels. We have done well with
them over the years winning at the
Repairs, Servicing & Small Machinery
carcass competition at the Great
We are pleased to be associated Yorkshire Show three times and
with Carl Fawcett & Sons and wish also doing well in the live butchers
them continued success for the future lambs classes. We have also won
to the Blue Faced Leicester. Their
crops include 160 acres of wheat,
50 acres of barley, fodder crops for
the livestock, with the rest down to
grass for hay and silage.
Whilst Carl has always had an
interest in cattle it is the boys who
have led the charge towards where
the Kissthorn Herd has got to over
the past four years. Carl tells of the
direction they are now moving with
the herd.

INMAN & CO Ltd.

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

We are pleased to provide accountancy and taxation

services to Mr & Mrs Fawcett.
We wish them every success in their Farm and Camp Site.

24, Green Lane Clifton York YO30 5QX

Telephone and Facsimile 01904 640884

84 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011


Jimmy Fawcett with Kissthorn Edwina
‘We have been buying store cattle
and fattening for market, but with
the price of store cattle being high
there isn’t much left for us after we
have grown them on. That’s why we
are now trying to breed more of our
own stock and we intend to grow
the suckler herd. At present we have
30 suckler cows with half being
pedigree British Blondes. We’re very
particular about our British Blondes
and anything we don’t like we will
send to slaughter with the bulls. If
it isn’t something we would want to
use ourselves we wouldn’t sell it to
anyone else either.’
The Fawcetts bought their first
British Blondes from the Thistlegrove
dispersal sale held by Mr Pearson of
Whitby and are now members of the
North East Blondes Club.
‘We bought our first four pedigrees
from Mr Pearson and we purchased
our pedigree Blonde bull from Ewan
Burgess’ Criffel herd at Carlisle
Market. We have shown him and
he’s done very well for us. He has
bred some nice cattle.’
Ed, William and Jimmy show the
cattle and the Fawcetts will once
again be out in force at this summer’s
agricultural shows, starting with
Beef Expo at Newark and then
including Otley, Lincolnshire, Great
Yorkshire, Ryedale, Malton and
Rosedale with both cattle and
sheep. One of the cattle they will
be showing will be their own home-
bred heifer KISSTHORN EDWINA
(pictured here).
All of the Fawcetts’ fattened stock
goes to Malton Market. They enjoy
the atmosphere and camaraderie
around the sale ring.
‘It encourages younger people get
used to the livestock market world
and there is always a very good
trade. A lot of local butchers attend
and they are just as keen to see the
market do well.’
Foxhill Park caravan site came into
being in 2007. It is Carl and Kathy’s
first diversification into tourism.
‘We weren’t making a lot out of
farming and it didn’t look like we
were ever going to. We knew we
Claxton to Harton Lodge Road
Claxton, York YO60 7RX
Tel: 01904 468355
enquiries@foxhillpark.com
www.foxhillpark.com
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
fawcett
had to do something different and
we gained permission for a site with
38 caravans and a small camp site.’
Four years on and they haven’t
looked back. Aided by Carl’s mum
and dad, Wendy and Bob, they
have recently enjoyed the benefits of
several bank holiday weekends and
the additional business they have
gained as a result.
‘Each bank holiday has been like
a harvest for us,’ says Carl. ‘We’re
looking forward to another shortly
and then a busy summer period.
It was tough when we started but
now we’re getting a lot of repeat
business and people now come for
the season. The site is in a very
quiet area and we find that’s why
many of our customers enjoy it here.
They are getting away from their
towns and cities. They enjoy the
pace of life in the countryside. It is
certainly a good diversification and it
is starting to work for us.’
Watch out for the Fawcetts at this
year’s shows!
Kissthorn Farm
Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LF
Tel: 01904 468355
Escape to the tranquil and beautiful
north Yorkshire setting of Foxhill Park.
Foxhill’s ideal location and facilities
gives the perfect opportunity for
guests to explore North Yorkshire
• Shower block
• Laundry room
• Disabled facilities
• Electric pitch hook-ups
• Dog walking area
• Shop - with locally
sourced produce
• Food preparation area
• Picnic benches
• Many local pubs, restaurants
and take-away’s
85
 property

Continued demand combined with a further reduction in the volume of available farmland has resulted
in the best first quarter growth in farmland values since 2008. This continued demand is supported by
the number of new applicants registering to buy farmland, which were 16% up during the first quarter
of this year compared with the same period of 2010. High crop prices and the fundamentals of feeding
the world’s population continue to drive the interest in farmland as an investment asset, especially at a
time when the performance of many alternative assets is muted. Across Great Britain average grade 3
arable land recorded growth of 2.3% during the first quarter of 2011 although a wide range in prices
are being achieved broadly between £4,000 and £10,000 per acre.

Park Farm, Preesall, Lancashire Lilymere, nr Sedburgh, Cumbria Hunters Hill Farm, Thirsk
Approx 236 acres Approx 1,530 acres Approx 76.7 acres
Guide £2,800,000 Excess £2,650,000 Guide £2,200,000

Manor Farm, Whenby, York The View, Barwick in Elmet, Leeds Chapel Garths Farm, Ripon
Approx 113 acres Approx 61.8 acres Approx 140 acres
Guide £1,750,000 Guide £1,100,000 Guide £1,500,000

Island Farm, Scarborough Rolston Hall, Hornsea Land at Poppleton Ings, York
Approx 47 acres Approx Approx 107 acres Approx 46.6 acres
Guide £800,000 Guide £1,250,000 Guide £140,000

For further information or a Andrew Black Sarah Hinchliffe

free no obligation appraisal of MRICS FAAV BSc (Hons) MRICS FAAV
your property, please contact Tel: 01904 617831 Tel: 01904 617819
07967 555697 07870 999441
Savills (L&P) Ltd E: ablack@savills.com E: shinchliffe@savills.com
13 -15 Micklegate,
York, YO1 6JH

www.savills.com

86 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 PROPERTY
property

WESTOW, YORK 2 lots Near ROBIN HOOD’S BAY, WHITBY

A BEAUTIFULLY LOCATED RESIDENTIAL FARM

An attractive residential and equestrian farm situated within the
beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Wolds between Malton and York.
• Grade II listed, 6 Bedroom farmhouse SUPERBLY SITUATED LIFESTYLE PROPERTY
• Extensive Range of Courtyard Buildings
• Planning for industrial use on traditional buildings
WITH PANORAMIC COASTAL VIEWS
• Equestrian Facilities • 18th Century, 6 Bedroom Farmhouse
• 27.65 Acres of arable and grassland • Superb 2 Bedroom Annexe Barn Conversion
• In all 28.82 Acres • 2 Bedroom Holiday Cottage
• Range of Buildings
FOR SALE AS A WHOLE OR IN TWO LOTS:
• 10.47 Acres Grassland
Lot One: Farmhouse, Buildings and Grassland. In all approx 15.97 Acres
• Superb Sea Views
Lot Two: Approx 12.85 Acres of South facing Arable Land.
Guide Price: £795,000 GUIDE PRICE: £875,000

WRELTON, PICKERING 86.61 ACRES BEVERLEY, EAST YORKSHIRE

TO LET - EXCEPTIONALLY RARE

LONG TERM RENTAL OPPORTUNITY
• Superbly Situated Residential Smallholding, amounting to 16.9 Acres
PRODUCTIVE FREE DRAINING LAND • Equestrian and Commercial/Business Potential (Subject to Planning).
• Located with Excellent Road Frontage onto the A164
• 76.73 Acres Arable Land • 3 Bedroom House Requiring Full Renovation
• 9.88 Acres Woodland/Dale • Range of Traditional Outbuildings and Stabling
• Highly Productive, Free Draining Land • 16.9 Acres of Grassland and Grounds.
• SPS included
TO LET ON A 20 YEAR ASSIGNABLE LEASE
• For Sale by Private Treaty as a Whole
Expression of interest closing date: 2pm Friday 3rd June 2011

GUIDE PRICE: £477,000 AVAILABLE AS A WHOLE OR IN TWO LOTS

FarmersMart Late Spring 2011 87

 competition
KIDS CORNER £50 M&S VOUCHER
WHERE’S PERCY PIG? COMPETITION
Somewhere in this 92-page issue
hides Percy the Pig, for your
chance to win a Case IH Puma
210 and a New Holland T7060
model tractor, simply tell us which
page you have spotted him on!
Get all your entries in to
simone@farmers-mart.co.uk
or post to 40 Stockhill Road,
Greengates, Bradford BD10 9AX
by 30th of June, Good Luck!
A final congratulation goes to Alice
Taylor from Bentham who won our
last Kids Corner ny spotting the
following differences.
4 5
88 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
For your chance to win £50
worth of M&S vouchers just
answer the following questions;
1 What is the name of Ken
Jackson’s prize bull that is
currently under threat?
2 In what year the Watson
family move from West
Cumbria to the Borders?
3 For which show will the
Hazard family host a Limousin
showcase event for?
1 2
6 7
Send your answers to
simone@farmers-mart.co.uk
or post to 40 Stockhill Road,
Greengates, Bradford BD10 9AX
by Thursday 30th of June
Congratulations to Fiona Guthrie from
Selkirk who our last competition.
The correct answers were 1. Rough
Fell Sheep Society 2. 2010 NOMS
Wildlife Award. 3. JS Accountancy
3

Big Breakfast
proceeds presented
Ladies from the Harrogate and
Nidderdale Group of Farm Stay
UK ‘flew’ into Leeds Bradford
International Airport recently to
hand over proceeds from their
annual Yorkshire Farmhouse Big
Breakfast charity fund-raiser.
A total of 213 breakfasts were
served up at the three-day event,
hosted by Will and Lindsey Hitchen
at St George’s Court B&B, Old Home
Farm, High Grantley, Ripon.
The event netted £3,350, split
50:50 between the Yorkshire Air
Ambulance and the ARC-Addington
Fund’s Strategic Rural Housing
Scheme, which supports hard-hit
farming families and communities
across the UK.
Farm Stay UK is the country’s largest
network of farm-based accommodation
providers and Yorkshire members
have raised thousands of pounds for
charity over the years through its Big
Breakfasts. Main sponsor of the 2011
event was Brian Elsworth, of EuraAudit
UK, Ripon.
Breakfast will return in January
next year at Lovesome Hill Farm,
Sudden Death
of LAMMA Show
Chairman Tony
Lighton
It is with great sadness that we
report the untimely death of
LAMMA Show Chairman, Tony
Lighton, following a brief illness.
With more than thirty-five years
of involvement with tractors
produced under the Marshalls of
Gainsborough banner, particularly
Track Marshall crawlers, After
joining Marshalls on a commercial
apprenticeship in 1964, he
spent two years on the shop
floor, followed by two years of
commercial training before, in
1968, being appointed Office
Manager. After spells as both
a Regional Sales Manager and
National Sales Manager, Tony
became World Sales Manager for
Track Marshall in 1982.
Despite a hectic work schedule
Tony also served as a Director
of the Gainsborough Building
Society from 1972 up to its
merger with the Yorkshire
Building Society in 2001.
Northallerton, to be hosted by John
and Mary Pearson.
Currently celebrating its 10th
anniversary, the ARC-Addington
Fund supports hard-hit farming
families and communities. In North
Yorkshire alone, the charity has
distributed 1,400 grants totalling
over £680,000. The Yorkshire Air
Ambulance provides a life-saving
rapid response service to over five
million people across the county,
flying seven days a week, 365 days
a year. It needs to raise £7,200 a
day to keep both its ambulances in
the air and maintained.
www.farmstay.co.uk
The traumatic period of business
rationalisation during the late
1970’s & 80’s had a dramatic
effect on the then Marshall
Tractors company. A series of
changes in ownership of the
business between 1975 and 1998
culminated in the purchase of the
Track Marshall business by Tony’s
own company TMS Gainsborough
Ltd.
In the Autumn of 2000, Tony
became Chairman of the
Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery
Manufacturers Association, the
organisers of the LAMMA Show, a
position he held up to his death.
During his Chairmanship the
LAMMA Show grew from a small
regional event to become the UK’s
largest and most successful farm
machinery show with a national
and rapidly growing international
reputation.
Tony is survived by his wife Marie
and daughter Sarah.
farming people
Mysterious mannequin raises
eyebrows at farm machinery sale
Auctioneers at Brown & Co have
been demonstrating the breadth of
their ability at sales recently. While
his counterparts in Norfolk sold £3.5
million of residential property, Ben
Wills, from the firm’s office in Melton
Mowbray, sold a female Indian
mannequin amongst farm equipment
at an auction near Stamford.
The mannequin, whose arrival on
the farm at Holywell near Stamford
remains a mystery, sold for £62.
Featuring as lot 91, she appeared
in an auction of modern and vintage
farm machinery at Pettywood
Farm, Holywell, near Stamford on
instructions of Mrs J R Machin.
More than 1000 people from all parts
of the UK and Ireland attended the
CLA welcomes
red tape review
The Country Land & Business
Association (CLA) has welcomed
the announcement by the Minister
of State for Business and Enterprise,
Mark Prisk, of an assault on red tape,
including an end to gold-plating of EU
regulation, a review of over 21,000
statutory instruments and a general
moratorium from all new domestic
regulations for three years for new and
small businesses.
Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North,
Nickerson Direct appoints
new Seed Specialist
Nickerson Direct, the Lincolnshire-
based company which has been
advising UK farmers for the last
60 years and supplying the seed
they need to produce a wide range
of agricultural crops, has further
strengthened its team of on-farm
advisers in the North East of
England.
Marc Lanham, 30, joined Nickerson
Direct, which supplies seeds directly
from the breeder to the farmer,
FarmersMart Late Spring 2011
sale. The highlights for the modern
farm machinery included a Massey
Ferguson 4WD Dynashift Tractor
making £9,200 and a JCB Loadall
Farm Special 526S reaching £13,000.
Also exceeding expectations were
vintage items such as a Ferguson
sugar beet plough for £1800 and a
Ferguson spring tine drag for £1100.
“This was the first machinery auction
held by our recently opened Melton
Mowbray Office,” said Ben Wills
of Brown & Co. “The lady made a
nice diversion from a traditional farm
equipment sale. It was an excellent
day with some exceptional prices!”
www.brown-co.com
said: “Whenever I meet rural businesses
it is never long before the issue of red
tape is raised. We have been lobbying
on this for years, and now it appears
that Government has listened.”
“Our members will be delighted to hear
that the Government plan to end the
so called gold-plating of EU regulations,
by simply applying EU directives into
domestic law, without embellishment.
It is only a start, but it is a good one,
and I can promise that the CLA and its
members will do their best to keep this
momentum going.”
www.cla.org.uk
earlier this month.
Reporting to
Sean Lovegreen,
the company’s
Regional Sales
Manager in the North of England,
Marc will advise farmers throughout
East and North Yorkshire on the full
range of Nickerson Direct products.”
www.nickersondirect.co.uk
89
 CONTRACTORS GUIDE LATE spring 2011

Thomas Dirom Alan Fish Fencing

Agricultural Contractors Ltd All Types of fencing
Tractor & Dump Trailer • 230hp Tractor Hire with Driver AvAilAble
Large Rear Discharge Muck Spreader • Ploughing, Combination Drilling
Trail Forage Harvesting, complete or part job undertaken
For Further inFormation please call
Quality work guaranteed!

Tel: Tom on 07787 565298 0777 4775031

Chris Smith Agri Services
Specialising in:
- Min-Till, Combi-Drilling
- Ploughing using a 300 Horsepower Track Machine
- Combining using a Claas Lexion 570 with vario header

Tel (Mobile): 07734 443301

Sutton Farm, Sutton-on-Derwent, York

$PWFSJOH
BMM
BSFBT
PG
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&BTU
:PSLTIJSF
1BVM+3PF
HESSTON SQUARE BALING A L L M A I Z E O P E R AT I O N S
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“MINI”, “MIDI”, or “BIG”
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$ " 1"$ * 5 :
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TEL:
/(
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01347 811 140
07831 335 697

RICHARD BURNISTON & SON W CONDER & SON

AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS & ENGINEERS FULL FARM OPERATIONS
Silage Operations include self propelled maize and hole crop forager / forage wagon,
• ROUND & SQUARE BALING & WRAPPING • SUGAR BEET DRILLING topping and grass aeration
• 6 ROW HOLMER TANKER BEET HARVESTER • STUBBLE TO STUBBLE Muck specialist including umbilical stubble injecting , shallow grass injecting,
tanker injecting, rear discharge spreading
TEL: 07595 070 834 OR 01904 738 245 LPG tankers, precision fertiliser spreading, full ploughing operation

DEUTZ FAHR TRACTORS & TELEHANDLERS Tel 07967 725415 or 015242 21428
McHALE ROUND BALERS & WRAPPERS broadwoodfarm@googlemail.com

R. M. SIMPSON
AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTOR
• ROUND BALING WITH CHOPPER • STONE BURYING & ROTAVATING OR HIRE
AND WRAPPING • REAR DISCHARGE SPREADER AND SHOVEL
• SQUARE BALING 3’x3’ OR 4’x3’ AND WRAPPING • UMBILICAL CORD AND TANKERS
• FORAGING-FULL OR PART OPERATION • HEDGE CUTTING, OVER SEEDING,
• JCB 416 BUCK RAKE DIRECT DRILLING
• BOBCAT,JCB 412 & 416 SHOVELS • PLOUGHING,POWER HARROWING, RESEEDING
• DRAINAGE WORK- DRAINER & GRAVEL • SLURRY TOWER STIRRING
TRAILER HIRE • GRITTING & SNOW PLOUGHING

Copley Spring Farm, East Bierley, Bradford

Tel : 01274 653667 Mobile : 07973 112234

If you would like to be included in our Summer 2011 Guide please contact Ben Walton on 01274 610101.

90 FarmersMart Late Spring 2011

 Moor Lane, Full Sutton, York, YO41 1HX
Tel: 01759 373062 / 01759 368563 (evening)
Fax: 01759 372929
Web: www.edwardstrailers.co.uk

www.edwardstrailers.co.uk
main dealer

For all your agricultural

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T: 01302 786786 T: 01430 875900 T: 01400 283818 T: 01652 654944
F: 01302 783443 F: 01430 875909 F: 01400 283819 F: 01652 655171

email sales.marr@ farmstar.co.uk

www.farmstar.co.uk