Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
www.Farmers-marT.co.uk
JUST A FEW DAYS AND
COUNTING UNTIL THE 2011
UK FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS!
SIX YEARS OF SHOW.
SUCCESS FOR THE WHITES.
HIGHER AND HIGHER.
FOR DICK DALTON!.
Agile MF 5400 models join
Massey Ferguson fleet
Managing Director/
eDitor
Simone Gallon
Tel: 01274 610 101
simone@farmers-mart.co.uk
conSULtant eDitor
Chris Berry
Tel: 0113 2643 645
chris@farmers-mart.co.uk
aSSiStant eDitor
Lucie Carter
Tel: 01274 610 101
lucie@farmers-mart.co.uk
SaLeS Manager/
SUBScriPtionS
Ben Walton
Tel: 01274 610 101
ben@farmers-mart.co.uk
aDVertiSing accoUnt
Manager
Nicola Robson
nicola@farmers-mart.co.uk
Damien Downing
damien@farmers-mart.co.uk
FeatUre eDitorS
Jennifer Mackenzie, Chris Berry,
Harold Woolgar, Phil Read
DeSign
James Ockelford
The FarmersMart
40 Stockhill Road, Greengates
Bradford, BD10 9AX
Tel: 01274 610 101
Fax: 01274 621 730
www.farmers-mart.co.uk
We mail to over 10,000 industry contacts with an
approximately readership of 30,000 throughout
Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Cumbria,
County Durham, Northumberland,Berwickshire,
Roxburghshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
The FarmersMart is published quarterly by Little
Red Marketing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
any retrieval system or transmitted in any form
by means electronic, photographic, recording
or otherwise, without prior permission of the
publishers. Views expressed in The FarmersMart are
not necessarily those of Little Red Marketing Ltd.
Front cover courtesy of Massey Ferguson.
Wel c ome
Well Summer is upon us, the
weather is beautiful although
some of you could do with a
bit more rain! I hope we get the
compromise for you all.
I would like to thank all our
farmers for taking the time for
us to come and see you for
interviews as I know it has been
the busiest time of the year and is
much appreciated, this has helped
getting the magazine together in
such a short space of time.
This edition will be just in time for
the show season starting off with
GYS which will be the busiest yet
as they have a record this year
with class entries in all areas so
good luck to you all! Come and
see us at stand number 637 or
261 as we will be giving away
some goodies and special offers
on subscriptions plus it will be
nice to catch up!
The next event will be Driffield
show on the 20th of July.
Through our Sister publication
Fencing and Landscaping News
we are running our 3rd annual
Fencing Contractor Competition.
We have 10 teams of 2 and what
a grand sight to behold, seeing
the professionals erect 45
meters of fence with hand held
tools only over four hours! Please
come along to see this massive
achievement! Plus we are filming
the event and the show as we will
be producing a DVD which will go
on Farmersmart website.
Again this edition is jammed
packed of various features in the
agricultural world, I hope you
enjoy the read and will see you
in the Autumn. Dont forget if you
would like us to run a feature on
you then give us a call or send
an email.
Kind regards,
Simone
(simone@farmers-mart.co.uk)
news ................................4-8, 88
Belmont regency ....................... 9
Showtime............................ 10-13
Bayer ....................................... 14
Hunter ..................................... 15
ritchie ..................................... 16
Kavanagh ................................. 18
gripple ..................................... 19
news abroad ........................... 20
Dairy ........................................ 21
Beathll/ Head o th Marsh ... 22-23
chris Birch ............................... 24
Betafence ................................ 26
Bates ....................................... 27
Bowness .............................28-29
Stanforth Butchers .............. 30-31
ccM auction Mart ............... 32-34
Brockholes auction Mart ..... 36-37
collier ...................................... 38
arcelor Mittal ........................... 39
Fairburn ..............................40-42
animal Health .......................... 43
John teasdale .....................44-46
Wholecrop Marketing ............... 47
Margaret Watkinson ............48-49
Hampton Steel/Harold Woolgar . 51
tom Dirom .......................... 52-54
graham Hunt ........................... 55
glaves ................................. 56-57
White ..................................58-59
tony Woods Butchers ............... 60
ellis and Barrett ....................... 61
Breeds ..................................... 62
Machinery ............... 63-64, 86-87
guy Machinery ....................66-67
Moore Farm Services ...........68-69
David Murray ...................... 70-71
andrew nicholson ............... 72-73
John Hill .................................. 74
Bayer ....................................... 75
Dick Dalton ......................... 76-77
Hamilton ............................. 78-79
gamble .................................... 80
Young Farmers ......................... 81
charles Mills .......................84-85
ernie Sherwin .......................... 89
new Product ............................ 90
Farming People ................... 91-92
competitions ............................ 93
contractors .............................. 94
Each edition of FarmersMart contains essential information about the agricultural industry. As a subscriber youll
get regular updates, a chance to voice your views - and much needed encouragement. Just fill in this form and
send with a cheque for 15 (payable to Little Red Marketing Ltd.) to: The FarmersMart, Office 1, 40 Stockhill Rd,
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name ........................................................................................ tel no. ............................................
address .................................................................................................................................................
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CONTENTS
FarmersMart Summer 2011
NEWS
cogent BreeDing PeDigree
DairY SHoW & SaLe
16 June
A top price of 2520 for a Gillette
Final Cut heifer from Colin Singleton
of Preston set the pace for a very
lively sale at Gisburn Auction Marts
monthly pedigree sale on Thursday
16 June. Out of a VG cow and three
weeks calved this heifer caught the
eye of judge Colin Price, Keasden,
Clapham, Lancaster and she was
sold to David Walmsley, Worston,
Clitheroe, Lancashire.
caSt eWe traDe
Monday 13 June
Well fleshed and thin ewes were
easily sold, with James Wood of
Preston topping the market with a
Texel ewe at 122 to AN Alan of
Blackburn. Cast ewes averaged
76.21 overall.
PriMe LaMB
thursday 9 June
There was a great entry of quality
lambs at the Marts monthly
show, with the winning pen of five
Gisburn Auuction
MArt round-up
When you become a member of
the newark and nottinghamshire
agricultural Society.
Believe it or not, the 25.00
single adult membership fee
provides benefits worth more
than 180.00. These include
free admission to both days of
the Newark and Nottinghamshire
County Show, free admission to
both days of the Newark Vintage
Tractor and Heritage Show, free
admission to Driffield Show and
discounted entrance prices to
selected events held at the Newark
Showground.
Included in the Membership
package is priority parking at
the County Show, fast track
entry to both the County and
Vintage Tractor shows, exclusive
Members facilities and private
ringside seating at the County
Show as well as opportunity to
support the society which enjoys
charitable status by voting at the
AGM and standing for election to
The Council.
When is 25 Worth
More thAn 180?
In the current economic climate of
plunging interest rates, spiralling
costs and cut-backs, where else
could you find an investment that
returns so much?
For more information visit
www.newarkshowground.com
or call 01636 705796.
The countdown continues to the World
Sheep Dog Trials, Food & Country
Festival, which is being staged on the
Lowther Estate, near Penrith, from
September 15th to 18th.
A total of 240 handlers and their
dogs from 23 competing nations
will compete in the 4th International
Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) World
Trials, which are being held in England
for the first time.
Public interest in the four-day
spectacle is also mounting for what
is going to be one of the highlights
in this years Cumbrian events
calendar. More than 40,000 people
are expected to attend from all parts
of the globe.
Tim Longton, ISDS English President
and head of the World Trials
organising committee, said: The
countdown to the 2011 World Trials
is now well and truly on. This is
going to be one of the biggest events
of its kind ever seen in England and
will prove of major interest not only
to sheep dog enthusiasts, but also
the public at large.
advance tickets are now
available through the iSDS
at www.isds.org.uk
World sheep doG triAls :
countdoWn GAthers MoMentuM
continental lambs weighing 35kgs
coming from Frankland Farms,
Settle, going under the hammer at
95 per head or 271p/kg selling to
butcher buyer Anthony Swales from
Knavesmire Butchers, York.
For further information please
contact the auctioneer at the
Sawley office on 01200 441 351
chAMpion And
reserve chAMpion
froM colin sinGleton
FarmersMart Summer 2011
NEWS
www.feedservices.co.uk
Tel: 01759 318230
Mobile: 07811 432127
Email: sales@feedservices.co.uk
Moist Grain Storage
Roll and store your grain for
the winter months
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World sheep doG triAls :
countdoWn GAthers MoMentuM
Farmers in Yorkshire and Humber
have a new chance to apply for up to
25,000 funding for more efficient
equipment, it has been announced.
The funding can be used to buy
equipment that will help reduce
running costs for farmers, slashing
the amount they need to spend on
fertiliser and energy.
The list of equipment that can be
funded has been expanded, now
including voltage optimisation units
and floating slurry store covers when
used as part of a rainwater harvesting
installation. The other equipment
that can be funded are heat capture
units, heat exchangers, rainwater
harvesting, slurry separators and
slurry application kit.
Farms can apply through CO2Sense,
the not-for-profit environmental
consultancy that helps businesses,
including farms, cut their carbon
emissions and grow.
Vicky Wren, Project Manager at
CO2Sense, said, We want to help
farmers invest in equipment that will
save both money and CO2. These
new, innovative pieces of equipment
offer real benefits, and we are keen
to help farms from across Yorkshire
take advantage of them.
For more details, visit
www.co2sense.org.uk now!
neW fundinG for fArMers
offerinG eAse And
siMplicity - John WArren
Abp collection driver
Greets locAl fArMer
The North Easts leading animal by-
product and food waste collection and
disposal service provider has launched
a new, free service to help farmers
comply with statutory requirements.
John Warren ABP has worked with
neW service siMplifies fArMinG coMpliAnce
farmers for over three generations
and using this experience has created
an online service, which supplies its
clients with comprehensive compliance
reports that meets the criteria required
by DEFRA, Trading Standards and
farm inspectors.
The new online service enables
farmers to view invoices, review
orders, check current prices and most
importantly, collate comprehensive
reports that detail the number of
animals lost, complete with their date
of birth, date of disposal and their ear
tag reference.
While farmers can access the
information and generate reports
whenever they want through a
dedicated secure section of the John
Warren ABP website, the company
can also post the detailed reports
to its clients upon request, free of
charge.
Director, John Warren of ABP says:
Complying with statutory regulations
is often complicated and time
consuming for farmers. To simplify the
process we have created an online
service that generates a detailed report
comprising all statutory information
in a matter of minutes utilising our
existing data compiled during our
contact with the farmer. This level
of detailed information can only be
provided by a collector who has direct
contact with the farmer and is vitally
important to the smooth operation of
any farm.
For more information please
visit www.jwarrenabp.com
or call 01388 488215
FarmersMart Summer 2011
Participation in shearing has
increased year on year reports
Bishop Burton College, following
this years clipping week, which
took place at the beginning of
June. The event enables the
agriculture students to learn this
vital skill or develop their existing
talents and it has also begun
to attract students from other
disciplines.
Farm manager Dominic Naylor
said: Whilst clipping is an
essential part of the management
of the flock, the event attracts an
increasing number of participants
year on year. Its amazing to see
the range of interested parties
involved, and to watch the
competition at the end of the
week.
For many of the students this
is a skill which they will utilise
straight away either at home, or
on the farms where they work
and its fantastic to see such an
interest from the farmers of the
future and learners from some of
our other curriculum areas.
Shearing competition
Winner Philip Hawksby (18)
Bishop Aukland, National Diploma
Agriculture Year 2
Runner-up Tom Richardson
(17) Ashbourne, Derbyshire BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma in
Agriculture Year 1
For more information, visit
www.bishopburton.ac.uk
students Get
clippinG At
bishop burton
NEWS
British Wool prices have reached
a 25 year high and the promise of
much better returns to the producer
was the clear message from the
British Wool Marketing Board
(BWMB) at the NSA North Sheep
event held at West Nubbock Farm,
Hexham on 8th June.
Board Chairman, Malcolm Corbett
said, With over 94% of the 2010
clip already sold the current level of
prices are expected to be maintained
this calendar year.
Wool prices at auction have increased
substantially since October 2009,
and the result is that the 2010 Wool
Clip Value is double that of 2009
and three times that of 2008.
These values will be reflected in
the 2011 Wool Cheques and Im
sure producers will welcome the
significant increase this year. All
producers have now received the
Wool prices At
25 yeAr hiGh
sheep fArMers told At nsA
north sheep event:
new layout Price Schedule and
personalised estimated Wool Cheque
which Im sure will make pleasant
reading Mr Corbett added.
For more information, visit
www.britishwool.org.uk
Malcolm corbett
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
NEWS
www.machinery4agriculture.com
Specialising in Used Agricultural Equipment
Wanted: All types of farm machinery and equipment.
Good prices paid.
Browns Big Bale Carrier 2,950
New Bailey 2010 10ton Trailer 6,550
Optico Multi Discs 3,250
Abbey 2100 Rotaspreader 4,350
Tel: 07793 742543 / 01937 841371
Email: geoff@machinery4agriculture.com
Bishop Burton College celebrated
its first Town & Country Day for five
years when it opened its gates and
welcomed thousands of people onto
its campus for its first standalone
event since 2006.
The College suspended its traditional
Town & Country Event when it began
a 25million campus redevelopment
scheme.
With most of the major works now
complete, Principal Jeanette Dawson
felt the time was right to reinstate Town
& Country Day and give the general
public the opportunity to explore and
enjoy the new-look campus.
Mrs Dawson said: The Town &
Country event was always a highlight
of the College calendar and attracted
many, many visitors who enjoyed a
wide variety of rural-themed displays
and activities.
We made the decision to suspend the
event when the campus redevelopment
scheme began in earnest and now
the major works are complete, it
seemed appropriate to reinstate Town
& Country Day as many people have
asked over the years when it would
be back.
It was fantastic to be able to open
the gates once again and welcome the
public onto the new-look College site.
Visitors to the event were able to
enjoy a wide range of activities from
mini tank driving, to sheep shearing
demonstrations, dog shows, bread
making and tours of the Colleges
animal management unit.
Guests could also get up close to
Bishop Burtons invertebrate, reptile
and insect collections during the
colleGe celebrAtes successful
toWn And country dAy
10 Amp, eight-stage battery charger
launched to avoid a flat summer
CTEK, a leading global brand in the
care and maintenance of vehicle
batteries, has launched the MXS
10, a new 10A 12V battery charger
with an eight-stage charging
process.
With features including a 10 day
float ensuring maximum charge
level for in season usage as well
as a unique Recond reconditioning
mode that will restore deeply
discharged batteries, the smart
charger maximizes the performance
of lead-acid batteries.
Peter White of CTEK commented:
To lose even part of a day due to
a flat battery can prove to be very
costly. The MXS 10 delivers effective
conditioning and charging and can
be left permanently connected to
the battery for indefinite periods of
time if required.
SrP 138.99 inc. Vat. For
more information or to find your
nearest stockist, visit www.ctek.
com or call 01380 722621
cteK chArGed to ensure
seAsonAl stArts
Oilseed rape growers worried about the
problems associated with wet summers
and late harvests should choose an
early maturing variety to reduce harvest
pressures, according to Richard Elsdon,
Technical Manager for United Oilseeds,
who recommends candidate variety DK
Camelot as a solution.
Traditionally, Castille has been a
popular variety due to its consistency,
reliability and earliness, Mr Elsdon
said, However, Castille is starting
to wane in popularity as it has been
overtaken by many of the more
modern, high-performing varieties on
the HGCAs Recommended List.
DK Camelot, which is from the same
stable as Castille, reverses the trend
towards later maturity and shares
many of the same attributes as the old
favourite including a low biomass and
early maturity.
Snuggle a Snake and Hug a Bug
demonstrations.
The Colleges flagship Bishop Burton
Arena also hosted a fast and furious
horseball demonstration and equine
enthusiasts could also enjoy the Bishop
Burton College Horse Trials which were
held on Saturday and Sunday.
Six-year-old Jack Dyson of Beverley
thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into
the Have a Go at Bricklaying. He
said: I wanted to know what it was
like to do bricklaying because Daddy
and Granddad build walls at home but
I cant help because its too heavy.
For more information, visit
www.bishopburton.ac.uk
eArly MAturinG osr offers solution to Wet hArvest Woes
In addition, with excellent resistance to
lodging, solid stem stiffness and a low
biomass, DK Camelot can be combined
more speedily and using less diesel.
Mr Elsdon concludes. Such a positive
set of attributes therefore means
that DK Camelot is rapidly gaining
a reputation as the natural Castille
replacement with modern performance
capabilities.
www.unitedoilseeds.co.uk/dkcamelot
FarmersMart Summer 2011
Farmers are now able to keep their
long-service tractors working for an
extended period of time thanks to
RESTORE Engine Restorer.
As the costs of running a farm grow,
it is becoming important to retain
these essential vehicles in use as
long as possible. Only farmers can
appreciate the disruption to a busy
schedule caused by removing crucial
machinery from operation to replace
worn rings, bores and bearings but
Engine Restorer provides the
answer, quickly reversing engine
wear that causes problems like blue
smoke, oil burning and flickering
oil lights, whilst maintaining full
operational capability.
The formula is an engine repair,
not just an oil additive, that works
on the worn-out areas of the
cylinder walls, restoring cylinder
compression and improving it to
nearly new condition.
NEWS
enGine restorer cuts cost
of trActor MAintenAnce
Beef and sheep producers are being
urged to maximise cattle and lamb
growth rates at grass this summer to
avoid the consequences of another
expensive feed winter.
If the dry conditions persist, many
livestock farmers will be struggling
with grass and conserved forage
shortages. Supplementary feeding
now may be the last thing on farmers
minds now, but failure to keep stock
growing over a dry grazing period
inevitably means costly penalties
later in the year, warns David
Thornton from Rumenco.
He points out that if cattle are
housed lighter in the autumn they
will take extra days to finish:
These extra finishing days really
cost you over the longer-term; in
invest noW,
or pAy lAter
expensive bought-in winter feed,
additional bedding straw and a
higher fixed cost burden in terms of
electricity and diesel costs.
With the cereal and oilseed markets
both looking bullish over the
summer, feed prices are only likely
to go up. Consequently, producers
must act now to make the most
of what cheap grass is available to
mitigate the costly impact of a rising
feed market late in the season.
www.rumenco.co.uk
MAxiMise suMMer GrAzinG
RESTORE Engine Restorer can be
used in all four-stroke, petrol, diesel
and LPG engines. By adding a can
with every oil and filter change,
farmers and agricultural contractors
can now avoid, or at least postpone,
seriously expensive engine overhauls
and reduce costly downtime.
For more information, visit
www.ametech.co.uk
FarmersMart Summer 2011 8
bELMONT REGENCY
Faster Tighter Easier Safer
Please contact: John Mob: 07966 285240 or Steve Mob: 07931 511090
www.quickfencer.com email: info@quickfencer.co.uk
Four strand barb wire unroller, will take 4x2000 mtr rolls
of barb wire. Can be retro fitted to existing machine
Available with postdriver backshift.
Bryce and Protech Masts
Bryce, Malone, Wrag and others
Horse and Deer version available
All machines will take 2 x500 mtr or 2 x300, or 3 x100, rolls of net
Re-rolling attachment (roll wire back the same diameter) as the original
7 day money back guarantee (subject to terms and excludes return carriage)
NEW PLAIN WIRE MACHINE capable of rolling out and tensioning up to
12 lines and taking 6x 3000 metre rolls at once
Would you be tempted to sort out
your own accounts or do your own
legal work? If you did, would it be
purely on cost savings? Well, when
it comes to insurance, you can
obtain expert advice at no cost to
yourself. There are a number of
insurance brokers specialising in
farm and agricultural insurance
who are aware of the needs
and requirements of the farming
community and are aware of the
various insurers contracts in this
market.
Farming is unique in many ways as
your premises are your home as well
as a factory in the country where
many people, be it trade reps or
walkers have access. The average
home insurance policy may not
therefore provide adequate cover,
nor may the standard off the peg
motor policy. Brokers specialising
in this market, know the market
and are able to regularly assess the
needs of the farming industry in
such matters, both at inception of
cover and as on a ongoing basis.
Apart from the service provided,
reviewing your cover with a specialist
broker can more than likely make
valuable savings on your existing
cover, especially if it has not been
reviewed for many years.
Farming has changed over
recent years and changes in use,
diversification, let properties,
holiday lets, bed and breakfast,
fishing lets etc., mean that the
insurance cover in place needs to
meet all of the activities.
The services of an insurance broker
specialising in farm insurance
can be vital in advising on such
matters and can assist in providing
inspection and breakdown cover as
well as assessing where savings can
be made now and more importantly
keep this under constant review
over coming years and move cover
to other insurers if this is felt to be
beneficial, something which no one
insurer will be able to do. More than
that a close ongoing relationship
can be built up with annual visits to
review cover.
For more information call
01332 362 367.
obtAin expert
Advice on your
insurAnce And
sAve Money
brett hAnnon, MAnAGinG director,
belMont reGency insurAnce
services explAins...
FarmersMart Summer 2011 9
SHOWTIME
July
Great Yorkshire Show: 12th 14th
Harrogate Showground
Cumberland Show:
16th Carlisle Racecourse
Malton Show: 17th Scampston Park
Howden Show:18th
Ashes playing fields, Howden
Driffield Show: 20th Kelleythorpe
Penrith: 24th Penrith Showground
Borrowby Show: 26th Hillside
Rural Activities Park
Ryedale Show:
26th Welburn Park,
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
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
Robert D. Webster Ltd
Kilham, Driffield Tel 01262 420226
Owstwick, Nr Roos, Hull Tel 01964 670251
Howden, Goole Tel 01430 430624
Robert D. Webster Ltd.
New Holland T8000 Series New Holland T5000 Series
New Holland T7000 Series
Robert D. Webster Ltd.
New Holland T6000+ Series
0% FINANCE AVAILABLE ON VARIOUS MODELS
PLEASE PhONE FOR DEtAILS
COME AND SEE US At
DRIFFIELD ShOW
StAND NUMBER t6
Young Farmers from far and wide
met at Park House Farm, Heversham
recently to compete in the Westmorland
County Agricultural Societys annual
YFC Stock Judging event.
A record turnout of almost seventy
competitors came from clubs
throughout Cumbria, along with
members from neighbouring Yorkshire
and Lancashire.
2011 younG fArMers stocK JudGinG coMpetition
The competition included judging
prime lambs, dairy and beef cattle
as well as completing a veterinary
questionnaire with all competitors
assessing the livestock against a
master judges placings before giving
traditional reasons.
President John Park commented
It is fantastic to see so many
youngsters taking part in traditional
stockjudging competitions, and with
such high standards we can be sure
of competent livestock farmers in
the future.
The overall title was taken for the
second successive time by Pennine
YFC member James Hayllar, closely
followed by Mark Curr of the same
club.
2011 Results
Senior Stockman
James Hayllar, Pennine YFC
Junior Stockman
Will Horsley, Skelton YFC
team Prize
Longtown YFC
For more information, call
015395 67804 or visit
www.westmorlandshow.co.uk
the Winners
FarmersMart Summer 2011 10
SHOWTIME
HRH The Prince of Wales and
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall are
to visit the Great Yorkshire Show
on Wednesday 13 July, 2011. The
Prince of Wales is Patron of the
Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which
organises the event.
Bill Cowling, Honorary Show Director
said: We are absolutely delighted
with the news, and a programme
for their time with us is underway.
Their knowledge and enthusiasm for
farming and rural life is well known,
and their visit will make the show
particularly special. We look forward
to welcoming them.
Their Royal Highnesses will get
an in-depth insight into what is
Englands premier show, touring
the showground, meeting livestock
exhibitors, visitors, as well as staff
and stewards.
More than 130,000 visitors are
expected to come through the gates
for the prestigious showcase of
agriculture and country life which
runs from Tuesday 12 Thursday
14 July. Record entries in several
of the competitive sections have
already been announced with all
cattle stalls taken and a waiting list
royAl visit Announced for Gys
in operation, plus more than 2,000
sheep (a record) and over 2,000
horses competing. This will be the
153rd Great Yorkshire Show.
The show is no stranger to royal
visitors. Most recently HRH The
Princess Royal was welcomed last
year, and Her Majesty The Queen
and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
spent a day at the event in 2008.
The Prince of Wales and The
Duchess of Cornwall last visited the
show in 2006.
Historically royal visitors have
included HRH Prince Albert who
toured the event in 1848, HRH The
Duke of York, who later became
George VI, and HRH The Duchess of
York were guests of honour in 1951,
and in 1972, HRH The Duchess of
Kent became the Societys President
for the year.
For more information, visit
www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
Taking place at Leyburn
the Wensleydale Show
combines up to date
family entertainment
with the timeless
appeal of a traditional
agricultural display.
With cattle, sheep,
poultry, and heavy
horse judging, a
horticultural, handicraft
and home craft
sections also feature.
There is also a flower
and a vegetable show
and a vintage section
that includes tractors, cars, and steam
traction engines.
With a full programme of events in
the main ring top billing is the Moto-
Stunts International Display Team. A
team of display teams perform skilled
tricks and freestyle display jumping.
Around the show ground you will
find walking stick competitions,
sheep dog trials, open quoits
competition, hounds and beagles
and dry stonewalling.
the WensleydAle
AGriculturAl shoW 2011
MAin rinG top billinG
is the Moto-stunts
internAtionAl displAy teAM
There is plenty for children and over
100 trade stands, licensed facilities,
an all day a full restaurant and a
snack service on site complete the
line up. The day finishes with an on
the day dog show. Leyburn Band
entertains throughout the day.
Show Chairman Mr David Ford said,
The Wensleydale Show prides itself
in being a traditional agricultural
show with a big presence of sheep,
cattle, and now poultry.
FarmersMart Summer 2011 11
XXXXX SHOWTIME
The hectic show season is now well
underway, but theres still some
time to get your entries in for our
annual Fencing Competition! On
Wednesday, 20th July the Driffield
Agricultural Show will take place and
this year it celebrates its 136th year,
so why not come along and be part
of the celebrations.
The annual competition takes place
within the Fencing, Forestry and
Renewables Area, where trading
space is now more popular than
ever. This area offers spectators
the opportunity to witness live
machinery demonstrations and
allows spectators to stand and cheer
whilst the finest fencing contractors
from up and down the country show
us what theyre made of. This years
competition will comprise of ten
teams of two.
For a chance of getting your hands on
the prize money get your entries in by
emailing simone@fencing-news.co.uk
The JC Balls Dancing Diggers
Display Team will be providing our
the 2011 driffield shoW
is AlMost here!
main ring entertainment this year
and are bound to catch the attention
of all ages with their astounding
acrobatic mechanical feats. Reserved
grandstand seats are available to
purchase now and for only 10 offer
you the peace of mind that you will
have an excellent view for all the
proceedings!
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 the prices for families down to
an absolute minimum a family ticket
can be purchased in advance for
only 24 In addition all car parking
is free!
For more information visit
www.driffieldshow.co.uk to enter
the Fencing competition call
Simone on 01274 610101.
MiKe ford hAs confirMed his entry... he is the MAn to beAt
FarmersMart Summer 2011 12
SHOWTIME
Beef farmers and representatives of
every sector of the beef supply chain
flocked to Newark for Beef Expo
2011, the National Beef Associations
technical event with Lloyds TSB as
the major sponsor.
Opening the event farmer and
broadcaster Adam Henson of BBC
Countryfile fame said the industry
had much to be proud of, including
the exceptional products it produced
from some of the finest cattle in the
world.
I believe everyone in the industry
should be excited about the future
of the beef sector. Farmers are
now being well recognised for the
excellent work they do, not only
in producing great food, but also
looking after the countryside.
Speaking later in the day at the
events Question Time session
DEFRA minister Jim Paice said
he hoped to be able to make an
announcement on future TB control
measures by the end of July.
Event Chairperson, Rachel Gascoine
said the event had been a huge
success with great crowds at the
event all eager for knowledge and
new technology which could help
drive their businesses forward into
the future. The beef industry is in
a good state and that has showed
through in the event.
www.nationalbeefassociation.com
beef expo 2011
drAWs the croWds
to neWArK
AdAM henson openinG
beef expo 2011
The British Limousin Cattle Society
continues to announce its plans
to mark the 40th Anniversary of
the Limousin breed in the United
Kingdom and the establishment of
the Society.
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 UKs 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.
The following day, Saturday 30th
July, a National Limousin Show
will be held in the new Exhibition
Hall at Harrison & Hetheringtons
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 planned Limousin
events, Mr Bloom, Chairman said:
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.
www.limousin.co.uk
A reAl reAson to
celebrAte!
There is no denying the awe-inspiring
beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and
this summer you can experience one
of the finest livestock showcases in
this most picturesque of settings. The
Kilnsey Show has been held in and
amongst the roaming dales valleys for
over 100 years, and now in 2011, its
bigger and better than ever!
The one day event takes place on
Tuesday the 30th of August at the
Kilnsey Showground near Grassington
and has a whole host of agricultural
activities on offer including; sheep
and cattle showing, horticultural
exhibitions, vintage tractor displays
and dry stone walling competitions.
Following on from last years show,
the Cookery Theatre will once again
feature cookery demonstrations by
award-winning chefs using only the
finest local produce, whilst the ever
popular childrens educational area
entertains and thrills the younger
visitor with many hands on activities.
Show Secretary Kathy Lambert is
positive that this years event will
have something for everyone; Were
expecting 15,000 visitors on the day
and with so much going on, youll
be spoilt for choice! We are keeping
our fingers crossed that the sun
will stay out, so that our wonderful
surroundings can be enjoyed by all
those in attendance on the day
www.kilnseyshow.co.uk
A Glorious settinG for
A Glorious shoW!
FarmersMart Summer 2011 1
bAYER
successful
GrAin storAGe
pre hArvest insect control in GrAin stores
In todays unpredictable and volatile
grain markets the correct storage and
protection of high quality grain is very
important.
Throughout the plants growing
phase, technology and chemical
formulations from companies such
as Bayer, protect the cereal crop up
to the point of harvest. Ken Black,
National Account Manager at Bayer
Environmental Science, explained:
In many cases the protection of the
crop finishes after harvest and the
crop goes into storage until it is ready
to be sold. It is at this point that
we need to see a significant change
in attitude regarding grain storage.
He continued: The small print in
many farm standards and assurance
schemes as well as buying contracts
state that contamination or damage
from insects will result in loss of
quality and therefore may cause
considerable loss in price or even full
rejection in the worst cases.
Figures show that over 90% of farms
in the UK harbour at least one insect
species known to infest grain, yet only
50% of growers use an insecticide to
treat the grain store pre harvest.
The best form of control is the
prevention of infestation; it is far
easier and more cost effective to
prevent insect attacks than to try and
control them after they have occurred.
If an infestation does develop steps
need to be taken to eradicate it as
quickly as possible.
The first steps before any fresh grain
is brought into store is to ensure that
the buildings, silos and storage bins
are thoroughly cleaned.
It is important to understand that
insects found in stored grain in the
UK can enter the store in many
different ways. Some of the ways
include; on bought in feed stuffs
for livestock, unprocessed imported
cereals, grain bought in from other
farms and in sacks and bags.
Once thoroughly cleaned, the fabric
and structure of the building should
be treated with a suitable modern
insecticide, such as K-Obiol EC25
from Bayer. K-Obiol contains
the active ingredient Deltamethrin,
has full approval for use on the
structure and will give up to 2
months protection when used on
the building. It is worth noting that
some organophosphate products
do not hold approval for use on the
fabric of the building and should not
be used and others have significant
withholding periods. K-Obiol EC25
has no withholding period.
The battle against insect grain pests
is continuous but by following these
simple steps the risk of infestation
can be significantly reduced ensuring
that the producer maximises his
return on his crops.
Product enquiries
Ken Black
national account Manager
Bayer environmental Science,
Bayer cropScience Ltd
Mob: 07908 224878
tel: 00800 1214 9451
e-mail: ken.black@bayer.com
www.pestcontrol-expert.com
FarmersMart Summer 2011 1
HUNTER
E
a
s
t
g
a
te
Veterinary
C
e
n
t
r
e
24 Hour Emergency Service 01751 472204
Office Hours 9am7pm
Tel: 01751 472204
Fax: 01751 477489
133 Eastgate, Pickering,
North Yorkshire YO18 7DW
Small and Large Animal Practice
Established 20 years
Team of dedicated large animal vets
offering excellence in livestock care
Modern equipment including ultrasound
scanner and full in house laboratory
Fully qualifed to perform Bull
breeding soudness examinations
Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons accredited
Consultation by Appointment
MondayFriday 9am11am,
23pm and 56.30pm
Saturday 9.30am11.30am www.eastgateveterinarycentre.co.uk
The coveted Championship award at
The Great Yorkshire Show is high on
any farmers wish list, but when a
farmer has been in the business for
over twenty years, the urge to win is
monumental.
For Thomas and Judith Hunter of
New Town Farm in the village of
Hunmanby near Filey, North Yorkshire,
the dream of being crowned breed
champion at the countrys largest
agricultural showcase was always
high on the agenda, and although it
isnt necessarily about who wins and
loses, the pair admit that it does helps
if you come away with something.
Thomas tells us, Winning the
championship at Yorkshire in 2008
was definitely one of my proudest
moments. We won with our
homebred charollais Skelton Whin
Gladiator. We had been in the breed
twenty years before winning there so
it certainly wasnt an over night job.
If you go to the Yorkshire Show and
come back with a ticket, youve done
well. After winning the Championship
award, Skelton Whin Gladiator went
on to win the Lowland Breed and
Champion Terminal Sire award at the
Great Yorkshire too.
The triumph that the Hunters felt that
year couldnt be further from their
very first showing experience at their
local Ryedale Show, as Thomas tells
us; We started showing just a year
after first taking on the breed. A man
called Alan Barnes was selling some
old ewes at Lancaster so I bought
three. I remember he said that if I
bought the ewes, he would tup them
for me, which he did. We got four or
five lambs from that, so we thought
we would go to Ryedale with them,
being green and wet behind the lugs
of course. We didnt really know how
to dress them and what not but we
thought we might as well give it a
go. The judge put us second on the
day and came up to us afterwards
to offer me a 1000 to buy it. But
I thought if it was worth 1000 to
him, it would be worth the same to
me. We learnt from there really and
we are still learning to this very day.
The Hunters purchased the 30 acres
at New Town Farm in 1989, with
Thomass parents, after leaving their
tenanted farm at Kirbymoorside, near
York. Initially the shift in becoming
farm owners took some getting
used to, mainly because New Town
was a slightly smaller farm, but the
move did enable Thomas to continue
driving for B.A.T.A Malton.
A Well deserved chArollAis Win
After tWenty yeArs
lucie cArter tAlKs With
pediGree sheep breeders
thoMAs And Judith hunter
Thomas explains, Owning our own
farm is a lot easier, there isnt as
much hassle really. For us it was a
case of finding two separate dwellings
for ourselves and my parents who
now live next door and this farm fit
the bill. We now rent an additional
40 acres, so that our pedigree stock
has room to roam.
Now after over twenty years in
Hunmanby, the Hunters carry a flock
of 110 Charollais ewes and 30 Beltex.
Around 60 ram lambs are kept to run
through to shearlings, which are sold
privately at home, Worcester Premier
Sale, Malton and Skipton.
When we moved over here we had
been breeding Charollais for four years
and originally we ran them separate
as commercial and accredited flocks.
We were eventually told by the
powers that be that we needed to
get rid of one or the other because
they hadnt to make contact with
each other. So we decided to get rid
of all the commercials and keep the
pedigrees which at the time we only
had a few of. Farming-wise, we are
in a better position now though, and
we still get as much satisfaction from
it as we did when we were running
both.
According to Thomas this development
came at a time when Charollais were
coming into the commercial mans
conscience. After rearing his own
using a borrowed charollais ram,
Thomas was able to appreciate their
appeal, particularly their heaviness
and strength.
Being successful pedigree breeders,
the Hunters main aim is to continue
producing the good breeding stock.
To achieve this Thomas travels the
country looking for rams with style,
breeding and confirmation.
Johnny Hunter (no relation) in
Scotland was a good man to buy
from. I could ring him up and he
would tell me as it was, I remember
he was once selling an aged ram that
he had and he gave me first chance
to buy him. I must admit when I first
saw this ram he wasnt particularly
the best looking sheep, but when
we saw the flock coming over the
highland hillside it was breathtaking
and we were sold on him! Although
he has gone now, he was the best
ram Ive ever had and I have carried
out a lot of breeding using his genetic
lines. He also advised us before
his dispersal sale of two gimmer
lambs with good breeding. As I
was interested I sent my Mother
and Father to the sale, thinking they
would make a purchase for around
800. On their return, turns out it
had cost 1800. Seeing her at first,
I didnt think she was strong enough,
but she has more than repaid us with
her breeding; Champion group of
3 at Great Yorkshire with herself, her
daughter and son.
As their flocks continue to grow
Thomas and Judith rely on the help
of Thomas elderly parents Simon and
Valarie, to carry out everyday jobs
around the farm. Their two children
Simon (22) and Kerry (20) have also
shown a keen interest in the farm,
particularly in pedigree breeding.
If 2010 is anything to go by, this
summer looks set to be another
decent year for the Hunter family!
thomas and Judith Hunter
newtown Farm, Hunmanby
north YorkshireYo14 9rr
tel: 01723 891 806
Judith And thoMAs thoMAs With his
Winner
FarmersMart Summer 2011 1
RITCHIE
Hughes Brothers of Oswestry is
a family run agricultural supply
business that has developed over
the last 37 years from Roy and
Gary Hughes home farm.
With farming and its experiences
providing the business background,
sons Tim and Richard Hughes and
daughter Ann joined their father
proving that investment, belief
and hard work is the criteria for a
successful family business. New re-
developed show rooms and product
demonstration areas demonstrate
their future belief in the industry
that has supported them all over
several decades.
The Ritchie range of agricultural
and stock-handling products has
been part of the Hughes business
for over 20 years. These advanced
engineered products have provided
local customers with reliable cattle
and sheep handling ranges and the
fArMinG co-operAtion pAys
Ritchie orange products are well
established in the area.
A recent product that has experienced
national interest is the Ritchie Combi
Clamp. A new product development
from New Zealand sheep farmers,
the Combi Clamp enables sheep
handling to be easier, quick and
safer for both sheep and shepherd.
However, like most established
products, improvements for specific
applications are always possible.
Co-operation between Hughes
Brothers and local sheep farmer Dai
Hughes is one such development.
Dai farms over 970 acres of the
Oswestry hills with over 7,500
sheep and a herd of suckler cows
to look after. Kitted out with
Ritchie Combi Clamp, race, gates
and hurdles, Dai needed a bespoke
system of transporting the Combi
Clamp between flocks. A need for
auto spray fitted with a magic eye
and weighing system all-inclusive
set Dai and Richard thinking. Two
months of thought and designs has
come up with a fully mobile system
that allows Dai, with help from his
son, to set up the unit within half an
hour and be fully operational in three
different sites. With the addition
of one or two segregation pens as
needed, Dai and his son can now
dose over 1,000 sheep within three
hours.
A few additional comforts were
added to the sheep handling system
to make Dais life easier and work
more enjoyable. The trailer is fitted
with stabilizing legs to enable a flat
working surface to be achieved to
aid a more comfortable and safer
operation and also a rain cover. A
battery pack is fitted which recharges
itself whilst the unit is being towed
from site to site.
Dai adds, The Ritchie Combi Clamp
is a God send! My back problems
are no longer a worrying issue and
with my son, we are both able to
operate the simple sheep clamp
system. The design and thought
put in by the Hughes team to what
was already a good product, has
proved to be a great success on our
farm. The investment has certainly
paid off.
For more information, visit
www.hughes-bros.co.uk
FarmersMart Summer 2011 16
Does your current fencing have...
the Smallest knot, proven to be 24% stronger than other knot configurations?
a smooth non-abrasive free surface?
a single piece vertical wire?
XTRALIFE Zinc/Alu coating?
and is it manufactured from primary metals?
Proven tests have shown XFENCE to be the wire choice for both its strength and longevity
Can you afford to not use XFENCE?
Deer XFENCE
Forestry protection in
Worcestershire
Badger/Boar XFENCE
Protecting monuments,
roadways, dairies,gardens
etc nationwide
Fishery protection
Otter XFENCE near Bristol
Premium horse XFENCE
used by many leading polo
studs in the UK
Highway XFENCE
Llandysul Bypass,Wales
Zoo XFENCE
Creating safe environment
to contain Hippos and
Cheetahs, Hampshire
Horse XFENCE
Leading nationwide studs
and polo establishments
Security XFENCE
WWWII gun emplacements,
White cliffs of Dover
Poultry XFENCE
Free range farms Nationwide
Lagoon XFENCE
Perimeter fencing in Somerset
Otter Highway XFENCE
Snowdonia National Park
TB Exclusion XFENCE
Harper Adams College
Dairy Building
These McVeigh Parker customers do...
KAvANAGH
Forging your own farming career can
be challenging at the best of times,
but first generation farmer Simon
Kavanagh is living proof that with
strong will and an eye for sheep
breeding and grazing land, a profitable
and sustainable business can be
developed.
Simon originates from Eldwick near
Bingley west Yorkshire; whilst growing
up he developed a keen interest
in livestock keeping his own hens
and sheep on 7 acres of land that
enclosed the familys home as well
as working on a local dairy and sheep
farm. Simons casual fondness of
sheep quickly grew and his knowledge
of the industry grew through both
academic qualifications and hands on
experience.
Simon tells us, I went to Harper
Adams and completed a degree in
land and Farm Management. Whilst
there I spent a year working full time
on a Beef, Sheep and Arable farm in
Shropshire. Having graduated I went
to work for John Geldard near Kendal
working with Beef, Sheep and Poultry
and then Mike Barker near Lancaster
working with Pigs and Dairy.
It was in 2000 whilst working in
Cumbria for John Geldard when
he managed to rent 50 acres of
land in Eldwick and purchase 274
Lleyn gimmer lambs which became
the foundation stock which he has
subsequently built from. A move to
working for Mike Barker near Lancaster
gave him the next opportunity to
expand as he was able to rent
additional land from him alongside his
work. Having a job alongside running
his own flock of sheep allowed him to
build up his own business taking on
more sheep and land every year.
This was all made possible by
have very understanding employers
alongside my father who would keep
an eye stock during the week whilst
I was away working as well as help
during busy periods.
The sheep enterprise is based on
breeding pure bred Lleyns and every
sheep on the farm is pure bred.
I have invested a lot of time and
effort over the years ensuring that the
flock is improved all the time. I am
looking for sheep with good structure,
confirmation, tight skins, good feet and
mouths are also top priority as well
as the ewes mothering and milking
ability, it is important to remember
A first GenerAtion fArMer
With A prosperous future
We chAt to siMon KAvAnAGh At West berWicK fArM neAr sKipton
In 2010 Simon took on West Berwick
Farm at Draughton near Skipton. A
340 acre farm owned by the Clay
family. Taking on the farm has
now given him the chance to move
the business on in other directions
alongside the sheep. Now Simon
works alongside his younger brother
Michael in the business with other
labour drawn in when required.
The farm has a tremendous amount
of buildings and I saw the potential to
move into other areas, every farm is
different, I think you have to play to
your strengths and utilise what you
have. My main objective has always
been to form a mixed, viable and
sustainable business.
Since moving here old cattle yards
have been converted for finishing
pigs and another building has been
converted for a flock of free range
laying hens. Both these enterprises
provide regular cash flow and fit in well
with the sheep enterprise. Cattle from
neighbouring farms are also wintered
and grazed on the farm helping the
grazing balance utilising buildings and
provide a useful income stream.
Simon admits although the sheep
sector has had some lean times over
the last 10 years, more recently the
industry is looking buoyant again,
largely down to there being less
breeding sheep about, alongside a
favourable exchange rate. I think that
the Lleyn breed will continue to grow
in popularity as it becomes increasingly
important to control costs and run
large flocks of commercial sheep that
are easy to manage, producing quality
lambs for todays market.
For more information on the
Lleyn breed contact him on
tel: 07759 907961.
West Berwick Farm, Draughton
Skipton, north Yorkshire
BD23 6DX
that the Lleyn is bred primarily for its
maternal attributes. The Lleyn ewe is
an ideal commercial ewe and is great
for crossing with many terminal sires;
they are prolific, hardy, good foragers,
excellent mothers and require less
feed than many alternative breeds.
Another of the Lleyns attributes is that
you can breed you own replacement
ewes keeping tight control on costs,
quality and health status.
The top end of the flock are
synchronised and AId ensuring that
the best Tups are used to sire as many
lambs as possible.
He tells us, The AI work comprises of
synchronising between three and four
hundred ewes and we normally get
85% and even up to 95% conception
rate using fresh semen. It is well
worth doing because you can achieve
a very short lambing period allowing
extra staff to be drawn in only for a
very short period. We are also seeing
fantastic genetic gain as the quality
of the sheep continues to improve.
Sheep are also monitored for any
ewes that need assistance as we want
to be intervening as little as possible
at lambing.
Ewe lambs and the best Tup lambs are
then grown on into shearlings and are
sold mainly at the Lleyn sheep society
sales. Sheep are sold at Ross on
Wye, Ruthin, Carlisle, Sterling, Skipton
as well as the ram sales at Kelso
and Builth Wells. Fat lambs are sold
through Skipton and Gisburn Auctions,
as well as direct to Woodhead Bros at
Colne, with the vast majority of lambs
killing out as R3L as well as a few U
grades weighing between 19.5kg and
21.5 kg.
brothers MichAel And siMon
FarmersMart Summer 2011 18
GRIPPLE
The all-new Gripple Contractor
Tool caught the attention of many
visitors at the Royal Cornwall Show
this year, the largest agricultural
show in Cornwall and Devon, which
experienced a record 127,000
visitors over three days. Live, hands-
on demonstrations of the tool on a
run of fencing showcased exactly
how it takes all the strain out of
tensioning fence wires, leaving
visitors impressed with just how
easy it was to apply loads, and
how quickly they were able to fully
tighten the fence.
From the people behind the
revolutionary Gripple range of wire
joiners and tensioners, the new tool
was developed through ongoing,
meticulous research out in the field,
with Gripple listening closely to their
customers to determine exactly what
you require from a tensioning tool.
The result is the Contractor Tool
a brand new, metal, tensioning
tool offering a 10:1 mechanical
advantage, meaning you can apply
the same tension with a lot less
effort. Designed specifically to
withstand daily use, the entirely
metal construction makes it
extremely strong and robust. Whats
more, the long handles provide
increased leverage, and the quick
release cam makes grabbing wire
much easier than ever before. It also
boasts a release key holder and soft-
feel grips, to make fence installation,
maintenance and repair even less
demanding.
The tool is perfect for use on all
Gripple fence products, including
the Gripple Plus joiner and tensioner,
the Gripple Barbed and the GPAK
bracing kit. Whether youre
installing a fence for the first time or
re-tensioning further down the line,
the Contractor Tool is built to last,
and will prove its worth time-after-
time.
the highly awaited, all-new
gripple contractor tool is on sale
august 2011 - contact your local
distributor for more information
or visit http://www.gripple.com/
neW Gripple tool drAWs croWds
dAve deMonstrAtinG At the shoW
FarmersMart Summer 2011 19
NEWS AbROAD
Farming is difficult at the best of
times, the variety of the weather,
decease and difficult markets, but
as Ben Freeth told FamersMart,
when the rule of law breaks down,
everything we normally take for
granted also disappears.
Already the subject of a 2009 Bafta
nominated film now Ben has written
a compelling and moving account of
his familys time in Zimbabwe which
led to violence and destruction. In
the book Ben describes how his
Christian faith has helped his familys
groundbreaking step of challenging
President Mugabe at the Southern
African Development Community
tribunal.
Bens passion for farming started as
a youngster and saw him working
on farms in England, Australia,
New Zealand and Zimbabwe. In
1990 Ben decided to get the right
qualifications. He studied agriculture
at the Royal Agriculture College in
Cirencester.
After graduation Ben, returned to
Zimabawe. Its a beautiful country
ziMbAbWe - A fArMers tAle
A neW booK, MuGAbe And the White AfricAn by ben freeth
Mbe tells of his 10 yeAr struGGle fArMinG in ziMbAbWe
And hoW his fAMily Were AttAcKed And seriously inJured,
the fArM blAzed to the Ground And his lonG struGGle for
Justice AGAinst the MuGAbe reGiMe.
phil reAd spoKe to british born ben freeth.
with beautiful people, said Ben. He
eventually worked on his in-laws to
be 24,000 hectares farm in Mount
Carmel, about 70 miles south west
from the capital Harare. My wife
Lauras family have been farming
in the African Continent for around
300 years. My father-in-law bought
the land in Zimbabwe in 1974.
The farm was very successful says
Ben. We grew mangos and citrus
fruit, which we sold to many markets
including Marks and Spencer. We
also grew crops including maize.
In addition to the 40,000 fruit trees,
the farm also had cattle, the native
Mashona crossed with Sussex beef.
The farm was also home to 500
people living off the land. Around
50 were directly employed by Bens
farm with a further 150 employed
seasonally.
My wife also taught the local women
embroidery and they ran a cottage
industry selling their work locally,
said Ben. We also had some of the
countrys finest wildlife with giraffe
and antelope roaming the land.
Finally in 2008. Ben, his Mother
and Father-in-law were abducted
and beaten to within an inch of their
lives. The farm was burnt to the
ground in 2009. Bens father in law
Mike Campbell never recovered from
his injuries and sadly he died in April
this year at the age of 78.
So why did Ben and his family not
just get out of Zimbabwe when
he could like many others? Well
as a Christian I believe that good
will prevail over bad. We want to
continue farming and we believe
once there is an end to the Mugabe
regime farming will again be able to
resume in Zimbawe.
Ben now 41 was awarded the MBE
in 2010 for his services to farming
in Zimbabwe. He says the farm is
now owned by an octogenarian
military commander with no interest
in farming. He visits for half an hour
once a month, says Ben. Other
white owned farms have been gifted
by Mugabe to his elite supporters,
judges, police chiefs and politicians.
There is no electricity and currently
no farming taking place.
Find out more about Bens
amazing story in his book
Mugabe and the White african
which was published in June.
We ran safari trips for visitors from
across the globe.
But this paradise was set to meet
difficult times under the regime of
President Mugabe who has been
in office since 1980. In 2000
President Mugabe began his violent
land seizure programme. Thousands
of white farmers and
their families were
forced to abandon their
farms and flee.
Bens Father in law had
already approached the
government about the
farm in 1999 and had
agreements indicating
the authorities had no
interest in the land.
Despite this, as the
rule of law broke down,
mobs surrounded the house, Ben
and his family; by now Laura and
Ben had brought 3 children into
the world, were shot at, the farm
workers were arrested and beaten
up by the police. The tractors and
plant machinery were stolen.
fAMily fArM And hoMe destroyed
ben With one of the nAtives
FarmersMart Summer 2011 20
DAIRY
Lely Center, Bedale are pleased to
announce that Terry Senior will be
joining our Company as our new
Sales Advisor for South Yorkshire &
Humberside. Terry will be working
for us to generate more interest and
follow up leads in the South Yorkshire
and Humberside area where he lives
with his wife Angela.
Terry Joined the Company 1st June
and brings with him a wealth of
experience in not only dairy, but
also the pig and poultry sector of
agriculture, where many of the
products and services that Tim
Gibson Ltd supply can also be
applied, he is delighted to join Tim
Gibson Ltd promoting Lely Robotic
Milking Solutions and ancillary
equipment bringing with him 26 years
of experience within Agriculture. He
will draw from a prior engineering
background to assist Customers with
choices & planning of Robot Layouts
incorporating Feed Storage Silos &
best practice Conveying systems to
suit individual farms in the Yorkshire
Area where he resides.
Terry Senior has been involved in
the Agricultural Sector since 1985
and has worked with EB Equipment
as Works Manager and most
recently with Collinson has Area
Sales Manager (East) until semi
retirement.
terry can be contacted via the
office on 01677 424284 or on
his mobile 07714 133352
still GroWth in AGriculture
terry senior
FarmersMart Summer 2011 21
bETHELL / HEAD O TH MARSH
We are pleased to be associated with Andrew and
Cath Bethell and wish them continued success
Converting one vegetarian to meat
isnt the easiest of things, let alone
two vegetarians who have avoided
meat for almost thirty years! Cath
and Andrew Bethell, founders of the
Head oth Marsh Farm Shop didnt
have to try very hard to achieve this
though, they let their beautifully
home-reared cuts of meat do the
job for them.
We get absolutely wonderful
feedback from all our
customers about the
taste of the meat, but
I just couldnt believe
it when I convinced
two vegetarian ladies
from the nearby
village to try our
beef. I think that has
to be our biggest
achievement! laughs
Cath.
Head oth Marsh
Farm Shop is a
fantastic example
of what to modern-
day farmers can do
when the going gets
tough, and it proves
that with a smidge
of creative flair and
agricultural know-
how; even the most
traditional farms can
step into the 21st
century.
The shop sits
MeAt so tAsty even the
veGetAriAns WAnt to tAste it!
lucie cArter tAlKs With AndreW And cAth bethell in brindle, lAncAshire
comfortably in the entrance of the
Bethells family farm (of the same
name) and manages to be both
impressive in size, but homely and
welcoming too. Cath and Andrewss
decision to build a farm shop came
after the council proposed their plans
to build a new motorway straight
through the middle of their farm.
Andrew tells us, We had been
milking our dairy cattle here for
thirty years before the plans came
through. But when they eventually
got round to building the M65 in
1996, our land here was completely
split in two and we couldnt continue
on as a dairy farm. At the time my
father and I were milking 100 cattle
and also carried between 150 and
200 sheep. The motorway cut our
land in half though and it meant we
couldnt carry the stock anymore, so
we had to cut back considerably and
reassess the situation.
In an attempt to turn their fortune
around, Cath and Andrew decided to
FarmersMart Summer 2011 22
bETHELL / HEAD O TH MARSH
Towers Gornall
Chartered Certifed Accountants
Towers & Gornall are pleased to be associated
with the Bethells and wish them every success
now and in the future
29 Main Street, Bentham
Near Lancaster, LA2 7HQ
Tel: 015242 61206
Fax: 015242 63130
admin@towersandgornall.co.uk
www.towersandgornall.co.uk
transform what had been an old out
building (used for the most part to
store sawdust) into a fully-functioning
farm shop complete with checkout,
industrial-sized refrigerators and
cooling rooms.
Because we had always sold meat
directly from the farm whilst still
milking, Andrew continues, we
already had an idea of what running
a shop would be like. Our meat was
always very popular to the locals so I
thought if we could taste the difference
in quality, and they could too; why
not take it to the next level.
As thats exactly what they did. To
get the ball rolling, Cath and Andrew
contacted the funding organisation
Rural Futures to ask if they would
be eligible for funding. Thankfully they
were and in 2005, after over three
years of planning agreements and
business proposals, they were able to
turn their dreams into a reality.
Cath explains, Rural Futures helped
us an awful lot in the initial stages
of the development, and we used a
local building firm we knew to rebuild
the old sawdust building into the
shop you see today. Originally the
shop was only the size of our meat
counter, which was enough to begin
with because we were only selling
meat and eggs back then
Now in its fifth year of trading, Head
oth Marsh Farm Shop is proving more
popular than ever before. The huge
fridge that stretches across the entire
length of the shop stocks only the
finest cuts of meat, whilst the rest of
the shop is filled with fresh pork pies,
eggs, jams and even ice creams.
All of the lamb and pork sold through
the shop is reared only yards away on
the farm itself, and Andrews father
is responsible for all the pork that is
sold. The Bethells dont use any other
local farmers to supply the meat as
they favour a more personal touch.
We prefer to do it all ourselves to
be honest and although at times
it can be quite hard meeting with
demand, to have produce as fresh
as we have it means we have to be
practical in turning things around.
All our meat is packed and hung in
Skipton so tractability is as high as
it possible can be.
After a rollercoaster ride from the
farming to the food industry the
Bethells still remain level headed,
and with the help of their three
children Lee (19), Tom (16) and
daughter Lauren (11), the farm shop
is only the beginning!
For more information on Head
oth Marsh Farm Shop visit
www.headothmarshfarm.
co.uk or call 01254 852317
AndreW And cAth bethell
FarmersMart Summer 2011 2
CHRIS bIRCH
Chris Birch is a man who simply
cannot escape the farming world;
growing up in the small village of
Monyash, near to his current home
in Alport near Bakewell. Although his
familys farm was sold when Chris
was only nine years old, he has never
really been able resist the lure of the
agricultural industry.
He tells us, After leaving school I
became more heavily involved with the
Bakewell Young Farmers Club, which is
where I met my Wife Catherine. I held
the Chairman and Secretary positions
there and I was also the Derbyshire
County Chairman for a year.
After working in a warehouse, Chris went
on to work for an agricultural merchant
and his knowledge of the industry was
subsequently made stronger.
When Chris married Catherine, the pair
purchased a three acre field near their
home and as the size of the holding
has steadily grown (through inherited
and tenanted land) the couple and
their two children Eve (8) and Thomas
(7) have enjoyed a more relaxed
approach to agricultural living. The
children both have their own sheep.
Eve has a Greyface Dartmoor and
Thomas has a Jacob.
Since joining the ministry of agriculture
in 1998 as an Inspector Chris has
worked on what some might consider
the other side of farming. He now
works as an Inspector for the Rural
Payments Agency, and its a position
he holds in very high esteem.
My job involves visiting agricultural
holdings and other premises, in order
to verify claims for payment under
various Environmental Schemes as
well as the Single Payment Scheme. I
check all elements of cross compliance
and I do a lot of work with cattle, sheep
and pig identification. I absolutely
love my job; being from a farming
background, I appreciate the work that
farmers do. And because we have our
own sheep and a few cattle, I know
what is required when rearing animals
and the time constraints of trying to
juggle animals, paperwork, a full-time
job, bringing up a family and working
within a small, rural community.
The Birch family currently have seven
different breeds of sheep running as
one 30-strong flock. The vast majority
of their sheep are traditional breeds,
with a handful of them being rare
breed Teeswaters.
explorinG All AreAs of
the fArMinG industry
We visit chris birch on his sMAll holdinG in bAKeWell, derbyshire
A lot people dont know that there
only about 600 registered breeding
Teeswater females in the country.
This was one of the main
reasons we started keeping
them. When we decided to
keep sheep we looked at
the Rare Breed Survival
Trust list, starting
with the most critical
endangered. We moved
up the list until we came
to Teeswaters. We visited
our nearest flock which
was about 40 miles away,
and liked what we saw. I find
it difficult to understand why such
a productive animal that can produce
15 worth of wool should be so rare.
We have now joined the Breed Society
Scanning Scheme which is aiming
to improve the carcase quality of
the breed. Early signs show that the
Teeswater is equal to, if not better than
some of the more fashionable breeds.
As well as attending local shows, we
show and sell at the National Rare
Breed Show at Melton Mowbray.
Every year a few breeders attend to
promote the breed and to inform
people just how endangered they are.
Our biggest achievement was in 2008
when a shearling ram not only won the
Teeswater class but also received the
reserve inter-breed champion award.
Whilst talking so passionately about
the quality of his mixed-breed flock
and particularly the Teeswaters, Chris
is keen to credit JG Animal Health;
We have encountered a few problems
recently because the land we have is
high in iron, sulphur, aluminium and
molybdenum. It was thanks to JG
Animal Health that we found this
information out after they carried out
some sampling work for us. Thanks to
them we have since put all our sheep
onto one of their mineral drenches
and we have been seeing considerable
improvements.
For Chris and his impressive Teeswaters
hopefully the next few years will be as
rewarding and enjoyable as he strives
to promote this traditional breed.
chris Birch, Broadmeadow cottage
alport, Bakewell
Derbyshire De45 1LH
tel: 01629 636083
See page 93 for more on
Teeswater breed
chris birch
FarmersMart Summer 2011 2
bETAFENCE
The Rylock stand at this years
major UK agricultural shows is
proving a big pull for farmers and
fencing contractors alike and its
also providing the company with
opportunities for some grassroots
market research.
Hundreds have been visiting the
Betafence team whove been
exhibiting the market-leading Rylock
range including stock fence, barbed
and fencing wire at shows including
The Balmoral in Northern Ireland,
The Royal Cornwall and The Royal
Highland Show near Edinburgh.
The companys also due to take part
in The Royal Welsh Show 2011 in
July.
James Timlin, Betafence UK Sales
Manager, said: The response
weve had from visitors has been
amazing. Theyve given us some
great feedback on Rylock and how
its performing out in the field.
And theres no doubt that farmers
really appreciate our Rylock
guarantees and the fact that our
products are 100% British and made
in Sheffield, the home of steel.
James Timlin added that a
competition to win a Honda All-
Terrain vehicle had also proved
to be a major draw for visitors
to the stand. The winner will be
announced (date ???) and the
results published on the Betafence
website www.betafence.co.uk
Betafence is the largest manufacturer
of agricultural wire products in the
UK. The Rylock range is unique in
being made from steel rod produced
in British steel mills and turned
to wire and into fencing at the
Betafence factory in Sheffield where
more than 300 people are employed.
Agricultural wire has been produced
on site since the 1930s. Rylocks
unique properties and green colour
are the result of high quality design,
production skills and knowledge.
rylock products are all
guaranteed: the rylock green
range for 20 years and rylock
one for 10 years. the guarantee
was introduced in 2010 to qualify
the quality long associated
with the rylock brand. For
more information contact sales.
sheffield@betafence.com
fArMinG shoWs pAy off
for betAfence
FarmersMart Summer 2011 26
bATES
A Northumberland family farming
business is moving towards self
sufficiency in its sheep and beef
enterprises to try to avoid price
fluctuations in breeding stock and
importing disease.
Nilston Rigg Farms, at just under
1,000 acres, runs from 900ft above
sea level to 350ft on the banks of
the River South Tyne near Haydon
Bridge.
Northumberland type Blackface
ewes are bred on the high ground at
Nilston Rigg, Langley, producing flock
replacements and North of England
Mules which are crossed with the
Suffolk and Texel to produce prime
lamb - 1,800 finished lambs were
sold last year.
And now replacements are being bred
for the herd of 130 predominantly
Limousin cross suckler cows which
are run across the ring-fenced acreage
which has gradually been taken back
and farmed in-hand as tenants on
smaller units retired.
The Nilston Rigg partnership involves
Tommy Bates, whose land the farm is
on, his daughter Annabelle Morshead
and son Benedict. Annabelles son,
Harry works on the farm, while eldest
son Charlie helps part-time while
also running his own dance floor hire
business. Benedicts son William is
also planning to work at home.
Blackface sheep have been bred by
the family for a number of decades
and while more recently home-bred
sheep have been shown with great
success, both the sheep and beef
enterprises are run very much with
the commercial market in mind.
Most of the 520 Blackface sheep are
run on the higher ground at Nilston
Rigg with the best ewes bred pure
and up to half the ewes being crossed
with the Bluefaced Leicester to
produce gimmer lambs for the farms
700 Mule flock.
Two years ago Annabelle paid
12,500 for a ram at Hexham Mart,
the type they had been looking for
several years, with massive scope
and size and with many of the other
preferred qualities of the breed.
Because we want to produce finished
lambs with a good carcase from the
Mules we wanted a ram with power
and body. We cant expect the Suffolk
or the Texel ram to do the whole
thing, said Annabelle. In early
December his lambs realized up to
92 a head and weighed 47kg, at
Hexham.
Were aiming to produce a quality
Blackface, mainly for our own use,
but we also sell Blackface tups
at Hexham. I have always been a
believer in looking after the ewe flock
and making sure they are good quality
and I always check when buying in
a ram that he has good dam lines,
she added.
At this years Northumberland County
Show a Nilston Rigg ewe won the
Blackface championship - the fourth
time in a row at the event for the
family. They also fly the flag for the
breed and their flock at other local
shows and testament to the quality of
their breeding was that in 2009 four
different ewe lambs each won their
class at different shows.
Harry is following the familys
enthusiasm for the Blackface and he
is judging the breed classes at the
Great Yorkshire Show this year.
Suffolk and Bluefaced Leicester rams
are bought-in but Texel rams are bred
from the farms 40 pure Texel flock
with some rams sold privately
Lambing starts inside at the end of
February-early March with some of the
early lambing Mules, the flock having
scanned at 226%. These are followed
at the end of March-beginning of
April by the later Mules and then the
Blackfaces outside which scanned at
183% from April 10.
Ewes carrying triplets and singles
are lambed inside by Annabelle with
Harry taking charge of the outside
lambing with the help of local farmer
Jimmy Story.
The Mule cross Suffolk lambs start
selling at between eight and nine
weeks old. This year the first lambs
were sold on May 17 and they were
fetching 128 a head.
We like the Suffolk tup because the
lambs mature a bit earlier with more
weight. We sell every week which
means we can ride the market, said
Annabelle.
At two consecutive sales in mid-June
35 lambs sold to average over 200p
per kg with 38 making 206p the
following week - some of these were
triplets which made 87 a head.
The aim is to sell the lambs finished
with the majority away by November
when the grass quality declines.
Blackface wether lambs last year
averaged 70 a head, with lambs sold
from the beginning of August. For the
past three years they have won the
Hexham Christmas primestock show,
with this years pen realizing 190p per
kilo .
While most of the Mule ewe lambs
are retained as replacements, some
are sold through Hexham and at the
first Mule gimmer lamb sale of the
season last year the farms lambs
were first into the ring and averaged
100. Blackface ewe lambs made
122 a head at the same sale.
The farms herd of 130 suckler cows
includes a handful of Belted Galloways
- a favourite of Tommy Bates.
In the last three years British Blue
cross heifers have been bought in
with a view to crossing them with the
Limousin bull, retaining only the best
as herd replacements. Now 80% of
the herd is home-bred, to include
some pure Limousins.
The majority of the herd - 110
cows - calves in the spring with the
remainder in the autumn, producing
calves which are sold as sucklers
at seven to 10 months old making
between 600 and 700 for an eight
month old calf.
With an eye on producing quality,
pedigree Limousin bulls with a high
beef value are purchased at sales in
Carlisle, paying up to 6,000gns.
I like to have one bull that is a true
terminal sire but I am also looking
for maternal traits such as easy
calving and milk but were not trying
to compete with breeders aiming to
produce show calves, said Benedict.
The calves are creep fed with a home
mix in August and September with the
aim of selling them all by November
to reduce feeding costs.
During winter housing the cows are
fed clamp silage with Autumn born
calves receiving creep feed and first
calvers also receiving a home mix.
Up to 50 acres of winter or spring
barley is grown for home consumption
as part of a five to 10 year rotation.
Red clover rich leys have been sown
recently to improve the grassland,
particularly for the finishing lambs.
The farm has been in ELS for five
years and it is hoped that it can be
accepted for UELS now the five-year
term has ended.
th Bates, Haydon Bridge
tel: 01434 684 256
self sufficiency
for sheep And beef
At nilston riGG
Just like part of the family!!
ScottMitchellAssociates
The Farm, Equine & Small Animal Surgeries
Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3SG
Tel +44 1434 608999
www.vets1.com
hArry, benedict And AnnAbelle With liMousin cross heifers
FarmersMart Summer 2011 2
bOWNESS
LYVENNET FENCING
& CONTRACT SERVICES LIMITED
Willow Garth, Crosby Ravensworth
Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3hP
Tel 07768100397 / 01931 715037
Pleased to be associated with
Brian Bowness and wish
him continued success for the future
Situated in the beautiful village of
Crosby Ravensworth, within the
roaming hills of Cumbria, stands
Bank Farm, a beef and sheep
enterprise that has been occupied by
generations of Brian Bowness family
for as long as Brian can remember.
The farm was originally owned by
my grandparents on my mothers side
of the family. Myself and Shirley first
came here in 1988 with our young
daughters Dawn and Tracy. Before
coming here we tenanted another
farm not to far away from here, but
because Bank Farm had always been
a part of the family it seemed natural
to come here when the opportunity
came.
To make sure his 365 acres of land
reaches its full potential, Brian rears
both beef Suckler cows (Belgium Blue
and Limousin crosses), 600 Texel
Cross sheep and has also developed
a strong trading relationship with
his local butcher (whom he supplies
lambs to, 52 weeks of the year).
Brian lambs his flock at two different
times to be able to catch the Easter
Market of spring lamb. He lambs
200 sheep during February, which
are all housed inside before and after
lambing. The rest of his flock are
then lambed during April.
With so many different elements of
the farm to contend with throughout
the working day it seems surprising
to hear that Brians down time is
spent (yes you guessed it) working
with cattle. In recent years Brian has
become more and more interested in
the art of cattle breeding, but rather
than wanting to achieve a profit and
eventually develop a new line of dare
we say business, Brians new found
enJoyinG the other side
of the industry
fArMersMArt Meets With briAn And shirley boWness of bAnK fArM neAr penrith
dAWn With her chAMpion bruno briAn boWness
FarmersMart Summer 2011 28
bOWNESS
passion for embryo experimentation is
done purely for his own enjoyment.
Last May one Heifer in particular
caught his eye whilst at a summer
sale in Carlisle.
He tells us, Myself and Dawn, who
works as a vet in Pickering, decided
to go in search of a top quality Heifer,
with the idea that we could carry out
some flushing work on her. We went
to a pure bred Belguim Blue sale in
May last year and a heifer known as
Blugrass Demi, formerly owned by
Messrs Raine at Stanhope Gate Farm
caught our eye.
Since making the purchase, Brian
and Dawn have flushed the heifer
a total of three times, the first two
eggs being implanted into recipitants.
A dark coloured good shaped bull
calf has just been born as a result
of this.
Were not trying to make a living
from this sort of work though, Brian
insists, its just a different aspect
of the industry isnt it? Its more of
a general interest really and we are
trying to have a bit of fun as we learn.
We dont have hobbies us farmers,
this heifer is my hobby!
Before investing in Blugrass Demi,
Brian made another purchase that
has not only strengthened his
herd, but has allowed him to fulfil
his new found interest in breed
experimentation.
Originally we brought a bull called
Croftends Bruno from the Bellas
Family who farm nearby. We took
a load of semen from him (3500
swatches in total) and then went on
the look out for the perfect Heifer
which of course became Blugrass
Demi.
Working together Brian and daughter
Dawn regularly flush and subsequently
scan Blugrass Demi to make sure she
is doing well.
As Brians herd numbers continue
to increase and the quality of his
stock improves year-on-year, the
profitability of his cattle is becoming
more relevant than ever. For Brian, a
major turning point in the everyday
workings of Bank Farm came during
the aftermath of Foot and Mouth.
Not long after foot and mouth we
tried to calve at two different times
each year so that we could sell at
different times throughout the year
and generate more of an income.
We had calved in June, July and
August and sold these claves through
Penrith auction the following summer
as store cattle. But now although we
continue to do the same with half of
them the other half we tend to calve
in February and March time so we
can sell the calves at Suckler sales at
the end of October, again at Penrith
auction.
During the summer Brian regularly
carries out a number of contracting
jobs and therefore relies on the
expertise of the staff from Llyods Ltd
at Penrith to keep his machinery in
good working order.
The majority of Brians summer will
now be spent continually working
and indeed experimenting with his
favourite new Heifer, but next year he
hopes to parade her in all her glory
over the 2012 showing season.
Shirley & Brian Bowness
Bank Farm, crosby,
Penrith ca10 3JB
tel: 01931 715 239
WhAt A fine beAst
FarmersMart Summer 2011 29
STANFORTH bUTCHERS
craven bacon
Wholesale Suppliers of bacon, gammons,
dry cured bacon, cooked meats and much more.
We are pleased to be associated with
Stanforths Butchers and wish them continued
success for the future
www.cravenbacon.co.uk
Telephone : 01535 634733
Mobile : 07801 841855
Pedigree is very important in farming,
but there is a butchery business in
Skipton which has an impressive
pedigree all of its own. Stanforth
Butchers started trading in the pre-
war years and was established by
Jim Stanforth. He quickly became
well known throughout the town and
far beyond for not only his quality
of meat but also his delicious pork
pies, which are still going strong
right now.
Today the business of Stanforth
Butchers is more wide ranging than
ever. Seven years ago Craven Cattle
Marts Quality Foods was set up at
the mart. This is a professional and
fully accredited cutting service that
is now a licensed meat processing
unit and Stanforth Butchers operates
it in conjunction with the mart.
The two partners in the business
of Stanforths are Robert Hart and
Simon Barker. Robert runs the
shop site at Mill Bridge, which has
been in existence at this site for
over 80 years; whilst Simon is the
mainstay behind the CCM Quality
Foods operation. Robert took over
the business some years ago. It
had been run previously by Kenneth
and Margaret Stanforth and their
daughter Elaine and husband David
Jubb had taken it on from them.
All meat sold by Stanforth Butchers
is fully traceable back to the local
farms they buy from and it is sourced
by renowned buyer James (Amos)
Dewhurst. James has many years of
experience in purchasing exactly the
you dont need AWArds
to prove quAlity
siMone visits stAnforth butchers of sKipton
siMon bArKer robert hArt
FarmersMart Summer 2011 0
STANFORTH bUTCHERS
PIeased to be
associated with
Stanforth Butchers
and wishing them
continued success
for the future.
HoIden Meats
c/o ShefeId CoId Store, Roman Ridge Road, ShefeId S9 1FF
TeI: 0114 244 7727 Fax: 0114 242 3970
www.hoIdenmeats.com
right quality both Robert and Simon
pride themselves upon providing for
their customers. Beef is usually from
Belgian Blue and Limousin heifers;
lamb from Texel and Suffolk.
The cutting site at Skipton employs
the latest state-of-the-art equipment
which ensures Stanforth Butchers
utilises the latest in technology
whilst maintaining their traditions for
quality. It also maintains a massively
strong link between the butchers
business and the farmers, enabling
Stanforth Butchers to keep a close
contact with their regular farmer
suppliers and to spot the new up
and coming livestock farmers.
CCM Quality Foods offers far more
than cutting facilities as they provide
additional elements which farmers
are looking for today. From the mart
site they offer farmers the opportunity
to have their own livestock meat
cut, boxed and packed for their own
sale; plus there is a cash and carry
service that offers anyone from the
general public the opportunity to
take advantage of special monthly
deals on local beef, lamb, pork and
speciality meats. Its all a matter of
creating the right avenues to sell the
most possible quality meat every
week.
Todays combined Stanforths
operation of Mill Bridge and the
base at the mart means they have
a staff of 12. They have grown
significantly in recent years since
the mart business was added, but
they havent forgotten their roots
and never will.
We still sell thousands of our pork
pies every week and our reputation,
not just amongst people from
Skipton, is something of which we
are very proud, said Robert. Were
not one of those butchers who have
ever needed to enter competitions
and try to win awards. Our
customers know us and they know
that whatever we sell is going to be
top drawer. Awards arent everything,
in fact our customers coming back
week after week, year after year is
the greatest award we can be given.
We get customers from as far Lands
End to John OGroats coming here.
We also have one lady who we send
a bulk order to over in Austria!
Stanforths Butchers also operate an
on-line service too. They are keeping
bang up to date with todays market
place and at the same time keeping
bang on with their standards which
they set over 80 years ago. They
look well set for the future.
Farmers Mart congratulates Robert
and Simon on their expanding
business and wishes them well
oh, and by the way, their pork pies
really are delicious! I can personally
vouch for that!
Stanforths Butchers
11 Mill Bridge,
Skipton BD23 1nJ
tel: 01756 793477
this is WhAt the fArMer WorKs so hArd for!
FarmersMart Summer 2011 1
CCM AUCTION MART
Kingsway Veterinary Group, members of the XL
Vet group, provides a friendly and enthusiastic
service working with farmers to improve the health
and productivity of their animals. The opening of
a dedicated new office at Skipton Auction Mart a
year ago has made it easier for farmers to access
veterinary advice. Partner Jonathan Stockton feels
that the move underlines Kingsways commitment
to agriculture, we believe that farming has a bright
future and Kingsway Vets wants to be part of it.
Herd and flock health planning
Fertility management and recording
Disease, mastitis and infertility
investigation
Bull and ram fertility testing
DIY AI courses,
Farmer training courses
Embryo implantation
Client meetings and newsletters
FARM VETS FOR FARMERS
CAll uS On
01756 700940
As red letter days go, none came
much better for father and son
North Craven farmers Jim and Ian
Handley when they made their first-
ever outing as exhibitors at Skipton
Auction Marts premier Red Event
the annual Spring show and sale of
pedigree Limousin bulls and females
and walked away with supreme
championship honours.
The Handleys Gunnerfleet pedigree
Limousin herd, based at the farm
of the same name in Chapel-le-
Dale, Ingleton, has had a 12-year
break from the exhibition arena, but
returned in sparkling style to secure
the title with their first prize senior
bull and male champion, Gunnerfleet
Express.
The victor is a February, 2009-born
son of the Scottish-bred Glenrock
Ventura, bought by the Handleys
in 2006 for 24,000gns. Venturas
progeny have sold to 32,000gns
and to a high of 12,000gns for
bulls produced while in Handley
hands.
The dam is the home-bred
Gunnerfleet Vunas, her grand dam
produced 50,000gns worth of bulls
in her lifetime, while her full sister,
a son of Gunnerfleet Plunas, sold
for 37,000gns. The Skipton title
winner made 3,000gns (3,150)
when joining J Feather, of Pear Tree
Barn, Hainworth Shaw, Keighley.
North Craven exhibitors were also
responsible for the days top price
when the second prize senior bull,
Gallaber Empire, from Tommy
and Jennifer Sedgwick and their
31-year-old son Ian, of Gallaber
Farm, Burton-in-Lonsdale, sold
for 5,000gns (5,250) to Matt
Townsend, of Barnside Hall Farm,
Laneshawbridge, Colne.
The two-year-old Empire is an AI
son of the legendary Rocky and
a full brother to Blocky, supreme
champion at the Skipton Limousin
highlight for the Sedgwick family in
2007 The dam is the home-bred
Gallaber Umist.
The Sedgwicks established their
pedigree Limousin herd in 1987 and
have developed it over the years,
regularly selling store bulls at CCM
Skipton and retaining the better
elements for breeding. Its the
highest price weve ever achieved
at Skipton. The fixture has a good
following and is definitely going
in the right direction, said Mr
Sedgwick Snr.
Regular Skipton buyer Matt
Townsend, whose 26-year-old son
Ben is also fully involved in the
business, said the latest acquisition
red letter dAy At sKipton
liMousin hiGhliGht
JudGe pAul tippets cAsts
his eye over crAven
liMousin dAy contenders
FarmersMart Summer 2011 2
CCM AUCTION MART
would take its place as a stock bull
on their British Blue herd. They
are experimenting with Limousin
breeding as an alternative to British
Blue sires.
The Sedgwicks also sold their third
prize senior bull, the Tunnelby
Monkeytricks son Gallaber Evolution,
for 2,800gns to CJ & DM Metcalfe,
Masham.
A record 142 pedigree Limousin
bulls and females were on parade,
compared to 92 last year, reflecting
both the growing popularity and
stature of the annual fixture, which
produced a good clearance level of
84% and robust trade.
The reserve male and overall reserve
supreme champion was the first prize
younger intermediate class bull, the
23-month-old Coachhouse Emporio,
from Nottinghamshire breeders Barry
and Gill Heald, whose Coachhouse
herd, which was also responsible
for the Skipton Limousin champion
several years ago, is based at Home
The class for older junior bulls fell
to promising young breeder, Rachael
Walshaw, of Meltonby House Farm,
Pocklington, with her 15-month-
old Wilodge Vantastic son Beacon
Fairfax, out of Cockleshell Amanda,
one of the first two cows acquired
by Rachael when she started her
pedigree herd as a 21-year-old.
She is now 25 and her Limousin
holding has grown to 11-strong.
Rachaels Skipton class winner
repaid some of her commitment and
investment to date when sold for
1,900gns (1,995) to Wharfedale
purchasers William and Mark
Keighley, of Leathley, Otley.
The Elderberry herd of east coast
exhibitors Paul Blenkhorn & Son,
of Elder Farm, Willitoft, Goole,
presented the first prize in-calf cow
with Rocky-sired bull calf at foot, the
pair selling for 2,000gns (2,100)
to John and Rachel Handley,
Carnforth.
For the second year in succession,
the high profile fixture incorporated
female stock production
consignments from two of the
regions leading breeders, the
Oddacres herd of John and Claire
Mason in Embsay, and Steven and
Ruth Priestleys Brontemoor herd at
Denholme, Bradford.
rAchAel WAlshAW With her
first prize crAven liMousin
Junior bull
Farm, Grove, Retford.
This true home-bred bull, out
of Coachhouse Sasque and by
Coachhouse Amos, whose progeny
includes the 6,500gns Coachhouse
Delectable, and who is now, like
his sire Sympa, standing with
the renowned Haltcliffe pedigree
Limousin herd in Wigton, sold for
2,500gns (2,625) to DR Jackson
& Son, Carnaby, Bridlington.
Top price in the young intermediate
bulls class at 2,900gns (3,045) fell
to the second prize winner from the
Cumbria-based Angiean herd of Ian
and Angela Grisedale at Greenmount
Farm, Milton, Crooklands. It returned
to its county of origin when joining
Messrs Smith & Shepherd, Appleby
in Westmorland.
Best of the older intermediate bulls
was the January, 2010-born, Prietec
Frankie, from Elaine Priestley, of T
& E Priestley, Lane House Farm,
Mewith, Bentham. The first prize
winner, by the Handleys Gunnerfleet
Unbeatable, also headed the class
prices when joining local buyer Brian
Woodsworth, of Bolton Abbey, for
3,000gns (3,150).
Continues page 34
FarmersMart Summer 2011
CCM AUCTION MART
The Priestleys 35-strong
consignment, predominantly maiden
heifers, was responsible for the
female champion, the 13-month-
old Brontemoor Fawn, by the Rocky
son Doonberg Andrew, acquired by
the family from Southern Ireland six
years ago. The dam is Brontemoor
Royalty, who has also produced a
12,000gns bull.
The female victor (the Priestleys
top performer) sold for 1,900gns
(1,995) to up-and-coming 19-
year-old Limousin breeder Sam
Whitehead, of Hole House Farm,
Cautley, Sedbergh. Sam now has
six Limousin females, along with
a breeding bull recently acquired
from Dave Kelly at nearby Kirkby
Lonsdale. Young Sam has high
hopes of making his mark on the
show circuit in due course.
The Masons, who brought 15
quality Limousins, were responsible
for the reserve female champion, the
year-old Usant daughter Oddacres
Flora, who joined Walter Wight,
of St Boswells, near Melrose in
the Scottish Borders for 1,220gns
(1,281).
The same buyer also snapped up
three further prize-winning Mason
maiden heifers, along with the
Priestleys first prize 2009-born
maiden heifer.
The Masons top performer was a
six-year-old home-bred cow and
her three-month-old bull calf, by
the Neptune son Victor-Ben, which
made 2,700gns (2,835) when
joining A I & W Forsyth in Morpeth,
Northumberland.
Both the Masons and the Priestleys
confirmed they were very happy
with clearance and trading levels of
their respective consignments.
Show judge was Paul Tippets,
of the noted Wilodge Limousin
herd in Shifnal, Shrophshire, who
noted: Many of the bulls on show
will progress to perform well as
commercial sires. The champion is a
big, powerful and modern Limousin,
with good potential for the future.
FarmersMart Magazine sponsored
the event alongwith robertshaw
Myers Financial Solutions and
andy thompson of personal
protection canine services
company aMK9. Detailed
show results are posted at
www.ccmauctions.com.
richArd priestley With his fAMilys crAven liMousin pediGree feMAle chAMpion
FarmersMart Summer 2011
bROCKHOLES AUCTION MART
sellinG, expAndinG
& still succeedinG
We tAlK to dAvid hArGreAves the neW chAirMAn
At brocKholes ArMs Auction MArt
Every Tuesday Brockholes Arms
Auction Mart hosts its ever-popular
cattle and sheep sale days, so last
month we decided to pop along
to find out what all the fuss was
about, and we certainly werent
disappointed!
Like any other sale day, the auction
atmosphere at Brockholes was
electric, as farmers across Yorkshire,
Lancashire (and everywhere in-
between) flooded through the doors
to catch a glimpse of the stock on
offer. The ring was packed full to the
brim and those in attendance were
as keen as ever to put their hands
in their pockets. We quickly realised
that this was an auction day to be
reckoned with!
Brockholes Arms has a wealth of
history behind it, but as a modern-
day auction it also manages to remain
current and defies showing any signs
of the current economical climate,
in fact according to (relatively) new
Chairman David Hargreaves, prices
are looking increasingly positive!
He tells us, Evan though there is
a lot of doom and gloom within the
industry at the minute, myself and the
team here at Brockholes are finding
that buying and selling is proving
more popular than ever before.
Although on paper David is the new
recruit at Brockholes, hes definitely
not an agricultural newbie, far from
it. He farms both sheep and cattle
at his on own farm near to the
auction in Preston, and has done
so his entire life. Since February
this year though, much of Davids
time has been spent fulfilling his
new position and its a role he is
thoroughly enjoying.
Andrew Ayrton Ltd
General Builder And Landscaper
Tel: 07812 562169
Building a better future
with Brock Auction
dAvid hArGreAves
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
bROCKHOLES AUCTION MART
I have been a customer here for
as long as I can remember having
sold and bought here since I was
just a young lad. It is a fantastic
environment to work in; all the
team, including the Directors work
very closely with the farmers on the
auction floor and the majority of us
are from a farming background of
some sort.
The staffing team at Brockholes,
whether it is the administrative office-
based workers, the auctioneers, the
Director or indeed the Chairperson,
are really what make the auction
such a vibrant and welcoming
place to be, but the standard of
the surroundings also add to this
auctions appeal.
Expenditure has always been high
on Brockholes list of priorities and
that is evident as soon as you enter
the auctions impressive buildings.
Following the devastating aftermath
of the foot and mouth outbreak,
the auction experienced a lengthy
period of change and aesthetical
development. Much of the original
frame work of the auction was
replaced with modern, state-of-the-
art steel livestock buildings. The
huge extensions are a real incentive
to attract new traders to Brockholes
weekly sale days and they have
also given the auction mart a much
needed boost, not to mention face
lift!
Auctioneers on the day Richard
Furnival and James Fish have only
good things to say about both crowd
attendance levels and sale day trade
prices. Richard tells us, Todays sale
day (7th June) has been fantastic.
Overall trade is up a good 3-4pence
on the last week and 2nd prime
cattle sold best on the day. Top spot
this week went to vendors Phoenix
Grain with Limx Heifers to 197p/kg
and 195p/kg, T&J Rogerson with
handy weight BBx Heifers to 187p/
kg. P&MA Rigby had an excellent
trading day with BBx heifers to
179p/kg, W Beesley & Son with
Limx to 178/kg.
Store Cattle also had a successful
day as Richard explains, Grass
cattle are still selling well despite
most grass farmers almost reaching
their desired numbers. Top spot
went to JL McHugh with 18 month
old Salerx steers to 745, CH Steers
from AD Smalley to 700, B&Ws
topped at 575 from WH Gardner
& Son.
All in all, sale days at Brockholes
are looking healthier than ever, so if
youre looking to sell, buy or simply
enjoy the auctions lively atmosphere
why not make an appearance, you
will not be disappointed.
For more information on Brockholes
Auction Mart call 01995 640280.
Brockholes arms auction Mart Ltd
115 garstang road
claughton-on-Brock, Preston
Lancashire Pr3 0PH
very busy busy the teAM
FarmersMart Summer 2011
COLLIER
John Colliers experience in the show
ring is second to none. This summer
he will be celebrating his twentieth
year of competing at the Great
Yorkshire Show and today, he shares
his wonderful memories with us......
Since 1933 when his parents first
took over the 30 acres of land at
Denby Hill Farm, John has lived,
breathed and eaten farming. During
his teenage years John studied at
Askham Bryan College but never
strayed too far away from the farm
in Keighley. He and his father would
rear British Friesian cattle, experiment
in cross-breeding, building new farm
buildings and of course show their
cattle.
In 1980 after his father sadly died,
John and his Wife Jean took full
control of the farm and began to
teach their own sons Phillip, Andrew
and Jonathan, the same techniques
he himself had been taught years
earlier.
We kept the pedigree cattle going
even after my dad died, John
explains, Not long after our eldest
son Phillip went to work for a very
well known farmer in Skipton called
Geoff Lawn for three years. When he
came back he brought a lot of his
own dairy Shorthorns over and his
numbers quickly snowballed.
When Phillip decided to leave the
family farm for good in 1999, John
found himself in a bit of a dilemma.
Phillip moved to Longridge (near
Preston) in 1999 and we stopped
dairying there and then. We did that
because the dairy herd was going
down in numbers and Phillip took
the majority of the dairy shorthorn
cattle he had built up here with him,
leaving Jean and I with about twenty
dairy cows and two heifers which
the shoWinG Must Go on!
We tAlK to GreAt yorKshire shoW veterAn John collier
were all in calf to a beef bull.
As Johns mobility has slowly begun
to deteriorate in recent years, the
cattle at Denby Hall Farm were
almost entirely cut back. The farm
still occupies a few Sucklers and
Hereford cattle which are looked after
by Johns youngest son Jonathan and
his friend Bob.
Although the cattle at Denby Hall
have come and gone, Johns beloved
sheep have remained a consistency.
After making a fairly modest
purchase at Skipton Auction Mart in
1980, Texels quickly became Johns
preferred sheep breed.
With such a vast amount of
experience in both cattle and sheep,
it is no surprise that John has been
such a success in the show ring.
His first memory of competing at
the Great Yorkshire Show was as a
young school boy when his parents
would take him along, not to show,
but to experience this spectacular
agricultural showcase.
John tells us, We never ever went to
the show with cattle but we would
go every year religiously. We used
to watch the grand parade in the
ring and I thought it was absolutely
marvellous! 1991 was the first year
we exhibited sheep though, because
we started to take more of an interest
in what we were producing.
That first year was memorable for
another reason too. As John and
Jean made the journey from Keighley
to Harrogate, they had a slight
hiccup on the way; We were just
getting out of Shipley and the bloody
front tyre blew out on the trailer! It
was in shreds by the time we got
to Harrogate, but aside from that
everything went ok, laughs John.
We got the championship in the
lamb carcass class. It was great, I
was over the moon!
Since that very first win the Colliers
have shown every year in the live lamb
and carcass classes. In fact John has
experienced eight Championships
and Reserve Championships in total
over the years.
John concludes, When you start off
good you have a lot to live up to and
thats why we enjoy going back so
much. The Great Yorkshire Show is
such a spectacle, you meet people
who youd never normally have the
chance to speak to, and it also gives
the year a bit of a lift. I think so
highly of it so it is such a nice feeling
to do well there.
If youre reading this at this years
Great Yorkshire Show, have a look
at the live lamb and carcass class
winners list, because chances are,
John Colliers name will be up there!
John and Jean collier
Denby Hall Farm
Keighley, West Yorkshire
BD22 7Sg
John looKinG dApper
FarmersMart Summer 2011 8
ARCELOR MITTAL
the shoWinG Must Go on!
We tAlK to GreAt yorKshire shoW veterAn John collier
sJiJsiJ siJ s isJ sJsJKs os osK
The way that their fencing is
manufactured with a centreless roll
means that the fencing will roll out
quicker and more easily than other
material, without snagging or trying
to wind back up again. This will
save time, effort and often the most
important - the skin on your knuckles
whilst erecting.
By correctly tensioning the wire as
it goes into the machine the fencing
will come out correctly tensioned as a
fence. This will mean less bagginess
when erecting meaning a tighter,
more durable fence. The deep crimp
that is put into the horizontal wires
will also help with speedy erection. It
will also allow for climatic elasticity;
the fence should be as straight on
a cold winters day as the middle
of summer.
The 2Life Zinc/Aluminium coating
used on the wire means that
ArcelorMittal Sheffield are the only
manufacturer to guarantee that their
fencing will last twice as long as
fencing made from wire galvanised to
BS EN 10244-2 Class A. It is this
special coated wire that is supplied
from their parent company; part of
ArcelorMittal which is one of the
largest steel companies in the world.
As part of their commitment to the
quality of the fence, all of the Estate
2Life HT fencing is supplied with
4Life wire on the top and bottom
wires. It is these wires that bear
the brunt of the weather and so are
likely to corrode at the fastest rate.
All of this is at no extra cost to the
end user.
For more information please call
us on 0114 239 2601 or email at
fencingsales@arcelormittal.com
ArcelorMittal are one of the sponsors of
the Fencing Competition at Driffield.
ArcelorMittAl
fAst, tiGht And durAble
the main guiding principle of arcelorMittal
Sheffieldss production has always been the highest
quality fencing made to the best standards from
the longest life wire at the market price. For over
25 years fencing and barbed wire has been made
this way at their Sheffield site.
FarmersMart Summer 2011 9
fairburn
Fieldcare North are proud to be associated with the
Fairburns by supplying Agronomy services.
01845 537555 www.procam.co.uk
Its now 40 years since the young
Frederick Fairburn first competed
at the Great Yorkshire Show and he
has recently been elected on to the
Show Council.
The Great Yorkshire is the best
show in England and I have never
missed one since 1971. Ive been
a cattle steward since the mid-90s
and on the cattle committee since
the late-90s. My father always
showed pigs and sheep and I
started showing calves when I was
still at school.
Frederick farms with his wife Jane
and son Richard at Harriet Air
Farm, just above Rievaulx in the
North York Moors. It is a mixed
farm of approximately 700 acres
which is tenanted from 5 different
landlords. Fredericks father came
here in 1955. His brother Jonathan
farms close by at Griff Farm and
one of his three sisters Dorothy is
well-known in the county for her
involvement with the CLA.
The home farm is here at Harriet
Air and we have two farms in the
parish of Hawnby, with parcels of
land elsewhere. Our arable acreage
runs to 200 acres which is split
fairly evenly between winter wheat,
winter barley and spring barley and
is all used for feeding livestock.
Harriet Air is what I call a very
dry farm with very thin land on
limestone. In a good year we will
average 3 tonnes per acre, but
last year we didnt get to 2.5. This
40 years at the
great yorkshire
chris berry talks with frederick fairburn of rievaulX
year the rain came just at the right
time for us so we might just do the
2.5.
The livestock enterprise runs to a
herd of 150 suckler cows and a
flock of 650 breeding ewes. The
herd is mainly commercial stock
with a few pedigree Blondes.
We have always run commercial
cattle and we use Blonde and Belgian
Blue bulls. We have increased our
cattle numbers by 100% in recent
years as both Richard and I enjoy
working with them. We breed our
own cattle but we also buy in
Friesian bulls to fatten from marts
such as Northallerton, Thirsk and
Malton.
Our sheep are predominantly
lowland ewes a variety of
Mashams, Mules, Texel X and Suffolk
X out of Mules. The Mashams still
do a good job too. We finish all our
stock and use Texel and Charollais
tups. We sell at both Thirsk and
Northallerton marts.
Prices on cattle and sheep have
frederick fairburn
FarmersMart Summer 2011 40
Its now 40 years since the young
Frederick Fairburn frst competed
at the Great Yorkshire Show and he
has recently been elected on to the
Show Council.
The Great Yorkshire is the best
show in England and I have never
missed one since 1971. Ive been
a cattle steward since the mid-90s
and on the cattle committee since
the late-90s. My father always
showed pigs and sheep and I
started showing calves when I was
still at school.
Frederick farms with his wife Jane
and son Richard at Harriet Air
Farm, just above Rievaulx in the
North York Moors. It is a mixed
farm of approximately 700 acres
which is tenanted from 5 different
landlords. Fredericks father came
here in 1955. Daughter Alison is a
horse vet in Lancashire.
The home farm is here at Harriet
Air and we have two farms in the
parish of Hawnby, with parcels of
land elsewhere. Our arable acreage
runs to 200 acres which is split
fairly evenly between winter wheat,
winter barley and spring barley and
is all used for feeding livestock.
Harriet Air has shallow soil over
limestone. In a good year we will
average 3 tonnes per acre, but last
year we didnt get to 2.5. This year
the rain came just at the right time
for us so we might just do the 2.5.
The livestock enterprise runs to a
herd of 150 suckler cows and a
fock of 650 breeding ewes. The
herd is mainly commercial stock
with a few pedigree Blondes.
We have always run commercial
cattle and we use Blonde and
Belgian Blue bulls. We have
increased our cattle numbers by
100% in recent years as both
Richard and I enjoy working with
them. We breed our own cattle
but we also buy in Friesian bulls
to fatten from marts such as
Northallerton, Thirsk and Malton.
Our sheep are predominantly
lowland ewes a variety of
Mashams, Mules, Texel X and
Suffolk X out of Mules. The
Mashams still do a good job too.
We fnish all our stock and use Texel
and Charollais tups. We sell at both
Thirsk and Northallerton marts.
Prices on cattle and sheep have
been running well for nearly two
years now, but with escalating
costs Frederick believes it is still
touch and go as to whether they
fairburn
Howells Veterinary Services Ltd.
York Road, Easingwold,
York, YO61 3EB.
Continued commitment to large animal practice NO CALL OUT CHARGES for farm animals
and horses within 30 miles of Easingwold, mileage charged thereafter.
Howells Veterinary Services Ltd.
Tel: 01347 823678
Fax: 01347 821777
www.howellsvets.co.uk
Flock and herd health planning
Health monitoring services
Quality assurance inspections
Bull and ram fertility testing
Ultrasonic pregnancy diagnosis
Farmers meetings & training sessions
Modern well equipped premises
Radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopy, ECG
Dedicated dentistry suite & laboratory
Delivery service (animal health products)
Two veterinary surgeons from our own practice provide
our comprehensive out of hours service.
Tel: 01347 823678
been running well for nearly two
years now, but with escalating
costs Frederick believes it is still
touch and go as to whether they
are any better off at Harriet Air. We
had to buy a lot of straw this year
because we were a touch light, and
costs have certainly gone up in all
areas.
Frederick, Jane and Richard are not
just proud to be associated with
the Great Yorkshire Show, they are
also heavily involved with Ryedale
Show and when I arrived the signs
for this years Ryedale were all
around the farm, ready for putting
up throughout the area.
Im on the organising committee
for Ryedale Show and Im the chief
cattle steward there. Funnily enough
the two shows Ive never won a
championship are the two shows Im
most involved with the Yorkshire
and Ryedale. Ive had quite a few
firsts but never the main prize. Now
that just shows how impartial I am
when I select the judges.
Hes had plenty of championship
success elsewhere though and
at some of the biggest national
events.
We have won at Birmingham
Fatstock Show and at the Royal
Smithfield Show. My proudest
moment was when I won the Kings
Cup at Smithfield. It was the first
RichaRd, Jane & FRedeRick FaiRbuRn with theiR puRe iRish dRaught hoRses
FarmersMart Summer 2011 41
are any better off at Harriet Air. We
had to buy a lot of straw this year
because we were a touch light, and
costs have certainly gone up in all
areas.
Frederick, Jane and Richard are not
just proud to be associated with
the Great Yorkshire Show, they are
also heavily involved with Ryedale
Show and when I arrived the signs
for this years Ryedale were all
around the farm, ready for putting
up throughout the area.
Im on the organising committee
for Ryedale Show and Im the
chief cattle steward there. Funnily
enough the two shows Ive never
won a championship are the two
shows Im most involved with the
Yorkshire and Ryedale. Ive had
quite a few frsts but never the main
prize. Now that just shows how
impartial I am when I select the
judges.
Hes had plenty of championship
success elsewhere though and at
some of the biggest national events.
We have won at Birmingham
Fatstock Show and at the Royal
Smithfeld Show. My proudest
moment was when I won the Kings
Cup at Smithfeld. It was the frst
time a Yorkshireman had won with
the best exhibitor-bred animal.
Frederick is modest about his showing
and the success they have had.
fairburn
time a Yorkshireman had won with
the best exhibitor-bred animal.
Frederick is modest about his showing
and the success they have had.
Were total amateurs in the old-
fashioned sense of the word. Were
in it for the fun of showing. We dont
buy success. Nearly all of what we
ever show is home-bred.
The Fairburns also compete
at the North Yorkshire County
Show; Malton; Osmotherley or
Borrowby; Stokesley; Pateley
Bridge; Countryside Live and the
Birmingham Fatstock Show.
Richard also enjoys showing and
had a very good Angus bull three
years ago which won the Native
class at Countryside Live and up in
Carlisle.
Irish Draught horses are another
breed on the farm, bred pure. The
Fairburns have had them for 20
years and there are a couple of foals
born every year. They also play their
part at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Frederick is delighted to be further
involved with the Great Yorkshire
through his new role and has
attended one meeting since his
election.
Everyone is passionate about the
show maintaining its agricultural
base and expanding upon it. Since
Bill Cowling took up his position
I believe the show has really
progressed. The commercial cattle
section had a slight lull a few years
ago but it has always been a strong
section. We would all love more
and more entries but the sheds are
all full of entries again for this year
and we have a waiting list of those
who would like to come. Thats a
good position to be in.
So is this the time for the new cattle
buildings debate to be resurrected?
Im a traditionalist and I love the
buildings we have. Until the day
comes when we can have something
that holds 1500 cattle and that we
know is going to be better than
what we have already I dont think
we should change.
Telephone : 01439 798235
RichaRd FaiRbuRn pRepaRing one oF the cattle FoR this yeaRs shows
FarmersMart Summer 2011 42
Were total amateurs in the old-
fashioned sense of the word. Were
in it for the fun of showing. We dont
buy success. Nearly all of what we
ever show is home-bred.
The Fairburns also compete
at the North Yorkshire County
Show; Malton; Osmotherley or
Borrowby; Stokesley; Pateley
Bridge; Countryside Live and the
Birmingham Fatstock Show.
Richard also enjoys showing and
had a very good Angus bullock
three years ago which won the
Native class at Countryside Live
and up in Carlisle.
Irish Draught horses are another
breed on the farm, bred pure. The
Fairburns have had them for 20
years and there are a couple of foals
born every year. They also play their
part at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Frederick is delighted to be further
involved with the Great Yorkshire
through his new role and has
attended one meeting since his
election.
Everyone is passionate about the
show maintaining its agricultural
base and expanding upon it. Since
Bill Cowling took up his position
I believe the show has really
progressed. The commercial cattle
section had a slight lull a few years
ago but it has always been a strong
section. We would all love more and
more entries but the sheds are all
full of entries again for this year and
we have a waiting list of those who
would like to come. Thats a good
position to be in.
So is this the time for the new cattle
buildings debate to be resurrected?
Im a traditionalist and I love
the buildings we have. Until the
day comes when we can have
something that holds 1500 cattle
and that we know is going to be
better than what we have already I
dont think we should change.
Telephone : 01439 798235
ANIMAL HEALTH
Farmers and others working with
livestock are being urged to pick up
a free medical contact card at county
shows across the UK this summer.
The card helps to make GPs and
farmers more aware of the threat to
human health presented by the animal
diseases that can also infect man.
Produced by the Womens Food &
Farming Union (WFU) thanks to
financial support from leading animal
health company Intervet/Schering-
Plough Animal Health the pocket-
sized card describes the typical routes
of disease transmission, symptoms
of zoonotic (animal-borne) illness in
humans and protective measures that
can be taken by stockpeople. Useful
sources of medical advice with contact
telephone numbers are also included.
Members of the Devon WFU first
produced the medical contact card
more than 10 years ago. It was
updated in 1992 and again in 2010,
but because demand has been so high
another reprint has been initiated.
When the card was re-launched last
year, we received hundreds of enquiries
from the farming community. So many
people working with livestock seem
MedicAl cArd initiAtive Will help
hiGhliGht threAt durinG shoW seAson
to know someone who has had an
animal-borne illness, but a great many
have had problems getting a prompt
and definitive diagnosis from their GP;
and this can often make the difference
between life, death, long-term ill
health or a full recovery. On many
occasions we have felt like counsellors
at the end of a phone, and we hope
the cards will help to better inform
everyone to the potential threat of
disease transmission from livestock to
humans, said initiative co-ordinator
Lynn Askew from the WFU.
According to consultant medical
microbiologist Dr Marina Morgan from
the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital,
who advised on the contact card
content, better information leading to
early diagnosis and correct treatment
of zoonoses could prevent serious
and potentially life-threatening
complications.
If you are working with farm animals
you may well have to remind your doctor
about zoonotic diseases, particularly if
he or she has not practiced for long
in rural areas. Anyone coming into
contact with livestock should use the
card to discuss animal-borne disease
risks when consulting their doctor with
an illness. This is because zoonotic
diseases can be difficult to diagnose
as they often present symptoms that
are similar to more common illnesses,
she said.
Cattle-associated leptospirosis
(Leptospira hardjo), for example, is a
classic example. Caused by direct or
indirect contact with infected urine,
the first symptoms often include flu-
like illness and headache. But if the
disease goes undiagnosed some cases
can develop more serious, even life-
threatening infection. For example,
jaundice, kidney failure and meningitis
can develop.
the medical contacts cards will be
available on WFU stands at various
agricultural shows around the UK
this summer. the cards are also
available from specialist agricultural
Pr and marketing services company
aBc. call 01694 731777 to
request one. alternatively, visit the
WFU website at www.wfu.org.uk
FarmersMart Summer 2011
JOHN TEASDALE
GEORGE A. KIRK & SON
FAMILY BUTCHER
The Abattoir, Nunnington, York YO62 5UU
Tel: (01439) 748242 / 788546
Mobile: 07977 001498
We are pleased to be associated wit
John Teasdale and family
and wish tem continued success fo te future
red in the fAce At
beAdlAM riGG
chris berry tAlKs rouGe sheep With the teAsdAles
When John Teasdale started out
with Rouge sheep in the early 90s
his father was a little perplexed.
Id bought this Rouge tup, says
John. My dad looked at him for
quite a few days before saying
would you buy a ewe of that there
breed? He wasnt used to the name
and couldnt say it properly.
Thats because the full title is Rouge
de lOuest, a French origin breed
with more than a hint of English
as it was developed from crossing
French sheep with the Wensleydale
or Blue Faced Leicester.
Its worked for us. I bought the
tup to put on Swaledale ewes. We
had always used Teeswaters and
Mashams before. I wasnt a fan of
the Blue Faced Leicester and the
Rouge was popular at the time. We
now have a flock of around 25-30
pedigree Rouge.
John and his wife Jo farm 187
the teAsdAles of beAdlAM riGG
iAn, AilsA, Jo, John And bAby Alfie
FarmersMart Summer 2011
JOHN TEASDALE
acres at High Farm, Beadlam
Rigg, around 3 miles north off
the main road between Helmsley
and Kirkbymoorside. It is tenanted
from Lady Clarissa Collins and is
between 750-900 ft above sea
level. The mixed farming operation
includes 50-60 acres of wheat
and barley, 20 acres of roots crops
with the rest down to grass. The
livestock side runs to a herd of 20
suckler cows; 300 breeding sheep;
and pigs on a bed and breakfast
basis for Ian Mosey.
We went out of our own pigs in
February as they werent making
anything for us. Market prices were
fluctuating from 100p/kilo some
weeks to 54-55p/kilo.
The cattle are all run on a
commercial basis. They are Belgian
Blues out of Holstein cows and John
runs a Limousin bull. They keep
their own replacements and they
are now three-quarter Limousins.
Their stock goes through Malton
and Thirsk marts.
Most of our sheep are Rouge X
out of Swaledales, which creates
a Rouge Mule. We also cross the
Suffolks with the Rouge and have
started using the Texel too, so were
getting more Texel X Rouge.
Ian Teasdale, one of John and Jos
two sons, runs his own agricultural
engineering business nearby but is
very much involved with the farm
and in particular the Rouge sheep.
The Rouge did well when they first
came into the UK and numbers
jumped up. They came into fashion
quickly, then went out of fashion
too. The breed lost its way a little
for a while. Now they are right back
to where they should be. They are a
nice, medium-sized, tight-skinned,
very fleshy sheep and they are
becoming more popular once again.
They are nowt but meat and muscle
now.
Ian recently showed them at
the Royal Highland and took a
creditable second. He will also be
showing at the Great Yorkshire and
Ryedale.
The size of the farm meant that
neither Ian, nor his brother David,
would be able to make a living at
Beadlam Rigg with their mum and
dad. David works for Johnny Shaw
at Welburn Hall; and Ian has his
agricultural engineering business.
He left school and went to Askham
Bryan College on block release;
worked for R Yates & Son in Malton
rouGe flocK
Continues page 46
FarmersMart Summer 2011
BRUCE WILSON
LIME MERCHANT & SPREADING CONTRACTOR
ATV SLUG PELLETING & ATV SNOW PLOUGHING
Best wishes to John, Joan and family
G
P
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S
O
I
L
S
A
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P
L
I
N
G
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P
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6 Quarry Hill, Appleton le Street, Malton, N.Yorks, YO17 6PQ
Phone 01653 690346 Mob 07801 565569
Fax 01653 628153
Email brucecwilson@hotmail.com
JOHN TEASDALE
iAn teAsdAle With his rouGe Which WAs
plAced 2nd At royAl hiGhlAnd shoW
and Andrew Marwood just outside
Malton before going on his own
three years ago.
Im mainly on with servicing and
repairs, particularly combines. I
worked on New Holland combines
at Yates. Im also trying to get into
sales as much as I can because I
dont think my back will last forever.
Ideally Id like to take over here
when dad retires and look after 20-
30 combines a year. Ive sold farm
machinery in the past year and I
have a possible machinery franchise
in the wings.
Ian has his own plan already in
place over how he would run the
farm and it includes the Rouge as
breeding sheep.
If I was able to farm here I would
combine my agricultural engineering
business with a farming operation
that includes a small flock of
Rouge sheep, suckler herd, bed
and breakfast pigs and the arable
crops.
John was born at High Farm and
apart from a short spell has lived
here all his life. His grandfather
took on the farm so he is the 3rd
generation. Jo is a farmers daughter
from Great Ayton where she was
one of 10 children. For a while
Jo ran her own bed and breakfast
establishment (for people, not pigs)
at High Farm.
Both John and Jo are totally
committed to children. They
regularly go out to Ghana where
they are helping build an orphanage;
and for years they have been foster
parents. They have fostered a
number of children and Jessica
has now been a huge part of their
family for the past 7 years.
We love all the children that we
have had the privilege to be involved
with, says Jo. Jessica is very much
a part of our family and is a lovely
girl. Weve had a few interesting
moments with one or two that have
been sent to us as an emergency
placement but weve always given
them all the love we can.
Ian and David have both been
involved with the YFC movement
for a long time. Ian was chairman
of Helmsley and Ryedale YFCs at
one time and David is chairman of
Ryedale at present. Ian is married
to Ailsa, a farmers daughter from
Northumberland, and they have a
son Alfie. Ailsa also works for North
York Moors National Park.
John teasdale
High Farm, Yo62 7tg
tel: 01439 771268
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
WHOLECROP MARKETING
Getting the best return from the
whole of the potato crop is the key to
success so far as East Riding-based
Wholecrop Marketing is concerned.
Their commitment to that aim will
see them trade 110-120,000 tonnes
of potatoes this year. Not at all bad
for a company that only commenced
trading in 2008. Winners of
Entrepreneur of the year in 2010 the
business has gone from strength to
strength. Wholecrop have expanded
their work force and moved to bigger
premises; Manor Farm Offices,
Kirkburn, Driffield, YO25 9DU.
Mark Tomlinson and David Burks
both with a wealth of experience
in potato marketing were joined
in 2009 by Tom Coulthurst,
who studied at Askham Bryan
College and has Facts and BASIS
qualifications. Tom has joined the
team as Fieldsman/Buyer, sampling
all crops before delivery to ascertain
quality, which should help in trying
to avoid rejections; essential due to
the significant increase in haulage
costs.
Wholecrop MArKetinG
Where fArMers WorK toGether 52 WeeKs of the yeAr
2011 saw Chris Yardley join the team
as their Seed Manager, bringing new
contacts and new dimensions to the
business, growing and marketing
10,000 tonnes of seed off clean
land.
Growing significant tonnages of
Melody, Estima, Marfona, Shannon,
Carrera, Maris Bard, Accord, Maris
Piper and Maris Peer but to name
a few.
Other varieties are available on
request by contacting Chris on: cy@
wholecropmarketing.co.uk 07947
370413.
Supplying customers 52 weeks
a year is important to Wholecrop
with requirements in Processing,
Packing and Chipping. Contracts are
available for all types and qualities
of potatoes, offering a full marketing
service for the entire crop. For info
on contracts or Marketing advice
please contact: Mark or Dave on
info@wholecropmarketing.co.uk.
Wholecrops success stems from the
dedication, service and attention to
detail growers and customers expect.
As such increase in tonnage volume
leading to continued savings and
efficiencies of scale is inevitable.
FarmersMart Summer 2011
MARGARET WATKINSON
DEDICATED TO DELIVERING
A FIRST CLASS SERVICE
Specialists inAccounting, Auditing and Taxation Services
Whatever your needs, we can help
For further information please contact:
Stuart Strike
Pateley Bridge Ofce
01423 711748
David Tomas
Harrogate Ofce
01423 525641
Bill Pearson
Tirsk Ofce
01845 522045
Charles Gill
Ripon Ofce
01765 603501
John Morton
Leyburn Ofce
01969 623137
Or visit our website at
www.barkerpartnership.co.uk
We are pleased to be associated with Sawley & District
Auction Mart and wish them continued success for the future.
Margaret Watkinson has spent her
entire life farming; she has never
strayed too far away from the
industry and has worked tirelessly
within her communities (both past
and present) to encourage young
farmer clubs, local shows and
pedigree sheep breeding.
Today we meet Margaret at her
home in the village of Sessay just
outside of Thirsk. On entry its easy
to see why this lady is so respected
in the industry, because not only
are her walls plastered with an
impressive array of rosettes, medals
and trophies but her photo collection
is truly awe-inspiring.
The first photo we noticed hung on
the wall was taken at The Great
Yorkshire Show in 2009. It shows
Margaret, one of her top prize
champion Gimmer lambs and none
pAvinG the WAy for todAys
younG fArMers
lucie cArter Meets With MArGAret WAtKinson At her hoMe in sessAy,
neAr thirsK
other than HRH Her Majesty the
Queen!
Margaret recalls that special day
The Queen held her hand out for me
to shake and I simply said pleased
to meet you Maam and bowed my
head. The steward then told her
what it had won and I explained to
her how the sheeps progeny will
then go on to be the butchers lamb
and she replied by saying hasnt it
got a pretty face?.
After over sixty years of farming, this
special moment really was the icing
on the cake for Margaret. Growing up
in Askwith near Otley, this farmers
daughter wasnt afraid of a bit of
hard work and was always keen to
give her father a helping hand.
She tells us, All I ever wanted to
do was farm. When I left school I
helped dad and I would show calves
in the young farmer classes. Going
to the shows were our holidays in
truth, it was our free time.
Young Farmers Clubs have great
significance for Margaret; in 1953
she and a group of like-minded
youngsters set about creating a local
show they could call their own.
I held all the official duties at the
Askwith young farmers club (which
is sadly no longer running) and
myself and the rest of the group
MArGAret WAtKinson
FarmersMart Summer 2011 8
MARGARET WATKINSON
Ernie Sherwin is pleased to be associated with Margaret Watkinson
and wish her continued success for the future
recognised that the village was in
need of a show. I remember it was
the coronation year and we were
thinking about what we could do. So
we put on a little calf show, only to
follow on a year later with a proper
show in the village hall and fields
surrounding so we had calves, dairy
cattle, sheep, dog races and all sorts
of activities running. The Askwith
Show is still going today which is
very nice!
Margaret decided to leave the village
of Askwith when she married her late
Husband Brian in 1965. Together
they purchased Down House Farm
which is situated just a stones throw
away from Margarets home.
The farm was run as one
unit with Spring House Farm
at Pilmoor, a holding owned
in partnership with Brians
brother.
We used to lamb about 350
Suffolk Crosses and we had a
lot of arable land too. When
Brians parents died and his
brother decided he wanted
out of farming the shared
unit split in two but we still
wanted to farm at the Pilmoor
holding which had over 200
acres. So we took that on and
begun fattening over 3000
pigs a year along with sheep.
We had help from contractors
with combing and spraying,
but Brian did the ploughing and the
working of the land. Not long after
Brian was diagnosed cancer of the
lungs and we were advised to sell
and that was it.
We moved to this bungalow in 1997
and quickly bought 13 acres
at the end of the village for a few
sheep. I also rent small paddocks in
the village.
When asked why she continues
to farm today, Margaret answers
simply; because I still enjoy it. I
do have a lot of help now though
and if I didnt have that help I just
wouldnt be able to manage. My
neighbour Alan Galley helps me with
the everyday work and also with the
sale days, and I also get great help
from Lester Peel from Over Silton
plus David and Jan Robson go to all
the shows with me.
Margarets commercial flock of
Mules, Suffolk crosses, Texel crosses
and Mashams now graze only a few
hundred yards away from her home,
she visits them twice a day and
keeps a close eye on any sheep that
looks to have strong show potential.
Although Margaret is now
technically retired, she very rarely
has a moment to spare.
Showing is my retirement really,
because I go to so many! In total
Id say I attend 14 shows each
summer and I judge at some too.
In recent years this year I have
been asked to judge at Tockwith,
Stokelsy, Cleveland, Aldborough
and at a small show in Norfolk. I
consider it an absolute honour to be
asked to judged, its a lot easier than
showing, she laughs.
Its safe to say that Margaret
Watkinson is one of the leading
ladies in this wonderful industry!
Brimar cottage
Sessay, thirsk Yo7 3Be
tel: 01845 501452
FarmersMart Summer 2011 9
HAMPTON STEEL / HAROLD WOOLGAR
northAMptonshire bAsed hAMpton
steel ltd - next stop europe!
almost ten years ago Hampton Steel
began a multi million pound plant
transformation with one ultimate
goal, to take control of all aspects
of its production. With a product
range that has more than doubled
and with further investment on the
cards, Hamptons has the steel
bit between its teeth and has
asserted its well earned place as
one of UKs largest manufacturers
of quality agricultural steel fencing
and related products. Hamptons
product range now includes, stock
fence, mild steel and high tensile
barbed wire, agricultural staples,
chain link fencing and exact weight
coils of straining wire.
Well established in both UK and
Eire, Hampton is now turning its
sights on the export market and
looking to add other parts of Europe
to its portfolio.
From its initial success as a
manufacturer of galvanised and
plastic coated chain link fencing,
Hamptons new, and perhaps more
telling, repeat business continues
to grow, We provide our customers
with well priced quality product,
on short lead-times supported
by impeccable customer service
said Peter Matten, General Sales
Manager. These core values are at
the heart of our business, we all
have a real belief in our product
which is perhaps why our customers
return time after time.
More equipment has given the
company the ability to handle its
increased order volumes, whilst still
maintaining its exacting standards of
quality.
Additionally Hampton purchased
machinery capable of producing two
500m rolls of hinge joint stock fence
simultaneously, thus demonstrating
Hamptons commitment to
its customers to provide UK
manufactured products directly in
response to their requirements.
These are exciting times for Hampton
Steel. There is a real buzz in the
whole team as we see the results
of our hard work and considerable
investment. Our vision for the future
is one of growth for both our UK
and overseas markets supported
by a greater presence at exhibitions
and of course our core values of
high quality and great service Said
Mark Johnson, Managing Director,
Hampton Steel, UK manufacturer.
Come and see us at the Driffield
Show 20th July at the Fencing
News Competition.
www.hamptonsteel.co.uk
forty seven yeArs of looKinG After
fArMers & their fAMilies
It seems a far cry from 1957, when
Harold first started as a farm student
on a dairy farm with 190 acres,
milking 60 cows. In those days the
farmer employed a man to do the
arable work, Harold as the dairy
student, and whilst working himself,
the farmer having privately educated
his two children, had a new Rover
motor car every other year.
How farming has changed in 47
years when a new Ferguson TE20
was sufficient interest to draw
neighbouring farmers to come and
visit to examine it.
Starting as a tied agent for an
agricultural insurer, Harolds first
22 years saw many changes.
The subsequent 25 years as an
independent insurance broker has
been even more interesting, indeed
one major insurer was forced to
devise discount schemes and loyalty
bonuses in order to reduce its
premiums to match those available
in the open market, thereby saving
farmers perhaps millions of pounds.
Harold, and his wife Win, together
with their son Philip and a team of
17 ladies and five men, now offer
a truly independent agricultural
insurance service, which represents
clients, not only at the point of sale,
for general insurance as well as
financial services, also with a fully
qualified claims team looking after
the farming communitys claims as
they occur.
Philip Woolgar, the Managing Director
of Harold Woolgar Insurance, said
we and our team pride ourselves
in an on farm service, we gather
information and then look around
the insurance market place to obtain
the best terms and policy cover
available. Perhaps our real strength
is the personal recommendation of
our clients, a great number of whom
have been with us now for three
generations. We are truly indebted
to them; indeed we consider our
clients are also our friends in the
community.
Harold continued this year
we celebrate our 25th year as
independent insurance brokers and
also our 25th year exhibiting at the
Lincolnshire Show, where our clients
and their friends are most welcome
to enjoy our hospitality.
Harold Woolgar insurance
can be contacted on
01427 873888 or directly at
farms@haroldwoolgarinsurance.co.uk
ed note. Harold likes his ladies!
FarmersMart Summer 2011 1
TOM DIROM
British Rubber Company
Tyre wholesalers, importers & exporters
Goodyear main agents for UK
Pleased to be associated with Tom Dirom
and wish him all the success for the future.
Tel: (01274) 585427
Fax: (01274) 532816
Station Road, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 6SE
A scorcher of A suMMer
for toM diroM!
the MAn hiMself tells us hoW the lAst feW Months
hAve been busier thAn ever
As the sun makes its long-awaited
appearance, the work of agricultural
contractors up and down the
country looks set to soar, but for one
contractor in particular this summer
is already proving too hot to handle.
Classifying Tom Dirom purely as a
contractor doesnt really do him
enough justice. Here is a man,
who at the age of sixteen, left the
family farm in Cumbria to pursue his
passion for agricultural machinery
and hes never looked back.
Now a fully-fledged business man,
Tom or shall we say the Tom
Dirom brand is known throughout
Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria
for the quality of his work, and its
this high-regard that Tom values
most.
In 2007 I decided to set up on my
own and since then the company has
grown through reputation and good
old fashion hard work. Admittedly, a
toM With his beloved MAchinery!
FarmersMart Summer 2011 2
TOM DIROM
lot of work is secured through word
of mouth because customers either
see the branded machinery around
town or are given recommendations
from my other customers.
The quality of the work carried out
by Tom and his team of six full
time workers (plus ten additional
men over the busier periods) can
only be achieved by using the right
machinery for the job.
I only run good kit and that is why
our work is done well. I dont settle
for anything but the best and I make
sure that myself and the all the lads
give 100%. Im certainly not the
cheapest option but I charge well for
what I do.
A machinery man a heart, Tom
regularly invests in machinery and
over the years has splurged on John
Deere and New Holland tractors,
JCB and Merlo plant machinery and
more recently he purchased a new
JF 1050 PROTEC forage harvester.
Although Toms contracting career is
now centred primarily in Yorkshire,
he had originally planned to develop
a business in his native Cumbria,
but after a chance telephone enquiry
was made to him, a move to the
dales seemed inevitable.
He tells us, In 2007 I was
approached by a large construction
firm in Carlisle and ask if I could to
reseed a huge stretch of land down
here (near Otley, West Yorkshire)
where a gas pipe had been laid.
Initially wed only planned to stay
here for six weeks but Ive been
based here ever since.
Not one to dwell on the past, Tom
has an incredibly positive outlook
on the future. He is constantly
looking for new ways to utilise the
machinery he has and find new
areas of trading.
We recently started doing some
forage harvesting work for David and
Phil Smith, huge dairy farmers based
in Pool-in-Wharfedale. For the last
thirty-three years they have used the
same forager but they approached
us earlier in the year to see what we
could do. It has been a big job and
its turned out to be another strong
line of business for us.
Tom and his team have also secured
large contracts for the huge Skipton-
based construction company
Bentleys (working all over the
district) and also for Yorkshire Water
and York University too.
As the agricultural-related work
continues to come pouring in, Tom
is enjoying working back on the farm
whilst also maintaining huge recycling
contracts that in his words provide
the backbone to the company. So
why then, we asked, does he think
the farming work is on the up?
Because the price of machinery has
skyrocketed farmers simply cannot
afford new or sometimes even used
machinery. The recycling trade has
also gone through the roof especially
Continues page 54
FarmersMart Summer 2011
TOM DIROM
Pleased to be associated with Tom Dirom
BRYAN
HOGGARTH LTD
The Tractor Yard, Capernway, Carnforth, Lancashire LA6 1AD
Telephone : 01524 730004 Mobile : 07774 866267
New Holland Tractor Hire - 2wd & 4wd - 90hp to 250hp
Flat Trailers 20 to 30
Dump Trailers 10 to 15 tons
Dropside Tipping Trailers
Power Harrow / Pasture Toppers
3m Wide Browns Grassland Aerater
Stiltmaster c/w Harrow
Pressure Washers - 250 Gallon
Quad Bikes
over the last few years and in spite
of the recession. Now though more
and more farmers are getting in
touch to ask if I can do large-scale
compost spreading, so at the minute
Im thinking about investing in a
large square baler. I am more than
happy to spend money as long as I
can see a future in it. Im not at all
reluctant in business.
Unlike many company founders
in todays market, Tom is entirely
satisfied with how his business has
developed; I am completely fulfilled
with my business and in all honesty I
didnt expect it to grow as quickly as
it has over the last four years, I mean
its unbelievable how busy we are.
Still at the tender age of thirty-two,
Tom Diroms best contracting years
are still ahead of him. Watch this
space!
if you would like more
information call tom directly on
07787565298
tom Dirom agricultural
contractors Ltd
arthington Quarry
arthington, otley
West Yorkshire LS21 1PZ
toM With soMe of his teAM
FarmersMart Summer 2011
GRAHAM HUNT
Ramshay Agricultural Logistics
Dalton, Thirsk, Yorkshire
Mobile :
07721 510825
07836 329276
Telephone :
01845 577310
Pleased to be associated with Graham Hunt
There was a time when the Dexter
breed of cattle was looked down
on. In fact because of its height it is
usually looked down upon. But this
small breed has begun developing its
own niche market in recent years, for
the sweetness of its beef.
Graham Hunt who farms at Sowerby,
near Thirsk and at Carlshead Farm,
Sicklinghall, near Wetherby has the
largest herd of Dexter cattle in the
north of England with over 200. He
has won every prize in the UK with
them over the past 10 years and has
won the title of Best Dexter Bull five
times since 2006 with three different
bulls. Hes now having increasing
success with them as a premium
priced product.
We started making money out of
them by selling one or two to friends
and relations, but three years ago the
chef of the Wood Hall Hotel, a very
classy hotel, saw my cattle grazing in
front of the grounds and came out to
ask whether I would be interested in
supplying Dexter beef to him for the
restaurant. Were now in our third
year with them and presently supply
a couple of cattle a month. The meat
is now on the menu as Wood Hall
Grazed Dexter Beef. I think they must
have put my name on the menu too
as I get hotel residents come into the
field to talk with me and telling me
just how good it tastes.
Graham has extended his supply
chain as a result of a contract from
The Shambles Butchers in York. He
now sells them two animals a month;
and his most recent new outlet is
Johnsons Butchers of Thirsk, who
are also looking at a supply of two
a month.
I have 10 cattle ready at any one
time, says Graham. The amount of
cookery programmes that have been
using Dexter beef is really giving the
breed a lift and there are more and
more hotels, restaurants and butchers
looking to find out where thy can find
a supply of the breed. Butchers want
something different, with a bit of taste,
and the Dexter fits the bill.
In the past 10 years Graham has had
breed champion at the Royal Show,
the Royal Welsh, Great Yorkshire (3x),
Norfolk and many more. He believes
the breed has great potential in the
future.
He fell into buying his first Dexter
back in 1995. Hed thought he was
going to buy a rabbit.
We were going to North Yorkshire
County Show and my son Sams
hamster had died during the night. I
said Id buy him a new pet, telling him
there was a rabbit show and that Id
buy him one. So off he went to look
for one. He came back 10 minutes
later and told me hed found a pet
and the woman said he could have
it. Id had a good day with my Texels
so I was in a good mood. He led me
around to the cattle lines and showed
me the Dexter heifer hed chosen. It
cost 300, but I was in such a good
mood; and Id promised him; and Id
always had a penchant for them so I
bought it. I didnt know then whether
I could make any money out of the
bred. They were a pleasant novelty.
Graham, and Sam who now farms
with his dad, has 2500 pigs on a bed
and breakfast basis for Don Sanderson
at his farm in Sowerby; and he has
a flock of pure Lleyns, Texel X and
Beulah Speckleface at Carlshead.
When I took over the sheep here at
Carlshead they were all pure Lleyn and
I just thought they were a poor Texel,
so I decided I wasnt too concerned
about the Lleyn as a pedigree and
brought in a Texel tup. I still breed a
dexters its the tAste of success
chris berry tAlKs With GrAhAM hunt At sicKlinGhAll, neAr Wetherby
few Lleyns as pure for replacements.
I brought in the Beulah Speckleface
because it is a cheap breed and they
are also great mothers. They spend 4
years on a mountain in Wales then
come here for 2 years before going
to fat. You get a lamb and a half on
average from each ewe.
Graham was born in Gainford, near
Darlington. His father was a cowman
for a noted Shorthorn cow breeder and
Graham had always wanted to farm
but tenancies were nigh on impossible
to come by. Over the years he has
moved heaven and earth to get to the
situation he is now in with himself
and Sam. He has bought and sold
here, there and everywhere. He has
undertaken a huge variety of work and
he feels he is now making headway.
Ive been lucky to have met some great
people. John Hodgson who farmed
at Gainford is one man who I owe a
great deal. He taught me everything
about livestock and shepherding. I
ended up senior stockman with him.
The Nesbitts of Winston helped
me out a lot when I was buying
Texel ewes after Id won some prize
money. I bought 5 ewes for 7,000 in
1988. Id won the title of World Leek
Growing Champion and thats where
the money had come from. I built up
a Texel flock from those 5 ewes and I
ended up with a Texel ram I had bred
winning at the Great Yorkshire and at
the Royal Highland. I sold him at a
society sale for what was then the
second highest price for a shearling
ram at 4000 gns.
Graham is also a rep for AgriLloyd and
has used their products on his own
stock with excellent results.
I have used it on my Dexters. I
bought-in a herd and 5 of the 25
females I bought were not getting into
calf. As soon as I started using it they
were all getting into calf. Native breeds
tend to be short of trace elements, but
two doses in Spring and Autumn did
the trick.
If you would like to find out more
about Dexters and are interested in
Graham supplying you give him a
call
graham Hunt
tel: 07828 915234
GrAhAM in front of Wood
hAll hotel With dexters
FarmersMart Summer 2011
GLAvES
North Farm, Silpho, Scarborough,
North Yorkshire, YO13 0JP
Tel: 01723 882 234
Mob: 07798 627 815
I am delighted to be of service to The Glaves
and wish them continued success
PATRICK FOXTON
FARMER & LIVESTOCK HAULIER
Brothers Antony and James Glaves
are expanding on the abattoir,
butchery and farming business that
their father Brian has built over many
years at Brompton by Sawdon, near
Scarborough.
The abattoir has a throughput of
around 50 lambs, 50 pigs and
around 25 cattle every week.
Through the shop were selling 25
lambs a week, 25 pigs and about
14 cattle. The rest go back to the
farms for them to sell either through
their own shops or to individual
customers. says Antony. Thats all
on the increase.
James runs more of the butchery
side whilst Im more on the farming
side, although we can both turn our
hands to whatever is needed.
The farming operation now runs to
380 ewes made up of 60 pedigree
Suffolks, 40 South Downs, 12
Leicester Longwools, 100 Texels
and the rest X-breds; 20 pedigree
Aberdeen Angus cattle; and a
relatively new pig enterprise with 9
Berkshire sows.
We went into Berkshire pigs about
4 years ago. The Berkshire is noted
for its taste and were using it mixed
in with the 20 hybrid pigs we buy
suffolKs brinG A GrAnds
Worth of cheer
chris berry tAlKs With Antony GlAves in broMpton by sAWdon
Antony With his flocK
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
GLAvES
Brian Spence
alBion promotional
productS
30, Herriot Way, Thirsk
North Yorkshire. YO7 1FL
telephone 01845 522555
mobile 07813 989 029
email: brian.spence194@btinternet.com
Wall & Desk Calendars,Diaries,Pens, Baseball Caps, Mouse Mats,
USBs, Plastic Carrier Bags,Christmas Cards, Mugs, Polo Shirts,
Sweaters, Coasters, Golf Towels, Golf Balls,Wall Planners.
pleaSe contact aBoVe For a Quotation
Mobile : 07979 328410
Telephone : 01944 782226
Pleased to be associated with the
Glaves family and wishing
them all the success for the future
S. Hodgson
Industrial & Agricultural Buildings
each week for pies and sausages, as
well as for pork. It provides us with
a steady flow of quality stock and is
going well.
The Suffolks have been our calling
card at agricultural shows for many
years. I had a cracking time with
them last year and took 1st and
2nd with tup lambs at the Great
Yorkshire Show. Id never done that
before.
The Glaves now only get chance to
go to the Great Yorkshire, Driffield
and Thornton le Dale Shows because
they are that busy in all areas and
theyre doing well at sales too.
It was always my goal to sell a
lamb for 1000 and I sold three
last year at 1000 and over. That
was certainly something that Im
proud of.
Antony is particularly pleased with
their South Downs which they only
started with as a hobby.
We started with just 6 but now we
have 40. They are so easy to look
Antony GlAves outside the
shop in broMpton by sAWdon
after and they dont take any feed or
concentrate. They are a really cheap-
to-run sheep with a lovely carcase
and really good eating quality.
Everything that the Glaves have is
now MV accredited and anything
that Brian buys at market goes on to
James holding, keeping the farms
own sheep separate from those
bought to go through the shop.
This year we lambed 100 X-bred
ewes for Spring lambs in the shop.
We are looking to build our numbers
up so that we are lambing 500 ewes
a year and producing more Spring
lambs for the shop.
In order to graze more sheep Antony
has had to find more land and he is
grateful to Nicholas Wrigley of Ganton
Estaes for renting him an additional
42 acres on top of the Glaves 180
acres they already own.
When our lambs dry up we buy a lot
out of Ruswarp and Malton. We buy
somewhere in the region of 30-40
each week at that time and it takes
about 3 weeks of feed to get the
finish on them that were looking for.
The Glaves go to Stirling and Kelso
for breeding stock and to Worcester
for South Downs, but buy most
breeding stock from Malton.
In recent times Antony has found
that the practice of flushing eggs out
of elite ewes and implanting them
into a recipient ewe has been a
useful way forward.
It means that farmers are getting
more and more quality daughters
off their elite ewe. Ive seen ewes at
sales that are carrying elite stock sell
for 350 rather than 120 because
of the elite egg they are carrying.
We do a lot of work now with Texel
and Suffolk breeders supplying MV
recipient ewes for embryo work. We
also supply MV accredited teaser
rams to stimulate the ewes.
Brian suffered from a stroke a couple
of years ago but is now back in good
health. He still buys at markets.
Brians wife Doreen has always been
involved in the office too. Today the
next generation, Antony and James,
together with James wife Hazel, who
works in the office, are ensuring that
what Brian and Doreen have done
so well over the years is continued
and expanded upon.
Antonys wife Fiona is a pig geneticist
with PIC and as such is also able
to offer her own advice on their
fledgling Berkshire pig herd.
Watch out for Antony at Harrogate,
Driffield and Thornton le Dale this year.
Lodge Farm
tel: 07788 133921
FarmersMart Summer 2011
WHITE
:LVKLQJ$QGUHZ3DP:KLWHFRQWLQXHG
VXFFHVVIRUWKHIXWXUH
Halsham. Hull HU12 0BT
Tel 01964 614233 Fax 01964 613227
www.northfeldagric.com
Tel : 01430 410665 / 410046
Fax : 01430 410129
Email : raytowse@btinternet.com
Mill Farm
Sandholme Road
Eastrington
East Yorkshire
DN14 7QQ
R. A. Towse & Co.
Accountants and Tax Consultants
We are pleased to be associated
with Andrew & Pam White
and we wish them continued success
for the future.
Amazingly it is only six years since
the White family of Manor Farm,
Eastrington took up showing during
the Summer agricultural show
season.
We had shown at fatstock shows in
markets for many years but it was
when our sons started taking an
interest in showing that we went into
it, says Andrew White.
Theyre all busy with other things
at the moment. Olly is lecturing at
Askham Bryan College; Christian has
just finished his first years studies at
Harper Adams College and is about
to undertake work placement for
next year with Cranberry Foods, a
turkey farm; and Philip is assistant
events manager at Carlton Towers.
In addition to this Pam, Andrews
wife, is somewhat incapacitated at
the moment with an injury. That
means this years showing has been
handed over to well-known cattle
showman Andrew Scarborough who
has helped out with the Whites at
shows since they started.
thAt chAMpionship looK
chris berry tAlKs With AndreW White At eAstrinGton
Andrew is looking after all our
showing this year, weve taken him
on to do it all for us, so it his him
that people will see at all the shows
from Malton, Driffield, Rosedale,
Howden and all of the rest we will
try to get to.
The Great Yorkshire Show wasnt
mentioned in Andrews list because
going to press they still hadnt got
in.
With Pams injury it meant we didnt
get our entry in on time this year,
but we have been told that were on
the waiting list so we might yet still
be going.
Andrew and Pam have had a
commercial beef herd for a number
of years and at the minute they have
180 cattle on farm either on grass,
or inside on barley.
We have 22 show cattle that we
feed inside and we select from them
for all of the shows we go to. We
wont pay silly money for a show
animal though. I dont believe in
that. The most I had paid up until
recently was 1200, but I have paid
2000 for a really good heifer out
of Middleton in Teesdale. Thats
because Im going to also put her
into our suckler herd.
Manor Farm runs to 320 acres and
they grow 90 acres of wheat; 80
AndreW With his cAttle
FarmersMart Summer 2011 8
WHITE
SELBY LIVESTOCK
AUCTION MART LTD
YORKSHIRES FRIENDLY LIVESTOCK MART
Weekly Sales of Fatstock Wednesdays
Pigs 9am Sheep 9.45am Cattle & Cows 10.30am
Store Stock Every fortnight on Saturdays
Pigs 9.45am Sheep 10.15am Cattle 10.45am
On alternate Saturdays - Fur, Feathers and Miscellaneous Items - Sale starts 10am
NEW STORE CATTLE SCHEME From 1st June all store cattle purchased from our
store sales will be eligible for a 5 REDUCTION IN COMMISSION
when sold through our Wednesday prime stock market
Tel: 01757 703347 www.selbymart.co.uk
Contact: Richard Haigh 0776 8594535
FRANK HILL & SON
CHARTERED SURVEYORS, AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS
Ralph Ward FRICS FAAV, Charles Hill FNAEA SCV, Philip Mortimer BSc
18 MARKET PLACE, PATRINGTON, HULL
TELEPHONE (01964) 630531
WEBSITE: www.frankhillandson.co.uk
EMAIL: auctions@frankhillandson.co.uk
ALSO AT HULL CATTLE MARKET, DUNSWELL
THANK ANDREW & PAM WHITE
FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT
but Im looking at purchasing either
a Belgian Blue or a Limousin bull in
the near future.
Andrews two biggest highlights in
the world of showing so far have
been winning the Yorkshire Fed &
Bred title twice at Countryside Live
in Harrogate; and last year winning
at the Selby Livestock Christmas
Fatstock Show. As for the Summer
shows he had one beast that won
10 championships in one year.
It looks like Andrew Whites name
is going to be associated with the
commercial beef championships up
and down Yorkshire for quite some
time yet!
For more information call
01430 410223
acres of winter barley; 30 acres of
oilseed rape and 32 acres of vining
peas for Birds Eye. Andrew is the
third generation to have farmed
here and the farm has grown from
the 140 acres his grandfather had
initially.
My father added acreage and we
added a block of land 7 years ago
but with the price of land today you
struggle to justify the expense of
it so we invested in another cattle
shed and upped our numbers. Weve
thribbled (trebled to you and me,
but I like the word thribbled!) our
numbers of commercial cattle in
that time.
Andrew sees the Summer shows as
a useful shop window for his stock
and he has significant plans for the
commercial beef herd in the future.
The shows are great and weve had
quite a bit of success, but its all
about turning a profit. We tend to
buy in quality stock from Middleton-
in-Teesdale, Leyburn and Barnard
Castle at around 300-500 kilos
and sell fat at 500-700 kilos. The
barley-fed beef has a turn around of
3-4 months. Those we run on grass
will take around a year to 18 months
to get to where we would want
them. My aim is to eventually breed
our own show beasts increasing the
quality of what we have on the farm.
At present we have a Blonde bull
FarmersMart Summer 2011 9
TONY WOODS bUTCHERS
Ilkley Abattoir, Little Lane, Ilkley, LS29 8HX
Tel: 01943 608042 www.threedales.co.uk
Fax: 01943 601586
Pleased to be associated with Tony Woods Family
Butchers and wish them continued success
Rowland Agar
(Wholesale Butchers) Ltd
SUPPLIERS OF THREE DALES
QUALITY MEAT
Family butchers are still a vital link
between livestock farmers and the
general public and Tony Woods
provides just that on Otley Road
in Guiseley. Hes right opposite a
huge Morrisons store and like many
shopkeepers before him was concerned
that supermarket competition might
affect his trade.
It has! But not in the way he might
have expected.
Since Morrisons opened here we
have picked up on even more trade.
We have gained rather than lost. I
think thats because people like to
talk with their local butcher about the
meat, where it has come from and
any cooking pointers we can give.
Tony sources all of his meat locally
via Graham Agar at Ilkley and mainly
the beef comes from Norman Moon
at Malham or Charles Johnson at
Sawley, pork from Sid Warmsley
at Harrogate and Lambs from Ann
Robinson at Tadcaster. Tonys chicken
is individually packaged with the name
of each farm, so that in his butchers
shop you know where everything has
come from and that it is all British.
He also sells quite a large amount of
rabbits.
Tonys first thought when he left school
was not butchery at all, he wanted to
be a joiner. It was his brother-in-law
who brought him into butchery, who
was working for Dewhursts at the
time. Tony subsequently worked for
Eric Atkinson in Otley until he went
seeking more money working for the
West Riding County Council but did
not enjoy the work so when he was
approached by Weegmans of Otley
he jumped at the chance to get back
to butchery. After a short while he
went back to work for Eric Atkinson
who was subsequently bought out by
JB Wilkinson & Sons at Bramhope.
Although he enjoyed working for
Wilkinsons he always knew he wanted
a shop of his own.
In 1979 he took on the butchers shop
business that was once Hudson Bros.
Tony invested in new equipment and
succeeded in building up the business
which he felt had not been performing
as well as it might. He rolled up his
sleeves and got on with building up to
what is now a very good trade.
Tonys pork pies have been another
of his big successes and he now
sells over 1000 per week from his
Otley Road premises with customers
travelling from far and wide. Indeed
one customer commented whilst I was
with Tony: Theyre the best for miles!
I buy 3 dozen a month from him!
The recipe is understandably, like
most butchers, a trade secret. Tony
developed it all himself and he wont
be telling anyone about the ingredients
apart from perhaps his son Ben who
is now in the business and looking
forward to taking over the reins at
some stage.
Ben attended Thomas Danby College
and has already won a major butchery
the best for Miles
siMone tAlKs With butcher tony Wood of Guiseley
award in London. He has an even
bigger event coming up in August,
when he will marry Laura.
Tony has won awards too. His home-
cured York ham took first place at
Otley Show along with his meat
display also awarded a first, but Tony
confesses to being too busy to be able
to compete at National shows. He
has 3 full time and 3 part time staff
working with him and they are usually
working flat out.
Clearly Tonys customers are extremely
loyal and thats because they want to
purchase their meat from a butcher
who knows what hes talking about.
Ive been coming here for the past
38 years, said one satisfied customer.
The quality of what Tony stocks here
is always excellent. I will always come
to his butchers shop rather than
getting my meat from a supermarket.
Tony knows what were looking for
and he will always chat with you
about where it all comes from.
Tony regards all of his customers as
friends as he has had many happy
years in Guiseley with them all. Tony
will continue supplying them with his
friendly and professional service for
many years to come.
tony Woods Butchers
44 otley road,guiseley, Leeds.
tel:01943 873337
tony And ben Woods
delicious pies!
FarmersMart Summer 2011 60
ELLIS AND bARRETT
We are pleased to be associated with the
Jess Ellis & Neil Barrett, being Qualifed
Business Advisers in the Agricultural sector.
www.fsheraccountants.co.uk
Kingfsher House
65 Market Place
Market Weighton
York YO43 3AN
Tel: 01430 873263
Fax: 01430 872078
Agriculture is an industry that attracts
fresh faces year-on-year; as an
increasing number of city-slickers or
so called townies leave the hustle
and bustle of urban living behind, the
appeal of the great outdoors seems
more prominent than ever.
For one girl from York, the lure of
livestock and the charm of farming
life was irresistible
24-year-old Jessica Ellis never thought
that she would be a farmer, whilst
growing up in York the closest thing
she came to animal interaction was
with a pet dog and the occasional
horse riding lesson. Now though,
since meeting her long-term boyfriend
Neil Barrett five years ago, Jess has
found herself fulfilling what could be
considered to be a farming destiny.
It was around four years ago when
Jesss passion for farming developed.
Whilst juggling a full-time career (Neil
is an accountant at a local hospital
and Jess is a PA in a Pharmaceuticals
firm) and moving into her and Neils
new home in Market Weighton, she
started working on Neils parents
farm on a fairly casual basis to start
with and their shared interest in
livestock began to shine.
Jess tells us, Neils parents Brian
and Anne, farm at Ponds Farm, near
Pocklington, East Yorkshire. Neil has
worked on the farm all his life and
since I met him, my involvement in
the everyday running of the farm has
grown considerably. Brian and Anne
have farmed their Brianne herd for
many years.
Despite coming from the city, Jess
took to the farm like a duck to water
and certainly wasnt afraid to get her
hands dirty.
froM Girl About toWn to
society club secretAry!
Jess With duchess Junior chAMpion At
lAst yeArs GreAt yorKshire shoW
I started off by doing little things
around the farm like feeding up,
mucking out and watering, and from
there I became interested in showing
which is now something I absolutely
love! Blondes are such gorgeous
animals though; its hard not to
become fond of them.
Jess and Neils love for the British
Blondes was made even stronger after
Neil decided to formulate his own
herd of Blondes to run alongside his
parents at Ponds Farm. Since buying
foundation cows Rosie, Rhyme,
Naomi and Princess (Doncombe
Continues page 62
FarmersMart Summer 2011 61
bREEDS
The Galloway Cattle Society have
announced the launch of their new,
free cow classification scheme at the
Royal Highland Show.
Members are invited to take
advantage of this the latest tool to
help them select both new animals
coming into their herd and promote
animals being offered for sale.
The importance of good
conformation has never been greater
as breeders and producers are
looking for cost efficient females,
explained Galloway Society Chairman
Drew Brown.
In response, the Society is providing
this new service, which will enable
members to classify breeding heifers
and cows. The scheme is free to
members in the first year and will
help breeders promote the Galloway
as a truly excellent hill suckler cow.
Galloways, one of the oldest and
purest of our native cattle breeds,
are famed for their hardiness and
ability to live off the poorest of land.
The females make ideal suckler cows
producing excellent beefy calves that
GAlloWAys lAunch free coW
clAssificAtion scheMe
are in great demand.
The Galloway Cow Classification
Scheme is based on individual type
traits assessed by the classifier,
Stuart Renton, with a score out
of ten given for feet, mobility and
correctness, udder and teats as
well as general observation of
temperament and skeletal size.
One of the key benefits of superior
graded animals is that they attract
higher values than their counterparts.
Just as important for progress in
a herd and in the breed is that
specific strengths and weaknesses
are highlighted by classification
thus allowing improved corrective
breeding decisions to be made.
Society chairman Drew Brown
emphasised that, Classification
is the tool that allows breeding
decision to be made within herds
by identifying the BEST of the next
generation, but it depends totally
on member participation to achieve
these results. Thus we would
encourage breeders to discuss
this exciting step forward for the
Galloway breed with office holders at
our stand during the Royal Highland
Show.
Any registered Galloway female
belonging to a Society member can
be classified for free in the first year
and can be retested in future years.
For more information, visit
www.gallowaycattlesociety.co.uk
Tanaina) between 2000 and 2003,
he and Jess Everingham herd
(which was originally formed in 1997
with cross breds Emma and Elsie)
of Blondes has gone from strength to
strength.
Neil has had blondes since he was
little but he had always wanted a
herd of his own. The two herds now
run alongside one another at Ponds
Farm, although ours are all pure and
Brian and Annes are cross bred. Our
Everingham Blondes herd consists
of fifteen cows (calves, males and
females) and the Brianne Herd, which
was formed in the late eighties when
Brian and Anne moved out of Dairy
and into beef, is now 35-strong.
Together Jess and Neils knowledge
of British Blondes is now as good as
those who have been farming their
entire lives, but Jess admits theyre
still learning about the breed each
and every day.
For most farmers, competing in
agricultural shows goes hand-in-hand
with rearing pure bred cattle and in
recent years Jess and Neil has been
well and truly bitten by the show
bug. Jess made her showing debut
at Newark and Notts show and has
since gone on to experience a great
number of wins.
I achieved Junior Breed Champion
and Reserve Female Champion at the
Great Yorkshire Show last year and
Neil was awarded Female Champion
in 2009 with Doncombe Tanaina,
explained so we are doing really well
considering Jess is fairly new to it. I
do enjoy the social side of the shows
because there are such an impressive
variety of people there and we all get
on well.
Jess uses her position of Secretary
at the North East Blonde Club (part
of the British Blonde Society), to
educate novices about the breed;
Ive been involved in the club for
about two and a half years and sort
of worked my way up the ladder.
Recently I have been responsible for
organising the stand at The Great
Yorkshire Show (Number 263), any
type of marketing work, producing
leaflets and arranging events.
So what is next for the girl who has
her fingers in so many pies?
In the future Neil and I would like to
run our own farm on a full-time basis,
but as yet we havent got a massive
herd you see. The farm is our future
now though so together we have to
look at the bigger picture.
if you would like more information
on the north east Blonde club
call Jess on 07704 654793 or
why not visit stand number 263
at the great Yorkshire Show!
Millend uMbA WuMbA And everinGhAM GrAce
dreW broWn
FarmersMart Summer 2011 62
MACHINERY
Massey Ferguson is strengthening
its leading position in the livestock
and mixed farming tractor sectors
with the addition of four, entirely
new, 82hp to 107hp models that
join the best-selling MF 5400 Series.
These tough, versatile workhorses are
designed and built to handle the most
challenging tasks.
The four MF 5400 Series tractors
are developed specifically for mixed,
livestock and smaller scale arable
users looking for a compact, versatile
workhorse. By cleverly combining
ideas from the top selling, larger MF
5400 Series with novel, innovative
features Massey Ferguson has created
an uncompromising design that
provides the power, visibility, hydraulic
performance, manoeuvrability and
comfort customers are requesting.
All are powered by the latest Perkins
four cylinder, 4.4 litre capacity
engines, providing maximum powers
(ISO), at 2,000rpm, of 82hp for the
MF 5420, 92hp on the MF 5430,
102hp on the MF 5440 and 107hp
on the top MF 5450.
A new transaxle, developed for
exclusive use on these new 82hp
to 107hp tractors, features Massey
Fergusons highly efficient Dyna-4,
16F/16R transmission, which offers
completely clutchless operation after
starting up. This comes with the
renowned left-hand Power Control,
clutchless reverse shuttle, which is
ideal for loader work.
Up front, a new front axle casting,
similar to that on larger Massey
Ferguson tractors, now not only
provides a compact mounting for a
new axle, but also includes an integral
sub-frame that ensures loaders are
mounted easily - effectively becoming
part of the tractor. This specially
shaped support also hosts the 2.5t
capacity Integrated Front Linkage
System (IFLS) option.
At the back a new rear axle, again
designed specifically for these
models, provides maximum lift
capacity to 4,300kg. Standard,
Electronic Linkage Control (ELC)
provides straightforward, precise
operation using Massey Fergusons
extremely well-proven system.
The spacious, quiet cab is equipped
to a high specification and benefits
from features found on the larger
models, such as the cab suspension
option. The sleek high visibility bonnet
AGile Mf 5400
Models Join MAssey
ferGuson fleet
provides an unparalleled view to the
loader and front linkage attachments.
This view is further enhanced by the
Visio roof option.
www.agcocorp.com
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
PROTECH MACHI NERY
TRACKED POST DRIVERS A ONE MAN FENCING MACHINE, SAVE LABOUR, FUEL AND TIME!!
FOR PROTECH SALES PLEASE CALL
ANDREW HOOPER ON 07971079751
OR COME AND SEE US AT THE
DRIFFIELD SHOW - STAND NO. FC
WOOLRIDGE FARM, GLOUCESTER ROAD
HARTPURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL19 3BG
e-mail: protechmachinery@yahoo.co.uk
fax: 01386 750772
www.protechmachinery.co.uk
COMPACT FOR
TRANSPORT
250KG HAMMER
WEIGHT
800MM
TELESCOPIC
SIDESHIFT
TELESCOPIC MAST
OPTION FOR 10FT
POSTS
John Deeres new 900 Series
variable chamber round baler made
a big impression at Cereals 2011 in
Lincolnshire and the Royal Highland
Show at Ingliston last month.
The 960 and 990 balers feature a
revolutionary Fast Release System
(FRS), which can lead to savings
of up to an hour a day during
harvest. This employs a unique
curtain design, which replaces
the traditional heavy rear door. Full
commercial production of these
unique balers will begin in time for
the 2012 season.
Designed specifically for use by
contractors and large livestock
farms, the balers employ state-of-
the-art technology to significantly
improve baler output, bale density
and operator comfort. In addition,
built-in reliability and durability are
provided by the exclusive full-frame
design, which relieves the entire bale
chamber from external stress.
FRS speeds up the bale ejection
process by enabling the operator to
unload the completed bale in less
than five seconds, which is up to 10
seconds faster than a conventional
machine. As a further aid to
increased productivity and efficiency,
innovative side panels have replaced
the usual bale chamber side walls.
During bale formation, these flexible
panels ensure that the baler reaches
maximum capacity, and also open
slightly as the bale is ejected, to
prevent any risk of the bale jamming
in the chamber.
The 960 and 990 balers are
available with a choice of 2.2m wide
RotoFlow or MaxiCut 13 or 25-knife
precutter pick-ups, and produce
bale diameters from 80 to 160cm
and 80 to 185cm respectively. For
improved crop flow and enhanced
reliability, the newly designed high
capacity pick-up uses five rows
of tines instead of the four on
traditional models. The balers are
also equipped with a new drop-floor
unplugging system, which operates
over the total width of the rotor.
Maximum bale density is provided by
the new MaxD bale chamber design,
John deere tAKes neW bAler to
cereAls & hiGhlAnd shoWs
which means fewer bales per hectare
need to be wrapped, handled and
transported. This design features
an offset density arm that transmits
optimal tension to two wide endless
belts, each 573mm wide. Three
powered rollers inside the chamber
also make starting the bale easier,
especially in wet conditions.
The SIMA 2011 Gold Medal
award winning Tractor Implement
Automation (TIA) system will also be
available as an option on the 900
Series balers, from 2012. When
operated with a tractor featuring
ISOBUS, a continuously variable
transmission and electronic SCVs,
this baler automation system also
significantly reduces the harvest
workload instead of the driver having
to stop the tractor to open and close
the rear of the baler, TIA manages
everything using simple fingertip
controls to complete the baling
process.
For further details visit
www.JohnDeere.com
MACHINERY
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
guy machInery
When Graham Guy opened the Guy
Machinery site at Lyndale works next
to Gisburn auction Mart in February
last year, completing the takeover of
the former Lindley Pate business there
were more than a few customers who
thought that would spell the end of
his time at Skipton auction Mart.
But nothing could have been further
from the truth.
Just a year on from the move to the
3 acre site at Gisburn and Graham
has increased the size of his site
at Skipton auction mart too. The
business is now located to the rear
of the mart, near Laycocks Animal
Health, and now takes up some 1.4
acres.
When customers saw that we had
taken on the size of site we had at
Gisburn I think they really did believe
we were calling it a day here at
Were here to stay...
at skipton & Gisburn
simone talks With Graham Guy of Guy machinery ltd
Skipton, but that wasnt in our minds.
Taking on the Gisburn site was a
strategic move to allow us greater
access to the business available in
Lancashire. And it has so far proved
to be the right move too. Some
customers prefer us to be in Gisburn
as it makes life a lot easier for them
to get to us and some still have that
county loyalty. This way we are trying
to be the best for both counties.
The Guy Machinery Ltd trading area
now extends west to east from the M6
to the A1 and their recent acquisition
of the Ifor Williams Trailers franchise
the team at skipton
FarmersMart Summer 2011 66
GUY MACHINERY
has proved to be another success
for the company. Also new for 2011
is the Polaris ranger diesel which
has been very well received by our
customers finally offering us a diesel
model in the very popular utility side
by side market.
The full range of Ifor Williams trailers
are available to view at the Gisburn
site including the very popular
livestock range, but we dont just
have trailers for farmers if you have
a tow bar and need a trailer their
will be a model for you in the Ifor
Williams range from box vans, car
transporters and tippers through to
unbraked trailers, horseboxs, plant
trailers, flatbeds and more. Staff
from Guy Machinery will be available
to discuss your needs on the Ifor
Williams stand at this years Yorkshire
show or alternatively give them a call
at Gisburn or Skipton.
Guy Machinery Ltd was established
at Skipton Auction Mart in October
2005, taking over the franchises and
customer base of the former company
on the site, Gibsons.
In addition to Ifor Williams and
Polaris Guy Machinery Ltd are also
main dealers for Valtra Tractors and
Krone grassland equipment. They
also hold agencies for Amazone, Can-
Am, Schaffer, Dieci, Joskin, Rolland,
Strautmann, Marshall and Tanco and
aim to provide a high level of service
and support to all their customers.
Their Krone dealership includes
being one of the few official Krone
Forage Centres in the UK, specialising
in the service and repair of all Krone
grassland equipment from mowers,
tedders & rakes through to Big
pack square balers, Big M and Big
X self propelled mowers and forage
harvesters.
Grahams business also specialises in
the sales of new and used tractors.
Along with agricultural machinery,
Quad bikes, loadalls, construction
vehicles, including cranes, telehandlers
and attachments. Short or long term
machinery and equipment hire can
also be arranged at very competitive
rates.
As Valtra and Krone parts specialists,
they hold a vast range of genuine
parts in stock at extremely
competitive prices, all available with
minimum delay.
From the Gisburn depot Guy
Machinery operate a large agricultural/
country store, stocking genuine Ifor
Williams Trailer parts, a full range of
IAE galvanised products, clothing and
footwear, agri-consumables, stock
fencing, water troughs and fittings,
tools, hardware, machinery parts and
much more.
The companys service engineers have
all completed manufacturers training
courses and servicing and repairs are
available on a wide range of tractors,
quad bikes, trailers and machinery.
Only genuine parts are fitted and all
work and parts are guaranteed.
Graham also runs a very successful
agricultural contracting service for
many years. This is provided through
the sister company, C & G A Guy
Contractors Ltd, based in Colne,
Lancashire.
If you have any sales enquiries, would
like to arrange a demonstration, or
need any assistance or advice from
Guy Machinery just try out some of
the numbers and email addresses
below or visit them at either of their
two sites or catch up with them at
the various agricultural shows they
are attending this year including
Kilnsey, Gargrave, Todmorden and
Hodder Valley.
SKiPton BrancH
tel 01756 799184
giSBUrn BrancH
tel 01200 445555
email: sales@guymachinery.co.uk
parts@guymachinery.co.uk
service@guymachinery.co.uk
accounts@guymachinery.co.uk
FarmersMart Summer 2011 6
MOORE FARM SERvICES
Theres a new name on the farm
machinery dealership scene in South
Yorkshire. David Moore opened up
Moore Farm Services at Harworth,
near Doncaster earlier this year.
The premises he began occupying
in January, after initially starting his
fledgling business at his father-in-
laws farm carrying out repairs and
servicing, have been specifically
tailored to his needs including stores
space, workshop and a shop area.
Theres also plenty of forecourt
space for farm machinery and good
car parking.
At present David has two main
franchises McCormick tractors and
Granit parts although there are
plans in the pipeline to take on far
more farm machinery franchises in
the future. He has the contacts and
has worked with some of the leading
names in agricultural machinery.
Were doing very well already and
we have quite a few customers. Our
customer base stretches as far to the
north as the M62 to the Selby area,
down to Newark, across to Lincoln
and to Chesterfield. Its all about
giving a quality service to our local
area. We recently held our first open
day which attracted 80 farmers from
throughout our franchise region.
David sees the McCormick as a
tractor that any farmer can use.
Hes had great experience with the
company as he worked for them for
between 2-3 years after finishing at
Harper Adams University.
The McCormick is a very good
workhorse and its reliability is
second to none. It has moved on
considerably from the days of Case
tractors whilst keeping some of its
traditional features that havent
needed changing. It is also very
neW MccorMicK deAler
in south yorKshire
chris berry tAlKs With dAvid Moore At hArWorth, neAr doncAster
dAvid Moore
FarmersMart Summer 2011 68
MOORE FARM SERvICES
w w w.w i l l ow -f ar mmac hi ner y.c o.uk
enqs@w i l l ow -f ar mmac hi ner y.c o.uk
01529 460332
07789 683625
Sean Stanfeld
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5 row tined drill
hyd fan
full RDS variable rate aRtiSem system
external head
4 x 4 chamber
2m pick up
net & twin
wide wheels
Spreader
12 x bent leg
DD packer
3m c/w following harrow
Offset Flails
4 Rotor tedder
competitively priced, making it
a strong player and contender in
the market place when you are
considering purchasing a new
tractor. There was no dealer for this
area and McCormick were crying out
for a new dealer.
Davids experience fitted the bill and
so he set up as a limited company
around a year ago but only moved
into the premises at Harworth this
year. He is forward-looking and is
already considering his next move
of either expanding where he is or
getting an even bigger site.
I see us outgrowing these premises
within 3 years, or at the very least
expanding what we have here. The
location is excellent being only 2
miles from the A1. It means that
customers can get to us easily and
we can get to them quickly if we
need to. I am looking to have the
full range of agricultural machinery
franchises eventually and I work
closely with Willow Farm Machinery
who import several leading farm
machinery products.
David is from the Selby area
originally, near Chapel Haddlesey. His
dad farmed around 2000 acres but
died when David was a lot younger.
David went to Bishop Burton College
where he studied for his National
Diploma in Agricultural Engineering,
taking a year out working on a
farm at Burn, a local village just
a handful of miles south of Selby.
His Harper Adams degree was in
Engineering Design & Development
of Off Road Vehicles. This led to a
year working for Lemken designing
ploughs for India and the Eastern
European market. He worked for 6
months each in Germany and India.
After leaving McCormick he worked
with Cummins Turbo Technology in
Huddersfield.
Friendships made at university
led him to meeting his wife-to-be,
Elizabeth at Tuxford YFC. He is still
a part of the organisation but now in
an advisory capacity. Elizabeth also
lends her support to the business
whenever she can.
Elizabeth works with me on evenings
and weekends and my mum, Barbara
deals with the accounts side of the
business. I have a couple of people
who work for me at present, one
full time and the other on a self-
employed part-time basis.
Watch out for even more news about
Moore Farm Services in issues to
come. Farmers Mart congratulates
David and wishes him every
success.
DaViD Moore FarM
SerViceS LtD
Unit 10, Snape Lane
Harworth Dn11 8nF
tel: 01302 759969
david@moorefarmservices.com
MccorMicK trActors
FarmersMart Summer 2011 69
DAvID MURRAY
Swaledale and North of England Mule
sheep and conservation go hand in
hand at Branchend Farm, Langley,
near Hexham.
Long winters on the farm which runs
at between 1,000ft to 1,200ft above
sea level impacted on the profitability
of keeping cattle for David and Linda
Murray so in 1993 they began to
concentrate on sheep.
Traditionally, we were running
Swaledale ewes and we wanted to
keep a Mule flock but because we
had to house the cattle from mid
October often until late into May we
didnt have the sheds to lamb Mules
with twins inside, said David.
We worked out our profit margins
and decided we would be better off
with sheep than cattle. We wanted
to keep it traditional though, he
added.
The tenanted farm runs to 500
acres of inside ground with around
400 acres hefted on neighbouring
Allendale and Hexhamshire Common,
where the Murrays are one of 22
graziers on the open fell.
An all sheep enterprise was also then
favoured for entry into environmental
stewardship, a natural progression
for the Murrays who have for years
worked with the RSPB in monitoring
and encouraging numbers of birds
on the farm, including black grouse,
plover and other wetland birds.
The Murrays have carried out rush
management for a number of years
to improve nesting habitats for birds
and as a result have lapwing, curlew,
redshank and snipe nest on the
farm.
The farm carries a flock of 400
registered Swaledale ewes, half of
which are bred pure to produce flock
replacements, and the remainder
crossed with the Bluefaced Leicester
to provide gimmer lambs for the
North of England Mule flock of 500
ewes.
The Mules are crossed with the
Suffolk and 100 of the crossbred
progeny are put to the Beltex as
hoggs.
Management of the sheep is very
much a partnership for the Murrays
- so much so that they have his and
hers quad bikes!
Linda looks after the outside feeding
and she does the lambing inside.
David does most of the shepherding
as well as looking after getting in the
silage and haylage crops. He also
markets the lambs at Carlisle on a
Monday.
During the summer, 200 of the
Swaledale ewes are on the fell. This
number is reduced in the winter to
120 to comply with the UELS and HLS
environmental scheme agreements
which cover the whole farm.
The sheep are fed before and after
lambing time which begins on March
29 with the Swaledales crossed with
the Bluefaced Leicester and most of
the Mules. The Swaledales which
are bred pure and the hoggs begin
lambing on April 24.
Those carrying twins and triplets
are lambed inside and turned out
as soon as possible. The Murrays
prefer the Swaledales which are pure
bred to produce just one lamb while
the Mules last year had a 193 %
lambing.
Lambing tends to be a family affair
with eldest daughter Shelley, who is
married and lives in Annfield Plain,
daughter Dominique who lives in
Reading and son Callum, who is
studying for a degree in computer
engineering at Liverpool University
all coming back to the farm to lend
a hand.
All triplets generally are taken off
their mothers and run as pet lambs to
prevent damage to the ewes and the
risk of mastitis. The pets are reared
sheep And conservAtion
Go hAnd in hAnd At brAnchend
FarmersMart Summer 2011 0
DAvID MURRAY
Audek Ti mber Pr oduct s Lt d
Locally Sourced Timber
Hollybush Sawmill, Hexham NE46 1UD
Tel : 01434 673288
w w w.audek t i mber.co.uk
Tel 01388 528349
Fax 01388 526770
E-mail diana@fellsidevet.demon.co.uk
www.fellsidevets.co.uk
Fellside Veterinary Group
Cowgarth Hill
Stanhope
Bishop Auckland
Co Durham DL13 2PA
FEllsidE VETErinary Group
specialising in Farm animals and Equine
Herd Health Profles
Catle Pregnancy Scanning
24 Hour on call service
serving the durhamdales for 30 years
M c c o w i e & c o
5 2 - 5 4 L e a z e s P k R o a d
N e w c a s t L e u P o N t y N e , N e 1 4 P G
P h o N e : 0 1 9 1 - 2 3 2 6 4 4 8
F a x : 0 1 9 1 - 2 2 1 0 1 0 7
P l e a s e d t o b e a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h d a v i d M u r r a y
on a Shepherdess bucket system and
weaned by five to six weeks old to
keep milk replacer costs down.
The firsts lambs are sold straight off
their mothers in mid August last year
selling at 70 a head through Carlisle
to peak at 108 in the prime ring to
be regularly in the leading prices for
Suffolk-sired lambs out of Mules.
They are usually 42-44kg.
Some are sold after early September
through to March and these averaged
around 60 a head last year. Mule
and Swaledale wether lambs are
usually sold on the hook and early
this year the tail enders averaged
95 a head, with 32 out of 69
making over 100 apiece.
The Mule-Suffolk cross hoggs have
a 100% lambing and their lambs are
sold finished by November-December
making 80-85 a head at just over
40kg, aiming for both the home and
export markets.
While currently all the Mule gimmer
lambs are kept as replacements,
some may be sold in the future.
Commercial Suffolk rams are
bought mostly at Carlisle and some
at Hexham with traditinal crossing
type Bluefaced Leicesters bought at
Lazonby and recent purchases from
Messrs Coulthard at Davygill have
produced particularly good gimmer
lambs.
The flock has been closed, apart from
the purchase of stock rams, for the last
three years to avoid price fluctuations
in the breeding sheep market.
Swaledale rams are sold at St Johns
Chapel as shearlings and stock rams
are bought at Kirkby Stephen or
Hawes marts with investments of
up to 4,000 being made. The flock
his n hers quAd biKes -
dAvid, cAlluM And lindA MurrAy At brAnchend fArM
is gradually being built back up the
quality it was prior to it being taken
out during 2001s foot and mouth
epidemic.
For more information call
01484 684 320
FarmersMart Summer 2011 1
ANDREW NICHOLSON
Breeding Herdwick sheep has been
in the family for generations for
Andrew and Karen Nicholson.
When they started farming at
Swinside End, High Lorton, near
Cockermouth, in 1996 they
established their own Bank Fell
flock from Herdwicks from Andrews
grandfather Gordon Stagg and
Karens grandfather Jack Bland, who
both farmed in Buttermere.
Such was the quality of Gordon
Staggs flock that he broke the
record in the 1970s when he sold a
ram for 100.
In 2001s foot and mouth epidemic
the Nicholsons were fortunate to
save some of the flocks bloodlines
from the contiguous cull, thanks to
Prof Dianna Bowles of the University
of York and The Heritage GeneBank,
set up during the crisis to protect
the UK genetic biodiversity of sheep
breeds.
The project attracted funding which
enabled semen to be taken from
one of the Nicholsons home-bred
Herdwick rams which was used for
the first time last autumn and six
lambs - one ram and five females -
were born in May along with another
six lambs from embryos.
During the crisis, a vet managed to
persuade Defra of the importance
of the breed and the Bank Fell
bloodlines and and Nicholsons were
able to keep 40 of their ewe.
Now numbers have reached those
pre-foot and mouth at 400 ewes,
bred from the sheep that were
saved, supplemented by bought in
sheep from leading breeder, Anthony
Hartley, of Turner Hall, Seathwaite,
Broughton-in-Furness.
Herdwicks bred by the Nicholsons
have sold for 3,000 at Cockermouth
for a home bred shearling ram in
2009. A firm believer in the live ring,
Andrew is a director of Mitchells
Auction Company in Cockermouth.
They also fly the flag for the breed
and hope to be able to show some
of the AI lambs at Borrowdale Show,
the Herdwick Royal in September.
The Nicholsons farm 1,000 acres
of owned and rented SDA ground
as well as 250 acres of enclosed
common on Bank Fell.
They have a flock of 1,000 Swaledale
ewes which run on Braithwaite
Common, which are bred pure and
also crossed with the Bluefaced
Leicester to produce replacements
for their 200-ewe North of England
Mule ewe flock.
At last years NEMSA show and sale
at Cockermouth mart, Mule gimmer
lambs averaged 101 a head and
collected second and fifth prize
tickets.
Replacement Bluefaced Leicester
rams have been bought in from
science sAves the hArdy
herdWicKs
KAren And AndreW nicholson
With dAchshund frAnKie
FarmersMart Summer 2011 2
ANDREW NICHOLSON
For Agricultural Buildings
Construction and Renovations
Concreting and On Site Welding
Tel 01768 891873 or 07900681665
CHRIS PARKER LTD
Wish continued success to Karen and Andrew
H|T0hELL'$ AU0T|0N 00HPANY L|H|TE0
ThE LAKELAN0 L|VE$T00K 0ENTPE
0ockermouth 0A13 000
Te|: 01900 82201 Fax: 01900 82780 WWW.m|tche||s||vestock.co.uk
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45 $tat|on Poad, 0ockermouth, Te| : 01900 827292 Fax: 01900 828073
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Lynne Atk|nson
Pes|dent|a| sa|es and |ett|ngs; Harket Appra|sa| and Va|uat|ons.
wednesday: Pr|me u||s and 0|ean 0att|e, 0ast 0oWs, Pr|me $heep
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LAN0 A0EN0Y
Land and property sa|es
Estate management
Va|uat|ons and appra|sa|s
Land|ord and Tenant matters
0ompensat|on and access
H|nera| p|ann|ng & va|uat|on
Pro|ect & contract management
P|ann|ng & des|gn consu|tancy
Te|ecommun|cat|ons
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John Lord, of Dowgill, Stainmore,
although with flock numbers for the
crossing type of Leicester now at 15
ewes, Andrew hopes to have some
rams of his own to sell.
Swaledale stock tups are bought
locally, mainly from Keith Ireland, of
Stockhow, Ennerdale.
The Mules are crossed with the
Texel, with some ewe lambs retained
for crossing with the Blue Texel.
Lambing begins on March 1 with
the Mule and Texel crosses, followed
by the Swaledales crossed with the
Leicester on March 20 and the fell
Swaledales in mid-April.
All the lambs are sold finished
through Cockermouth, with Mule-
Texel crosses last year averaging
70, Texel cross Blue Texel crosses
at 89 and Herdwick wethers
making 75.
The farm also carries a herd of 50
Limousin cross and British Blue cross
suckler cows, all put back to the
Limousin bull. Some replacements
are home-bred for the spring and
autumn-calving herd.
Calves are sold at nine to 10 months
old through Cockermouth from
January to May. Calves have sold
to a top of 4,000 for a heifer two
years ago.
Heifers this year won the
championship at the March show,
selling at 2,200 with anothr heifer
at 1,900. Both were by pedigree
stock bull Keskadale Vigo, bought
from Keith Harryman, of Newlands,
Keswick. A second stock bull, Edmo
Barbecue bred by Sarah Edmondson,
of Wigton, has also been breeding
well.
Ten years ago Karen began taking in
bed and breakfast guests at Swinside
End and such was the success of
the venture that they extended the
house to provide a fourth bedroom
and guest dining room.
The three double and one twin, en-
suite rooms and the high standard
of accommodation and service has
earned a five star silver award from
the English Tourist Board.
While crossed by the Coast to Coast
Cycle Route, the Lorton Valley is
quieter than other parts of the Lake
District and Swinside End makes an
ideal base to tour the western Lakes
or from which to go east to Keswick
and the heart of the popular tourist
region.
The bed and breakfast business is
mainly Karens domain - from the
tasteful decor in the house to the
immaculate gardens which overlook
the valley and the fells beyond -
Andrew dons his apron each morning
to fry the eggs and make the toast
for the guests breakfast!
also popular with farmers
visiting the area for sales,
the accommodation can be
seen on the website at
www.swinsideendfarm.co.uk
FarmersMart Summer 2011
JOHN HILL
Dairy Engineers, Refrigeration and AnimaI HeaIth SuppIies
Kitchen Fold, Kiln Hill, Slaithwaite, Huddersfeld HD7 5JS
T 01484 847606/845572 E info@farm-services.co.uk
Pleased to supply John Hill & wish him
continued success for the future
According to dairy and arable farmer
John Hill, You have to be adaptable
in this day and age or else youll sink,
and after meeting John, its safe to say
that hes a man of his word. In recent
years he has ensured that his 410 acre
tenanted estate farm, doesnt just get
by in todays industry, but continues
to improve.
Johns father Roy first came into the
tenancy when he moved to Kidfield
with his family. Together, he and his
father expanded a dairy enterprise
and set up a professional partnership
in 1978 when he was just 21 years
old and immediately took to his
surroundings as you would expect
second generation farm would.
Now, John has taken Kidsfield from
everyday dairy farm, to a diverse and
profitable business.
John tells us, We used to have over
a hundred sheep and grow potatoes
but as times gone on we have wanted
to concentrate more on milking. So
were mainly dairy now, although we
also fatten the bull beef from the dairy
herd. We dont buy in calves, we just
fatten what we rear and we rear our
own dairy replacements as well.
In many ways John appreciates that
he and his family (which consists of
himself, his wife Val, father Roy and
21-year-old Son James, currently a
student at Harper Adams) are in a
much stronger position now, but he
admits that dairy farming isnt without
its downsides.
To avoid becoming an increasingly
worrying statistic and leaving the
industry for good, John and his family
have taken the necessary action to
make sure their voices were heard.
A few months ago I decided to leave
a contract I had with Arla Foods and
I have since signed a new milking
contract with J&E Dickinson (Dairy
Produce Merchants) Longley
Farm at Holmfirth. I left Arla
because I found them to be
very dictorial and I often
felt as though I was being
treated like a number. As
part of that contract I was
a dedicated Asda supplier,
which meant that I got around
a penny extra for every litre
I sold. I never really understood
why one dedicated farmer should
get a penny more than the next but
anyway one day they told me they
were getting rid of some suppliers and
without any warning, they knocked
me straight out.
After only one month at Longley, John
is already experiencing a much better
working environment; its just like a
huge weight has been lifted off my
shoulder. The people there talk to you
as an individual and theyre willing to
help you if youve any problems with
anything. They want quality milk and
they work with you rather than against
you! Longley buy their milk on butter
fat, so we are looking to increase that
now. One way of doing that is putting
some cross breeds into our Holstein
dairy herd, so were buying semen and
feeding to achieve that.
Johns land is made up of two holdings;
the first Kidfield farm incorporates most
of the 410 acres of land on the estate
whilst neighboring holding Norcroft
Farm carries 130 acres. Much of the
milking at Norcroft Farm is carried out
by farm worker Anna Coultish, and
John also employs David Oliver too.
With so much land to occupy, John has
expanded its arable usage considerably
and also continues to increase his
amount of beef cattle.
coMbininG contrActinG And
neW MilKinG contrActs
We tAlK to John hill At Kidfield fArM in pennistone, sheffield
We rear our own bull beef, and just
recently we brought some cows in
but aside from that we tend to keep
a closed herd. At the minute we are
running a Limousin to be used a
crossing bull and in the past weve
AId it with a Belgium Blue too. On the
arable side of things we now grow 200
acres of cereals, 50 acres of maze and
40 acres of rape, we feed most of our
crop but we sell some too.
With so much to do every day on the
farm, its no surprise that John has
never become involved in the showing
side of the industry; I dont think
Ive ever really been into it in fact I
always preferred the arable side of
farming, but the dairy was the most
necessary enterprise, it provides the
regular income. When I first started
managing here as a lad, I thoroughly
enjoyed it, but weve gone through
a hard time, theres all sorts of
pressures these days, especially from
the supermarket.
In addition to his new milking
contracts, John and his Son James
have developed a new arable
contracting business that specialises
in maze drilling under plastic and
crimping of grain.
Because I am at that age now and
Im unsure of what James will do after
he finishes his degree, I decided not
to invest money into the farm building,
but instead into a business. We have
tried to specialise in one area because
it can be very competitive. This will be
our third year doing that, and weve
been covering quite a broad area.
Another feather in his cap is John
enjoys competing in the National
Ploughing Championships. John has
represented England in 13 world
championships. The ploughing
contests have taken me to Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and most of
Europe. John is a well known figure in
the ploughing world.
With so much on the horizon, John
Hill is proof that whatever state the
industry is in, with hard work and
original thinking; an awful lot can be
achieved,
John Hill
Kidfield Farm, Pennistone
Sheffield S36 7JX
Mob: 07976 918976
vAl And John
FarmersMart Summer 2011
bAYER
bAyer lAunches poWerful second
GenerAtion rodenticide With no KnoWn
rodent resistAnce
For farmers everywhere who are
battling rats and mice resistant to
existing rodenticides there is now a
new solution. Bayer Environmental
Science, a division of Bayer
CropScience launched a pioneering
new single feed, second generation
rodenticide at Cereals 2011.
Containing the first new active
ingredient to be introduced to the
UK in over 20 years, Difethialone,
which is exclusive to Bayer in the
UK, Rodilon
is effective
after just one feed.
Our focus is always on innovating
and bringing new solutions to market,
explained Bayer Environmental
Science product manager, Claire
Matthewman. Rodilon
is a radical
new and highly effective solution for
controlling rats and mice.
Bayer Environmental Science has
created four convenient and extremely
palatable baiting formulations of
Rodilon
Trio benefit from a unique Turbo
Impregnation manufacturing process
that infuses the active ingredient
right to the core of the bait. Not
only does this offer superior rat and
mouse control but it also means the
farmer is subjected to minimal risk
from dust.
Developed specifically for the control
of mice, Rodilon
Trio incorporates
oats, sunflower seeds and maize,
which are known to be particularly
palatable to mice. Despite mice
removing the husk of the grain
before eating, the process of Turbo
Impregnation ensures that the core
still contains the active ingredient.
Ideal for rat control, Rodilon
Wheat
Tech uses the highest quality whole
wheat grain making it extremely
palatable and increases consumption.
It is perfect for difficult to control
infestations throughout a wide range
of indoor farm baiting situations.
Rodilon
Blocks
are an ideal choice if spillage or
contamination risks are a concern.
Rodilon
Soft
Blocks offers the added benefits of
no direct contact to the farmer and
ease of handling.
Available in a range of pack sizes,
Rodilon