Broadwell Manor: Dairy, Sheep and Arable Farming

David Jenkinson outside the feeding sheds, Broadwell Manor Farm
Silage pit covered with plastic and tyres, but a new recycled rubber mat will soon replace tyres
High capacity slurry tank and collection area behind the dairy milking parlour
Examining root growth on seedlings of spring sown wheat
A crop of winter wheat (sown in autumn 2009) plus trusty dog
A minimum disturbance disc seeder used for crops and pastures

Broadwell Manor Farm covers nearly 1300 acres near Lechlade in Gloucestershire. Part of the farm covers an old WW2 airfield with the control tower and runways still visible, though not very productive for agriculture. In an area noted for the home of the headwaters of the River Thames and a fly fishing mecca due to its abundance of suitable gravel lakes, the farm is located between three small villages. Milking 120-150 cows year round, it produces milk for the company that supplies Sainsburys supermarkets.

The farm uses the grain produced by its cropping activities to feed the dairy cows. Maize, winter wheat (sown in autumn), winter barley, winter oilseed rape and spring wheat add either to the protein and energy needs of the cows or their fibre or bedding requirements. Some grain can be sold on for milling but most is retained. Silage clamps or pits are filled and used annually and the farm is moving to replace the plastic and tyre covers with recycled rubber holey matting. This matting is made from shredded tyres and waste rubber and is heavy but inert. There is a careful rotation of the different crops in order to meet nutritional needs of the cows and efficiently use the arable area. Fertilisers, including treated human sewage waste, are incorporated into the soil at regular intervals.

Black-faced "mule" sheep ( a crossbred prime lamb mother) are run as an additional livestock activity. The sheep produce a high percentage of twins which are aimed for the 20-22kg market. The ewes lamb in February and whilst the lambs don't make the lucrative early lamb prices, management of mating (in autumn months) is considerably easier. Early lambs are conceived in summer months when the natural fertility of the ewe is lower than in autumn. Photo periodicty at work again. The sheep are used to clean up paddocks in preparation for sowing, as weed control agents and to graze land unsuitable or too remote for the dairy herd. A late start to spring and continued dry weather has meant that David has less available grazing land for the sheep than would normally be the case.

The farm is a LEAF demonstration farm, opening up for Farm Sunday in June when townsfolk and people who seldom walk onto a farm are openly invited to have a closer look at agriculture. David expects tens to hundreds of people to walk through the dairy yards and have a tractor and trailer ride and to get a better idea of the process of producing milk. He had a number of stories of previous farm visits by schoolchildren including one young boy asking him where the milk powder was fed to the cows to get the milk.

The farm management strategy has been to retain and maintain the hedgerows and wooded areas to encourage populations of birds, bugs and predators. Crop margins are preserved and an area of cleared space near hedgerows provides the owners with a game bird area each shooting season.

David was a helpful host, understated but determined to provide the correct growing environment for the animals, crops and pastures under his management. The farm co-existed with neighbouring houses and residents and seemed to be producing milk, lamb and crops efficiently and effectively.

The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester

I met with 2 lecturers in Sustainable Agriculture at the Royal Ag College, Dr John Conway and Dr Richard Baines. John's expertise is in the area of soils and their management, while Richard is a specialist in food chains, supply and Quality Assurance programs. He had previously been to Perth, WA in 2000 to study Cattlecare and Flockcare systems.

These 2 fellows co-ordinate the post-graduate studies in Sustainable Agriculture which is nested within the International Rural Development course, with students of many and varied backgrounds enrolled. It is run over a year full-time (October-June) or 2 years part-time. It is delivered using something of a community of practice method where the students are encouraged to join in the process of learning, and by using case studies and examples from many countries and regions.

The sustainability of development of agricultural and tourism developments in Asian and African countries, and many other world regions, is at the core of the course. Streams of study include natural resource development, sutainable agricultural systems, organic agriculture, climate change and development and sustainable rural tourism. Students are encouraged to undertake in-depth case studies across the broad range of electives within the course thereby understanding the factors affecting other participants. Students undertake research projects as well as presentations and exams.

The course links in with visited farms by basing some study areas on the Integrated Farm Management principles of Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF). The college is itself undertaking regular environmental analysis of its procedures and activities and this process in some ways mirrors what the students study.

Environmental considerations at the college include the use of alternative energy supplies and investigations into anaerobic digestion (AD). Mention was made of an alternative method being trialled at a German institute which utilises a system related to the environment within a cow's rumen to produce energy from waste material. The lecturers were hopeful that the future could see a parallel trial using existing AD technology against this "next generation" method.

Harper Adams University College

Dr Martin Hare outside some of the elegant buildings at Harper Adams

A winter wheat variety trial in the fields at Harper Adams

The indoor soil barn, an area for teaching and research, including 4 WD operations
The new dairy buildings at Harper Adams

If the layers of post-school education in Australia seem a little confusing, then the complicated English higher education system beats it into a cocked hat. Universities, university colleges, colleges, further education colleges and regional colleges all fit into this sector. Universities can confer their own degrees as can university colleges, but colleges have to have their degree programs overseen by a university. Confederations and affiliations abound. University colleges are stand-alone institutions, but lack the number of enrolled students to become a university. All sorted.

Harper Adams University College is an agriculture-centred college at Newport in Shropshire, north of Birmingham. Located quite near Wales, it is a marvellous setting for a learning institution. Old stately buildings, now mostly offices, are at the centre of the campus and it is surrounded by over 200 acres of farm land.

Dr Martin Hare, Senior Lecturer in Crop Protection, outlined the background to their Ag programs and took me on a walking tour of the campus. The bulk of land and activities are under the direct control of the farm manager who has a commercial agenda (run as a farm business). Research and student involvement in farm activities are negotiated between the academic and farm management groups. Arable (cropping) areas are utilised to produce inputs for the dairy, pig and poultry production units. A new dairy milking parlour and feed stall shed were opened last year and a regional Food Academy for food technology research and development was opened this year. Manufacturers and processors can bring new ideas or problems to the academy and have lab space and assistance to solve any issues.

A leader in adoption of new technology, the college has begun to incorporate alternative energy and building components in all new buildings. Solar panels (photo-voltaic cells here) have been retrofitted to student accommodation, a new student services building is utilising water recycling systems. A large boiler unit has been constructed which uses green and farm waste as energy sources, and this will supply the heating needs of more than half the campus. An anaerobic digestion system is planned for construction to utilise slurry and perhaps outside wastes from the surrounding area.

I had a meeting with Emma Pierce-Jenkins, a lecturer in Planning who teaches in the Land Economy courses (estate agents, land managers, environmental planning). She outlined the processes that councils go through to identify likely areas for urban development and how landholders or their agents propose their units of land for development. Councils then sort through proposals and discard them based on criteria such as the suitability of land for farming (the term "best and most versatile land" dominates development discussions about farming land so that very good farm land is harder to develop), the need for housing, the supply of services, and social issues. It is a requirement that a mix of housing be planned (different sizes, different prices, different classes of owners or tenants) and that any development is based on redevelopment of old sites (brownfield) 60%, and new greenfield areas 40%. This stops the centres of older settlements being left abandoned or isolated.

Other issues for farm landholders include the rights of public footpaths (already long established here) in areas of moors, heaths and upland areas and along a coastal marine path. There are some restrictions on who can access the rights of way, with which companion animals and when, but there are real issues of liability for livestock owners especially in the connection of calving cows with walkers with dogs or horse riders. The density of population here means that access to areas of public recreation are desired by many interest groups, I think to a point beyond which the general public in Australia would not tolerate.

The dairy sheds were being filmed by a Welsh television crew and the former principal of the college was being interviewed in Welsh. It is confronting to be in an English-speaking country and witness an interview where you have no knowledge of what is being said. That's ahead for me in Germany in a week or so.

There is a strong move to place full-time students on farm for a work-based placement during their second or third year. The work is paid and in some cases undertaken on overseas farms or industries. Students often go on to employment with the same workplace sponsor, and it enhances the link between the college and industry. We can learn from this for our Certificate 4 and Diploma students at Richmond TAFE.

The college also undertakes applied research for different companies and industry groups. this is co-ordinated through the farm manager for open field trials or they are conducted in specific trial areas. Issues such as wheat variety trials and the establishment of beetle banks for predator habitat have or are being studied at the college in this manner. The college adds value to its produce by using farm produced goods through the student and staff cafeterias. I can vouch for the tenderness and taste of its beef at an excellent lunch.

Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire

The concept of describing the countryside is a little foreign to me. The bush I can describe, the city and the suburbs as well, and I could probably give someone else an idea of what I thought the outback was like. In England there are any number of descriptions of what the countryside is and what it means to people. The Agriculture UK website contains the following description

“Blessed with a temperate climate that favours both agriculture and forestry, the countryside has been shaped by our predecessors’ need for food, materials, energy and recreation. Today the same criteria remain, with agriculture the dominant use.

Around 18.7 million hectares of the UK are classified as agricultural land - over 70% of the total land area. Crops, grassland and woodland mix with other land uses to create a spectacularly rich matrix of habitats and features that are the sum of 6000 years worth of man’s activity. It’s a countryside that captures the imagination with its diversity – but one that is nonetheless deeply productive.

And just as the features of the countryside were fashioned by our farming ancestors over many generations, so today it is farmers who spend hundreds of hours of unpaid time in its maintenance. Conservatively this work has been assessed as being worth around £500 million per annum. But often, just as valuable is what is not done. Old barns and sheds may look unsightly and derelict but they provide happy homes for barn owls and swallows – leaving them undeveloped carries a high opportunity cost.”

So, really, anywhere not in a town or city can be included in the countryside. The University of Gloucestershire at Cheltenham has established the Countryside and Community Research Institute on the Park Campus site. At some time the site was to become an exotic zoological garden, and one pathway is still called the Elephant Walk. A small lake is said to have been created in the shape of the continent of Africa, but it is not clear to this observer.

The institute plays a significant role in a research cluster of related academic organisations in the central south west region of England. Researchers are involved in projects across abroad spectrum of rural policy matters, social and economic interests, planning issues, managing change in agricultural communities, food supply and food chains, and landscape and nature. My principal contact during my time visiting the Institute was Dr Chris Short who has particular interests in rural development policy and in the issues related to management of lands in common.

I was invited to present a seminar as part of the regular sharing of information within the Institute. My brief was to outline my interests, my reasons for undertaking this study trip, and the issues related to peri-urban agriculture in Australia in general and around Richmond in particular. I was warmly received and supported by the researchers and post-graduate students in attendance. I was also able to attend another seminar on devlopments in the management of the Severn estuary which is reported to have the second highest tidal difference in the world at nearly 17.4 metres.

Given a workspace in Business Manager Chris Rayfield’s office, I was able to organise components of my information into something approaching coherence. My thanks go to the staff of the Institute for their provision of space and a welcome to use it. If it wasn’t so expensive, it would be a great place to study for a Masters.

Some Random Thoughts

Having been away for about a third of my trip, I feel that I should include you, the reader, in some thoughts I have had.

• English car parks are designed for the size of small, compact European cars. Then they take away about 4 inches either side and paint lines. The result is that a slim, healthy chap like me cannot get out of any car in a car park without taking a chunk out of the nearest object be it a car, post, wall or all three
• Photo periodicity is alive and well in the UK. Having arrived from Australia during our autumn (shorter day length, no daylight saving) with the sun rising just before 7 am, I am confronted with effective daylight here now from 4.30 am (really 3.30 am) until almost 9 pm. The evening is just great, but how do you go back to sleep at 5 am when your eyes tell you that it is 7am?
• Drivers here are polite to the point of self-defeat. People wave you ahead of them out of right-turn lanes, when resuming the roadway after parking and sometimes ahead of you at roundabouts. You can feel the urge to charge ahead fall away after a few days on the road.
• Motorways here are a new challenge. I drove to Newport in Shropshire yesterday past the main roads for Birmingham, and there were sometimes 4 lanes of traffic heading in the same direction. No horn honking, no rude fingers, and big roadside services with 4 or 5 food and drink outlets all served with free wi-fi connection. Coffee is a little ordinary, but the connectivity is fine.
• Single lane, hedged country lanes are for the locals. I am in a state of absolute concern bordering on panic (here are the bricks again) when I realise that I'm the first car in a line. It is better to follow someone than lead apparently (sounds like Salsa dancing again).
• To get your Navman into a spin, drive across a car ferry. It happened in Fowey in Cornwall the other day, and the machine could not get any sense of where it was. I turned down the 'Do a U-turn whenever possible' noise after a while.
• Cask ales taste significantly better when the ambient temperature is below 20 degrees C. It takes a game drinker to approach one when the mercury rises above 25
• Losing a Twenty-20 world cup final match can be easily offset by an Australian winning a Formula One race in Europe. You get to keep an Australian winning the World Snooker championship up your sleeve to trump something else with later on.
• The English agricultural concept of 'Sustainable Practices' is significantly different from my concept, but I'm not sure yet who is corrrect or otherwise

Diversification and change: Phil and Julie Trump

Farm buildings at Higher Rixdale Farm, near Newton Abbot, Devon

Barns used for over-wintering of livestock at Till House Farm

Phil Trump amongst a group of Friesian steers

Part of a legume-rich pasture to be made into silage

Crossbred cow with Charolais-cross calf at foot

Phil and Julie Trump operate a farm-based bed and breakfast and farm stay cottage business at Higher Rixdale Farm, near Newton Abbot, Devon. this farm is 105 acres in size and is located in an area of upland heath, a threatened land area ecosystem. Attached to their house are 2 B and B rooms and in the same group of buildings there are 2 self-contained cottages which can house up to 14 people. The Trumps have been on this farm for just on 2 years as part of a diversification strategy which was put into place when their other landholding (15 miles away) was subject to development. Till House Farm is located near Rockbeare, a village adjacent to the zone around the relatively new Exeter Airport, and has been the subject of planning changes for the last 5 years. The family were dairy farmers at Till House, milking over 200 cows on a seasonal basis for the fresh milk market. The development of that part of the farm included in the new zoning has been placed on hold due to the difficult financial situation in the UK. The dairy would have needed significant investment in infrastructure to continue at or above the then current level of production, so dairying was discontinued.

Livestock at Higher Rixdale include a 30 cow Red Ruby Devon suckler herd, calving in March and April, and February-lambing sheep. The Devon cattle are a significant component in the managed conservation of the high-value upland heath areas, and are required to be grazed through winter on specific pasture areas to help manage weeds and manipulate the growth of desirable species. Soils are based on peat and sand through to areas of flint but it is well drained.

Phil's dairying background did not prepare him for sheep handling and management and commented that "sheep in England have 2 ambitions: to get out and to die. If they can do both at the same time then they are well pleased". However with the help of a dog, the mustering and moving tasks are more easily completed.

Till House Farm is 250 acres of mixed clay soils. Crops such as oats, barley and wheat are grown for on farm consumption as grain or silage (whole-crop) and oilseed rape is grown for sale. Maize is also part of the rotation of crops, but its high inputs for high return is not required as often under the beef fattening system that has replaced the dairying. Grains are stored on farm and then rolled or crimped for feeding to mostly Friesian steers and bullocks. Animals are grazed in paddocks from late April-early May until late in November. Management of the straw under the animals' feet in the winter months has become a key issue in this Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). The amount of nitrate applied to fields, the storage prior to spreading and the method of spreading are big items for any farmer in this country. Phil has a series of ponds for storage after separation of solids from liquids and a weeping wall system to further filter the nutrient-rich slurry. Application to pastures must be at a rate that will not allow any excess nitrate to enter ground or surface water systems.

Steer calves are purchased at any age (minimum 12 weeks) from a number of adjacent farms, including an immediate neighbour who is an organic dairy farmer. Cattle here have 'passports' like a chequebook, which must accompany them when they transfer from one owner to another. It is a little like a hard copy system of the NLIS scheme in NSW. Penalties apply for unaccompanied or unsigned animals. The calves are grown out over a period up to 20 months on pasture feed and supplementary grain. Animals are processed at nearby St Mirren at up to 420 kg carcass weight. Prices per beast of over £1000 can be achieved, although the cost of production is high by Australian standards. Phil applies strict temperament policies and will not retain breeding females unless they are quiet. The close proximity to a large group of 400kg animals (56 steers) while holding a feed bag is an exciting aspect to inspecting the livestock.

The suckler cow herd at Till House Farm is a mixed group of Friesian cross cows with some Devons, and these are mated to a Charolais bull. Some Devon heifers from Rixdale join with this group and these are artificially inseminated to selected Devon bulls. Calves from this herd enter the feeding program and some heifers are retained as replacements. The retention of a suckler herd is a point questioned by members of the management team as some see it as feeding twice the numbers for the same kg of sale beef (prefer to buy in feeders) while others are welded on to the continuaton of breeding calves. The occurence of Bovine Tuberculosis at Till House has meant that the farm is in a period of restriction, as animals can not be sent to a farm of higher status (no positive tests) but can still be sent for slaughter or traded between farms of similar status. Females can move from Rixdale (no positives) to Till House but not back again until 2 clear whole-herd blood tests have been taken. There is to be at least 60 days between these tests.

I had a wonderful stay at Higher Rixdale Farm, including a 1 mile walk (each way) to the pub along a hedged single country lane with a couple of dead badgers along the way to add that local flavour. Great hosts and a comfortable stay. I really have to wholeheartedly thank Phil Trump for his kind offer for me to spend most of Sunday with him at Till House Farm. It was an unexpected pleasure to share his time, thoughts and lunch. Unforgettable.

The Farm Shop Phenomenon

Could this be the breed of cattle needed at Richmond TAFE? Occombe Farm's 'Willow'

One of the informative noticeboards at Occombe Farm, an organic farm shop

Part of the dairy cow group at Taverner's 'Orange Elephant' farm shop, Kennford near Exeter

The Farm Shop at Darts Farm, near Exeter, Devon

England has seen a surge in the number of farm shop outlets over the past 20 years. Growing from a single roadside stall offering fresh-picked produce, some shops are now complex retail outlets competing with high streets and supermarkets.

Darts Farm at Topsham began life as a vegetable farm and was a centre for the supply of farm inputs including chemicals. The farm still produces fresh vegetables for sale but now has a new complex of shops including fresh produce, a butchery, delicatessen, small supermarket and a cafe and restaurant. Additionally, a kitchen and Aga cooker shop, a Pilates and health studio, a fishing shop with cafe attached and a camping and outdoors centre complete the complex which is now in a semi-suburban area. This is up at the top level of farm shops: close to a large city, on the fringe of an area noted for its recreational value and catering to a relatively high socio-economic group (judging by the make of cars in the car park). Prices for vegetables were slightly higher per kg, and the source of the produce was noted on each display. Local sources were highlighted and links to producers were given.

Taverner's 'Orange Elephant' farm shop is located about 15 minutes drive from Exeter. In a rural setting, the shop is located in amongst dairy and farm buildings. Operating for more than 12 years, the farm shop started out selling pork and eggs produced on the farm. Foot and mouth disease meant no more pigs so a dairy herd was established along with a beef suckler cow herd. The shop contains fresh fruit and vegetable section, jams, preserves and honey, and a butchery selling meat from the farm. The animals are processed at Ashburton (about 20 miles away) and other meat products are sourced from local suppliers. The Orange Elephant name derives from the South Devon cattle found in the area: noted as dual-purpose (dairy/beef) animals, they are an orange colour and are a large framed animal (see photo). Taverners are reintroducing crossbred South Devon/ Friesian cows into their milking herd, and as such are standing away from the other local dairy herds. Some of the milk from the dairy is processed into ice cream at the farm and visitors can view parts of the process while at the shop.

John, the butcher at the shop, indicated that the aim was to maintain the customer's interest beyond the novelty of the shop. Retention of the customer was linked to high quality produce, fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables and the expectation that some items were not available outside the season as opposed to the importation of goods by supermarkets. The product range is now over 5 times larger than that offered 10 years ago. There was a high standard expected of the food products sourced from outside the farm as the reputation of the shop was on the line with every item. Local district suppliers and Devon-based producers were sought for the outside lines and each product's source farm was identified.

Future plans include a walk amongst the cows in their summer fields and observation areas in the milking parlour for visitors.

Occombe Organic Farm Shop is between the seaside towns of Torquay (what would you expect to see from a Torquay hotel window?) and Paignton in south Devon. Run under organic principles, the farm includes livestock (cows, sheep, chickens) as well as community vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. The product range in the shop is almost strictly organic, with suppliers and their location easily identified. Some sources are in overseas countries as the range of products is extensive. A fully fitted cafe and restaurant are attached to the shop with outdoor area for seating and children's playing areas.

The farm has a nature and farm walk where you head off on a trail through paddocks, sorry, fields, and into woodland and natural areas. Well signposted and with well-closing gates it is about 20-30 minutes of peaceful rambling.

The farm has a keen eye on community involvement with regular planting days and workshops for farm crafts.

Bicton College: The same as us, but different

Crossbred yearlings in the feed barn

Jon Bond near some shedding constructed over 200 years ago.

Part of the Red Ruby Devon suckler cow herd in driveway paddocks.

I had the opportunity to visit Bicton College, near Exmouth, on Friday 21st May. Jon Bond is the newly-appointed academic head of Agriculture at the college, a practising farmer with many years of experience in farm and estate management in the local area. Jon showed me through the teaching and learning areas and around the farm's practical teaching areas.

The college offers the equivalent of Certificate 2, 3 and 4 in Agriculture as well as a stream in Ag engineering and mechanics. First degrees in agriculture and higher (honours level) study can also be undertaken. The same site offers Horticulture to similar levels and has a major investment in Equine studies through to degree level. An Olympic standard dressage arena forms a central part of the equine complex. The ag section is responsible for training students studying aspects of 'Countryside' which is equivalent to our parks and rangers as a lot of restoration and regeneration work takes place on farms and estates.

There is a large emphasis on practical training for students and the general farming community: I stood and watched as a farmer was re-accredited for his chemical application certificate. Students in agriculture undertake an on-farm component of either 2 weeks out of 4 for 1 year or the middle year of 3 years of study placed on a farm.

The college operates a dairy of about 150 cows Ayrshire x (Jersey x Holstein/Friesian) and uses beef-cross calves from this herd to feed and fatten. They also run a suckler (vealer) herd of Red Ruby Devons (see photo) on a site of over 300 acres. They run Texel-cross sheep with some Blue-face Leicester rams used as well.

The campus and the courses felt to me like an amalgamation of Richmond TAFE and the adjoining University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury. 1500 students in all courses, with about half living in halls of residence or self-contained units on campus. The driveway was lined with monkey puzzle trees which are relatives of our Bunya and Norfolk Island pines. It was a very familiar sight. There is an extensive botanic gardens next door which had previously been part of the original Clifton Estate but was separated due to some long-past family issue.

The college has begun the process of applying for 'Green' funding to create an environmental training centre where alternative energy sources are configured and adapted to on-farm use. Materials for construction and insulation of the centre are to be able to be changed and modified so that students of agriculture and construction can benefit from the process. Management of slurry wastes and excess water and possible further treatment will be considered. This sounds familiar, right?

It was a great insight for me into the operation of an educational facility with adequate physical resources backed up with a practical teaching program that Jon hopes will deliver students with industry-ready competence.

The Devon County Show: Bowler hats are back in style!

I spent Thursday of last week at the Devon County Show near Exeter. Many similarities between our Royal Easter Show but a big change in choice of hat for judges and stewards (see photos). By far the biggest representation was in the Red Ruby Devon ring for beef cattle with the judge having 24 junior bulls to sort out. South Devon, a few Shorthorns, lots of Dexters but much smaller individuals than ours, and a group of British Blue, British Charolais, British Simmental and plenty of British Limousin. These all looked similar to their French and Belgian equivalents with extremes in type (muscling, size) being favoured.

A wide range of sheep breeds on display with many obscure pure breeds such as Blue-faced Leiccesters and Shetlands. Three days of the show with judging of breeds on the first day, interbreeds and champions on the second day and grand parades of all exhibits on the Saturday and Sunday.

The broader trade displays are very similar to ours: power companies, telcos, massage chairs, private schools. Great information for farmers in the areas of alternative power sources, anaerobic digestors and water filtration plants for farms or for larger schemes. I could have talked slurry all day with the anaerobic representative, but when there are 80 local beers and ciders in casks in the local beer tent, needs must.

There were many single-focus groups hanging their shingle out for a response: the countryside groups (hunting, shooting and fishing), bird preservers, ramblers and walking groups and the cuddly-animal huggers. I did, although, move on to something else when the falconer, mounted on a 'farty' white horse, watched in amazement as his second expensive falcon disappeared out of sight. I'm sure they came back eventually.

Badgers are big news over here, as they are protected as well as vectors in the spread of bovine tuberculosis which if your animals test positive for it means you are under an enforced quarantine for a period of time. The general public don't like seeing badgers killed, but the disease problem is minimised by reducing the badger numbers. A simple connection really.

I talked to some cattle breeders and some sheep people and they seemed to agree that you needed a marketing edge to get your product out into the buying public. People sell boxes of their own 'branded' meat, they process their own milk into cheese or ice cream or they sell through a single outlet like a farm shop. Value adding to farm produce is a very big deal.

Plymouth University: The Intersection of Geography and Agriculture

I spent one and a half days at the University of Plymouth, Geography Department, talking with academics and researchers about the planning issues in near-urban agricultural communities. Prof Geoff Wilson has developed descriptions of farmers as 'productionists' (concerned with growing more, quicker) through to multifunctional farmers (concerned and involved with many aspects of farming including environmental management through to farm development). Dr Richard Yarwood helped me tounderstand the planning processes at work in south western England, and outlined the conflict between the need for affordable housing and the lack of available land. Several new developments near Plymouth are 'infill' sites between older developed sites and a rejuvenation of land near dock sites to provide new residential opportunities. Many of the staff I met had either studied or undertaken projects in Australia or New Zealand and were able to help me put the contrasts between the Australain experiences and those in the UK.

On The Farm: What do the British do?

The impressive farm house and buildings at Aishe Barton
Andrew Baker checking calving cows
Winter sown barley in head
Red Ruby Devon cows and calves

The business end of the trip has started. Picked up a sporty, bright red, brand new Astra 2.0l diesel yesterday in Exeter. The Navman and I had some issues finding the village of Silverton but I don't remember typing in "find all tiny country lanes" as a directive. Tractors, sprayers, silage carts all coming the other way at speed in an absolute miniscule space. Reverse is almost the new forward.

The farm at Silverton, in the middle Exe river valley is 660 acres, about half cropped and the rest either for a herd of Devon cattle (what else in this county) and Dorper sheep (self-shearing or maybe just untidy individuals) with a lot of country set aside for woodlots, regeneration areas for food for birds and animals. The farmer, Andrew Baker, is part of the LEAF organisation (Linking Environment and Farming) which educates the public through a series of Farm Open days and visits. He is passionate about the way he and his assistant farm the country, and coming from a non-farm background (engineering) looked for the most appropriate methods rather than just carry on with tradition.
He has established an amazing length of hedgerows (over 13km) on the fence lines to encourage insects and resident birds for pest control during cropping phases, and pointed out over 20 different bird species during our drive. Crop margins of over 2 metres are left inside every cropped paddock and maintained to give grasses a chance to grow without the effect of sprays and it allows birds to have a shorter hunting zone outside of the crop.
He has a 25 metre tall wind generator on top of a hill and I really would like to see more of these in Australian paddocks. He did mention at one stage that the noise of the vanes moving was "the sound of money".
What we call canola is still known as oilseed rape here, and it is outstanding in its yellow flowers at the moment. Wheat is not yet in head, but barley is fully in head and oats still in the leafy stages. Most cereal grain grown on the farm is retained then put through a roller to provide feed for shedded livestock in winter. The cows are particularly quiet as they are around people big time when they are in the barns over winter. The sheeps ran up to him when he whistled, and they use quiet ones to help load the others into trailers for movement between paddocks.
The farm is in 8 different blocks within 3 miles of the house except a hay paddock on the river about 5 miles away.
The house has, reputedly, the longest thatched roof in Devon and due to the fact that there is a barn attached to one end, it is supposed to be the largest semi-detached dwelling in southern England (it were never proven!).
I will attach some photos of the farm
Cheers
Alan

In the UK and ready to start

Saturday 16th May
I arrived this morning after about 24 hours of flying broken by 2 hours in the Singapore terminal. Very little sleep.
About 7 degrees Celcius in London, overcast but warming through the day.
FA Cup day so lots of Chelsea supporters from early on, then a few around the pubs to celebrate an underwhelming 1-0 win.
Off to Exmouth tomorrow and then a hire car and off to speak with the first farmer on Monday.
Cheers
Alan

Just About to Leave

Getting ready to leave, flight out at 3.15pm Friday to Singapore then on to London.