The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60 | Page 46

46 APPROACH FARM DEC/JAN 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk SOIL MATTERS MORE THAN EVER AT RICCALL Chris Berry talks with Angus Gowthorpe at Approach Farm. LOOKING after the soil is a major issue for world farming right now as talk is of industrial farming decimating our ability to produce food and hopefully what will be scaremongering over the number of har- vests scientists believe are left before we plunge into nutrition crisis. There is also the additional negative publicity of irrevoca- ble damage to the landscape and harming wildlife. Whether we simply dismiss the hyper- bole or not there is evidence to suggest the words have some credence and in Yorkshire and across the UK there are now many farmers who have not just taken on board the message of looking after the soil, they are actively doing something about looking after it not just for now but with thought for future generations. Angus Gowthorpe was recently named runner up as national Soil Farmer of the Year. He farms at Approach Farm at Holli- carrs near Riccall, just a handful of miles south of York, which was part of the Escrick Park Estate until his family purchased its 230 acres they had previously tenanted, his father and grandfather having moved from Wistow in 1944. Since the purchase Biobest HiHealth Herdcare All the support you need Helping improve herd health & profitability Meeting breed society requirements BVD, IBR, Neosporosis, Leptospirosis & Johne’s Testing Full veterinary support and advice The cattle health team at Biobest provide services to cattle herds throughout the UK and Ireland. We welcome enquiries from new and established breeders. Contact us to discuss how we can help you: 0131 440 2628 (Edinburgh Office) 01856 878 293 (Orkney Office) www.hihealthherdcare.co.uk 35 years ago a further 155 acres have been purchased in various lots and another 30 acres of permanent grass is rented for their pedigree Salers cattle, their livestock enter- prise that also sees Angus demonstrating his desire to look after the soil. ‘I’ve always been very aware of soil on our farm and that we were moving towards more horsepower and cultivations to get a good seedbed every year. To me it seemed daft, particularly walking across heavy land at harvest with what had become a perfect seedbed, that we should be ripping it up again by ploughing or dragging, spending an absolute fortune on diesel and wasting time trying to recreate what had already a been good seedbed.’ ‘We grow wheat, barley, oilseed rape and spring beans, spring linseed and spring oats, all combinable crops, across around 300 acres. Wheat makes up our largest crop growing a four-way variety mixture of group 4 hard biscuit wheat made up of Shabras, Crispin, Kerrin and Gravity for high disease resistance. It is sold into various mills in Yorkshire and Lancashire. We store the wheat, oats and linseed on farm. Our winter barley is either kept for cattle feed or sold at harvest. Our land varies from blow SELBY LIVESTOCK AUCTION MART LTD “YORKSHIRE’S FRIENDLY LIVESTOCK MART” Weekly Sales of Fatstock - Wednesdays Pigs 9am - Sheep 9.45am - Cattle & Cows 10.30am Store Stock - Saturdays Pigs 9.15am - Sheep 9.45am - Cattle 10.45am On alternate Saturdays Fur, Feathers & Miscellaneous items at 9:30am Entries taken on the day and from 9am to 4pm on Friday prior to sale Pleased to be associated with Angus Gowthorpe of Approach Farm and wish him continued success Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected] www.selbymart.co.uk Auctioneer Richard Haigh 0776 8594535