Who We Are
Lowther Park Farms Ltd is the “in-hand” farming operation of the Lowther family. The family rents out many farms but by having its own farming company it well understands the challenges facing its farming tenants.
The farm is approxiamtely 3000 acres in size (the equivalent of 1100 football fields). The whole farm is managed organically which means low inputs, extensive, high welfare standards and nature-friendly.
We have 300 suckler cows and 5500 breeding ewes
1000 organic free-range chickens are produced each week, and organic free-range turkeys are grown for Christmas. The chickens all originate from eggs that have been laid on the farm by organically managed hens. Surplus day-old chicks are sold to other organic producers (Contact details).
During the Foot and Mouth crisis of 2001 the farm lost its sheep flock as part of the “preventative cull” which was effective in so far as it prevented the desease reaching the 1200 cattle that were on the farm at the time. The board of directors decided that a change of direction was needed and so the farm entered conversion to organic production. This process takes 2 years and thus the lamb and calf crop of 2003 were the first to be certified as organic.
The farm is audited by Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd (OF&G), one of a handful of companies authorised by the Government to supervise organic farming in the UK (other organisations include The Soil Association and the Scottish Organic Producers Association).
In the words of OF&G, Organic Farming is…..”a sustainable farming system that combines modern science and technology with traditional farming practices to maintain the long-term fertility of the soil and use less of the Earth’s finite resources whilst producing high quality, nutritious food.”
The main difference between conventional farming and organic farming is that the use of chemical fertilisers and chemicals is banned. Most fertilisers and chemicals originate from oil, the reserves of which are starting to give concern.
The use of Genetically Modified (GM) products is also banned, as is the use of animals feedstuffs that been chemically extracted (this is the most efficient method of extrating feed ingredients and the majority of UK anmals eat feed produced in this manner).
However the organic regulations are more exacting than just the enforcement of the above prohibitions. Every detail of production is audited including the use of animal medicines, availability of organic pasture to range, the use of appropriate crop rotations, appropriate storage and use of animal manure etc. The complete growers manual can be viewed on the OF&G website www.organicfarmers.org.uk
The farm is approxiamtely 3000 acres in size (the equivalent of 1100 football fields). The whole farm is managed organically which means low inputs, extensive, high welfare standards and nature-friendly.
We have 300 suckler cows and 5500 breeding ewes
1000 organic free-range chickens are produced each week, and organic free-range turkeys are grown for Christmas. The chickens all originate from eggs that have been laid on the farm by organically managed hens. Surplus day-old chicks are sold to other organic producers (Contact details).
During the Foot and Mouth crisis of 2001 the farm lost its sheep flock as part of the “preventative cull” which was effective in so far as it prevented the desease reaching the 1200 cattle that were on the farm at the time. The board of directors decided that a change of direction was needed and so the farm entered conversion to organic production. This process takes 2 years and thus the lamb and calf crop of 2003 were the first to be certified as organic.
The farm is audited by Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd (OF&G), one of a handful of companies authorised by the Government to supervise organic farming in the UK (other organisations include The Soil Association and the Scottish Organic Producers Association).
In the words of OF&G, Organic Farming is…..”a sustainable farming system that combines modern science and technology with traditional farming practices to maintain the long-term fertility of the soil and use less of the Earth’s finite resources whilst producing high quality, nutritious food.”
The main difference between conventional farming and organic farming is that the use of chemical fertilisers and chemicals is banned. Most fertilisers and chemicals originate from oil, the reserves of which are starting to give concern.
The use of Genetically Modified (GM) products is also banned, as is the use of animals feedstuffs that been chemically extracted (this is the most efficient method of extrating feed ingredients and the majority of UK anmals eat feed produced in this manner).
However the organic regulations are more exacting than just the enforcement of the above prohibitions. Every detail of production is audited including the use of animal medicines, availability of organic pasture to range, the use of appropriate crop rotations, appropriate storage and use of animal manure etc. The complete growers manual can be viewed on the OF&G website www.organicfarmers.org.uk