Our Beliefs
The farm, which is nearly 3000 acres in size, lies between 500’ and 1100’ above sea level. It is nearly all grassland and has a balance of livestock to minimise disease problems and maximise production.
The input that has the greatest effect on grass yield in Nitrogen. Prior to organic conversion much of the added Nitrogen came from ammonum nitrate which is produced from oil. During the 3 years following conversion many of the cultivable fields were re-seeded with grass mixtures containing a high proportion of clover seeds. Many of the uncultivable fields had clover seed broadcast onto them. Clover is a leguminous plant i.e. it has nodules of bacteria on its roots and these bacteria are nitrogen fixing, that is they convert atmospheric nitrogen to soluble nitrate that can be absorbed by the plant. This use of clover has helped maintain production without the use of expensive fertiliser.
Better use too is made of our animal manure. This is now stored through the winter and applied in early spring and again after silage and hay have been removed, the 2 times of the year when the grass is most in need of nutrients.
To learn more about our different farming enterprises select one of the following:
The input that has the greatest effect on grass yield in Nitrogen. Prior to organic conversion much of the added Nitrogen came from ammonum nitrate which is produced from oil. During the 3 years following conversion many of the cultivable fields were re-seeded with grass mixtures containing a high proportion of clover seeds. Many of the uncultivable fields had clover seed broadcast onto them. Clover is a leguminous plant i.e. it has nodules of bacteria on its roots and these bacteria are nitrogen fixing, that is they convert atmospheric nitrogen to soluble nitrate that can be absorbed by the plant. This use of clover has helped maintain production without the use of expensive fertiliser.
Better use too is made of our animal manure. This is now stored through the winter and applied in early spring and again after silage and hay have been removed, the 2 times of the year when the grass is most in need of nutrients.
To learn more about our different farming enterprises select one of the following: