Event
Transitioning Farm Soils at Mindrum Farm
Join the Soil Association at Mindrum Farm for a guided farm walk focusing on how Farm Manager Tom Fairfax and team have approached improving soils as part of whole farm system change.
This event explores changing systems on farm, with practical actions for soil health, insight into the transition to organic, and a lively panel on approaching change. It includes a light lunch and refreshments.
Mindrum Farm
Set in over 1,150 acres in the foothills of the Cheviots in Northumberland, Mindrum Estate is a mixed farm making the most of organic and regenerative principles to build farm resilience both financially and environmentally. The farm produces organic lamb and beef, and grows a diverse range of organic cereals. Over 50 hectares of woodland and semi-natural habitats provide a foundation for biodiversity and integrated land management. An ambitious five-year agroforestry programme is underway, aimed at increasing productivity, improving ecological function, and enhancing long-term farm resilience. Mindrum is also an active centre for education and public engagement.
What should you expect from the event?
The day will start with a farm walk focussing on how Mindrum Farm are approaching improving soils as part of whole farm system change.
After lunch the event will look at farm transitions from a different angle – Systems vs Genetics – Are you, your animals, or system having to work too hard in your current set up? If so, where do you make change when considering building resilience and profit? Hear from an experienced panel about how they have approached change and if its system or genetics that they champion.
On the panel:
- Joseph Henry – Joe is an RCVS recognised advanced practitioner in ‘Sheep health and production’, Junior Vice President of the Sheep Veterinary Society and has trained vets nationwide in beef and sheep medicine. He is committed to using all this experience to continue to help Northumberland’s farmers increase their productivity and profitability by getting optimum output and reducing the impact of disease with particular emphasis on forage based systems.
- Bill Elliot – Mr Elliot was born in the Cheviots and has farmed there with his wife for almost four decades. He is now retired (although still keeps his hand in) after a notable career as a producer of some of the UK’s leading NCC and Blackface sheep.
- James Standen – James is Farms Director for Newcastle University Farms. The University has two farms, Cockle Park and Nafferton, which are farmed as one unit with a dairy herd, breeder finisher pig unit and arable enterprise. James also farms in partnership with his wife on a tenanted arable and livestock farm with a holiday let and fishing lakes, is an appointee on the NFU Combinable Crops Board, a member of the Farm Management Board at Plumpton College, a council member of the Institute of Agricultural management, and a Governor of Askham Bryan College.
- Jen Oglesby – Jen and Rich Oglesby run Colt Park Farm, a 585ha farm located near Rothbury. This upland breeding farm has a strong focus on pasture management and producing quality stock on a pasture-based system. Stock includes 2000 ewes comprising of Lleyn, NZ Romney and Easycare, with a plan to move to a full wool shedding flock. They have 120 Angus breeding cows, which are outwintered, and 100 Red Deer hinds.
Bring your questions to the experts and make the most of the opportunity for networking with local farmers.
Agenda:
- 10.00am – Arrival, registration and refreshments
- 10.30am – Farm walk
- 12.30pm – Lunch
- 1.30pm – Panel Session – System vs Genetics
- 2.45pm – Closing remarks
- 3.00pm – Finish
This event is part of the Agroecology at Scale Programme, part of the ground-breaking Farm to Fork Partnership between Ocado and Soil Association which has been established to help transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world.
