Meet the NFU Uplands Forum 2022-2024

The farm is situated in the Bowland AONB in Lancashire. It has 2500 breeding ewes consisting of Swaledales and Mules. Lambs are both sold finished and for breeding. Grazing cattle are also summered. The farm currently participates in Environmental Stewardship.

He says: “Brexit has the potential to impact most severely on livestock farmers. I am very conscious that keeping food at the heart of new policy changes must be our priority.”

She has a herd of 100 pedigree Belted Galloway and a flock of 500 ewes; the common rights are pivotal to her business as she grazes cattle sheep and ponies on two Dartmoor commons.

She is an administrator to several Commons Association HLS Agreements and a Quarterman for the Dartmoor Commoners Council, providing an opportunity to liaise with upland farmers and other interested parties.

She also has a HND in agriculture, a BSc (Hons) in Rural Business Management and a Research Masters: the subjects were associated with the uplands and environmental stewardship agreements.

The farm runs a pedigree flock of Swaledales and breeds Swaledales and North of England Mules; pedigree Swaledale ewes are kept within the flock as replacements and males are sold either to Marks and Spencer or as shearlings for breeding. A closed herd of 40 beef cows made up of pedigree British Blues and commercial Limousin and Blue and Limousin crosses also keep Richard busy on the farm.

Richard is concerned about the viability of upland farming in future years without access to support payments and the necessity of graziers working together to save the commons.

She has been involved with the NFU at local/county level and regional level with a particular interest in upland issues, livestock, and agricultural politics.

In the Peak District uplands they face a number of challenges, whether it is the volatility of cattle/sheep prices, the low uptake of the present Countryside Stewardship scheme, encouraging young entrants into farming, and bovine TB to name a few.

A flock of 280 registered Swaledale ewes and 24 pedigree Aberdeen Angus suckler cows are run on 726 acres of mainly moorland.

The very high-lying farm has an annual rainfall in excess of 70 inches which contributes to nutrient leaching and exacerbates a major heavy metal pollution problem from old mine workings.

Richard is also on the Council of the NFU, Northern Regional Director of FCN and represents upland farming on many other local and regional bodies.

Running a flock of 400 Lleyn breeding ewes, the farm also finishes 250 commercial cattle, predominantly purebred Aberdeen Angus, as stores and has remained TB free since 2001, a rarity for the West Country.

The farm has been in a range of agri-environment schemes over the years and the common land is currently in HLS, with 50 Exmoor ponies feeding into the scheme.

Since handing over the majority of the business to his son, Robin spends his spare time sitting on various boards to fight for the uplands and holds numerous positions within industry; he is chairman of the Exmoor National Parks Authority and the Commoners Association as well as Deputy Chair of the Uplands Alliance.

He also has a herd consisting of 800 cattle, predominantly Belgian Blues and Angus, all purchased as calves and sold as stores. The farm has a strong emphasis on maximising production from grass, with wintering outdoors on kale. A small part of the farm is in Countryside stewardship. 

Graham is currently NFU Ludlow's Branch Chairman and Chairman of the local Parish Council. In his spare time, he enjoys a game of 5-a-side football. 

The couple farm 700 breeding ewes with all lambs sold store or for breeding and 70 pedigree Luing cows, steers sold at 12 months in the store and surplus heifers sold for breeding. About a third of the farm is in an upland offer, mid tier countryside stewardship with the remainder entered into the SFI pilot scheme, from 1st January, 2022.

Dave says unless there is a drastic change in direction with the new subsidies it will be a disaster, with upland tenanted farmers hit the worst. This was his main motivation for joining the uplands forum.

They also have 250 suckler cows all with followers which are retained on farm for finishing or sold as breeding stock, as well as a small herd of Dartmoor ponies.

Mat actively grazes over 5 commons with hefted stock and therefore has considerable experience of agreements on commons as well as on the home farm.

He is also a director of Dartmoor Farmers a marketing group that sells premium beef and lamb into select Morrisons stores as well as retailers and wholesales. This experience gives Mat a commercial mindset and in depth knowledge of commons which will be welcome to the forum.

They have 1200 sheep and around 50 suckler cattle - mainly beef shorthorn with Blue Grays wintered out on the hill. They aim for low production costs but high output.

Lewis performance records his Swaledales with signet. They weigh the lambs at birth, eight weeks and 21 weeks, then backfat scan to get an estimated breeding value. Their focus is on improvements to the carcass and also milk production in the ewes.

As the youngest member of the forum Lewis is excited to be able to give the next generation view and help shape hill farming at such a crucial time.