The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2015 - Issue 39 | Page 40

J C Lister Farms This year we are growing Revelation, Santiago, Skyfall and JB Diego. It’s our first time with Revelation and it is looking well in the field so far. Nearly everything we grow goes into our own feed mill for our own stock but we’re growing 400 acres of Skyfall this year hopefully to go into breadmaking for Warburtons. Our land at Newby Hall averaged around four tonnes/ acre last year where the wheat seemed to suit the lighter ground. At Ellenthorpe where the ground is a bit heavier it came in around 3.8 tonnes. “We grow 1,500 acres of barley, mainly Volume and a little bit of Cassia. We’re generally averaging around four tonnes but we push Volume as hard as we can and have had up to five tonnes/acre. Oil seed rape is just around 100 acres this year and is all down to Charger. It averages around 1.75 tonnes.” Potatoes are another major crop with around 330 acres being grown. David grows the variety Royal for McCains; and the varieties Arsenal, Saturna, Lady Rosetta and BR808 for PepsiCo (Walkers). Beans are also grown that fit in with the rotation. There was never any great master plan to get to where David and Richard have got to today, where they now employ a team of around 70 across the whole farming operation, of which half will be involved with the pigs across the various sites. Each separate pig unit keeps its own team and to keep disease down the staff do not move from one to another. Across the various units they now have 3,300 breeding sows and all progeny is taken through to finishing. Their meat, apart from being sold by Grace and her team in the farm shop, is usually destined for the likes HIGH QUALITY PIG BUILDINGS Designed and Built for Top Performance Invest in your future with ARM Buildings; FARROWING FINISHING Prices from £2,300/sow place, including site work Easy transportation - arrives flat-packed Flexible design – no width restriction Easy access to sows and litters Level access – no extra ramps to build Excellent long-term after-sales support WEANER GROWER Transform productivity; watch your costs tumble. Hygienic surfaces, high insulation values, robust laminated panel design. EFFICIENT modern ScanAir ventilation, all contribute to significantly improve performance, lower labour costs, and lower maintenance costs. Competitive pricing means low capital costs. Tax Efficient 85% classed as plant equipment. 25 Year guarantee on external FLEXSTONE cladding. Health Check contract for the ventilation equipment available. Kit form or complete package, including baseworks and erection, all with our own direct labour force. Farmex Dicam controllers with Barn Report monitoring. ScanAir motorised inlets linked to extraction fans. Rotecna plastic slats with a 5 Year Warranty. For more information please contact Roger Smith; Email: roger.smith@armbuildings.co.uk Tel: 01889 575055 www.armbuildings.co.uk Rydal Estate, Colton Road, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 3HF 40 Apr/May 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk