The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2015 - Issue 39 | Page 43

J C Lister Farms
On a Sunday when we’re not
producing in the feed mill it
switches back into the National
Grid. All the pig units benefit
too as they are running 24
hours a day and they’re using
the power all the time.
“We’re all about providing
sustainability for our crops in the
ground and our livestock. We’re
presently tape irrigating where
you put what is in effect like a
hosepipe between two rows of
potatoes and pump in at a real
low pressure. This dribbles away
into the crop so that you don’t
get evaporation and means you
use far less water. We were very
pleased with the results last year
and are looking to see how it
does again this year. We’ve also
a new farrowing house to go
up where we will be utilising air
source heat pumps.
“We also have a huge amount
of muck and slurry. One of the
other sustainability areas we’ve
started with is having mixers in
our slurry tanks to try and get the
slurry all the same for out in the
fields. That means we’re able to
grow crops using less fertiliser
and the good news is that there’s
something in the slurry that is
giving us a boost because our
crops are making better yields
than those fields where we are
using artificial manufactured
fertiliser,” David explained.
Precision farming is another
area that David has taken on
board.
“We’re on with Trimble and
have a mast at Milby that serves

this area. It’s another further
help in ensuring that you keep
down costs and we’re using the
N Sensor for fertiliser application
and we use autosteer. My
nephew, George who is now
working here did his thesis on
controlled traffic but with us
putting slurry and muck on fields
and leading all the straw off it
can be difficult to keep down the
tramlines, but maybe on certain
fields we ought to adopt it.”
Clearly, nothing is ever
discounted as an idea with the
Listers. They have a fantastic
farming operation and now a
wonderful farm shop. What next
we wonder?
THE LISTERS
David is married to Kate and
they have three children –
Grace; Jonty who is in his last
year at Newcastle University;
and Florence, who is currently
studying for her ‘A’ levels.
Richard is married to Julia
and they have two girls –
Chloe, studying psychology at
Bath University; and Bethany,
who has recently finished at
Birmingham University.
David and Richard have
two sisters – Tory who lives at
Farlington and looks after the
pigs and farm at Greenlands. It
is her son George, one of three
children, who works with David
and Richard. Their other sister
Virginia, lives in Canada.
David and Richard’s mum is
Madge who still takes an active
interest in the farm.

Peace of mind you have the right cover for
your farm
Call 01845 522 337
for a quote or pop in
NFU Thirsk,
Units 6/7,
Concept Court,
Thirsk,
YO7 3NY

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