The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2019 - Issue 62

54 SLEDMERE ESTATE drilling in either season we’ve now gone completely for malting and are presently growing Craft winter barley and Laureate spring barley all destined for Munton’s at Flamborough. Oilseed rape makes up around 150 acres. Our break crop is vining peas for Bird’s Eye and this year we’ve 220 acres. We’re with The Green Pea Compa- ny pea vining group and are currently the highest yielding member of Gold group. We also have 500 acres of permanent grassland including 95 acres of parkland in front of Sledmere House.’ Baling is handled by an outside con- tractor who round bales all the silage for the livestock and square bales the barley straw. ‘Every other operation on the arable side is handled by the team,’ says James. ‘From the mowing of silage, hay turning and all cultivation and combining. I have Nigel Clark as ploughman and general farm worker and Gavin Kemp who drives the combine and sprayer.’ Since James took up his position the live- stock numbers on the farm have increased with currently 92 breeding cows and 535 breeding sheep where previously they numbered 18 and 250 respectively. James’ stockman Richard Clifford certainly has his hands full. ‘Our suckler herd is a commercial enter- prise with Simmental, Charolais and Here- ford X cows put to our Blonde bull Glad- stone who will serve 45 cows per year and has been with us five years; and two South Devon bulls. Gladstone has been brilliant. We bought him from breeder Dickie Ward of Allerston. It will be with a heavy heart when he has to go. The herd is high health and our beef goes into a major supermar- ket chain at around 650 kilos or 18 months. We’ve also purchased from local breeder Steve Stubbins but we largely breed our own replacements.’ Sheep are predominantly Suffolk X Chevi- ots that work well on Sledmere’s dales and vales with Charollais, Mashams and Mules also. James buys in about 100 replacement gimmers each year and lambing starts in mid-March. Red deer have become synonymous with Sledmere over the past decade and the herd now runs to 220 breeding hinds roaming freely in the parkland. While they are great eye candy for visitors they also have a commercial purpose. ‘Careful handling and working with them quietly is the key. We are part of the First Venison producer group producing for a major supermarket chain – and we are currently in the top three of their growers. The deer like fresh grass so we move them around our various paddocks. They’re trained to the bag for moving from one field to the next. We also use a special barley blend Sledmere Mix that is put together for us by Peter Rhodes Feed Services of Storwood. They are kept in sheds during the winter and we have also developed our APR/MAY 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk ‘ Since James took up his position the livestock numbers on the farm have increased with currently 92 breeding cows and 535 breeding sheep ’ own unique handling system that fellow deer farmers have come to view.’ ‘Everyone here is very much hands-on. There are always jobs to be done espe- cially fencing. Last year we invested in a great piece of kit with our new Bryce Suma post knocker as well as also purchasing an excellent Profencer.’ Events on Sledmere Estate have become extremely popular with the annual Tribfest music festival, the National Caravan Rally the estate hosted last year and the National Caravan & Camping Association is booked in for its annual event next year – adding weddings to the equation both in the house and the wedding barn, plus other activities and events sees James and his team active on more than just the farming front. ‘I’m quite popular when it comes to events because I’m the guy with all the machinery. I’m first point of contact for people like Ed of Tribfest, the caravan event organisers and the brides and grooms. It’s wonderful to be able to help everyone with their special events and we all love it because we have such a massive amount of pride in the estate.’ ‘We love challenges and my view is to say yes first and then work out how to do something. Everything is possible.’ James’ upbringing saw him the son of a farm manager on another much smaller estate in Yorkshire. He’s delighted that the traditions he grew up with are being upheld and maintained at Sledmere, which he counts as his spiritual home. ‘I always wanted to be here. I remember as a child going to the main house at Christ- mas for drinks and a carol service. Here at Sledmere Sir Tatton Sykes more than keeps that tradition. The whole team on the estate is invited to Sledmere House where Sir Tatton and Stephen (Greenfield) say some kind words. It’s heartwarming and show that we are all one big family.

The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2019 - Issue 62 | Page 54