The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2020 - Issue 68 | Page 41

BEECH HOUSE FARM 41
• APR/MAY 2020
Alastair’s information technology also
includes having his tractor kitted out with
GPS. This allows him to be as selective
over his fertiliser spreading and spraying.
But it’s not all about IT. Alastair has also
found great help from fellow farmers
Richard Woodsworth of Hazlewood who
handles all his baling and Richard Wilson
of Beckwithshaw who looks after all
sheep shearing.
‘I used to contract bale with Richard
(Woodsworth),’ says Alastair. ‘Richard
helped me immensely when I started,
now I’m helping him with technology and
getting Farm Assured as we are.’
When Alastair started he took on some
Zwartbles sheep on the basis of supplying
dark fleeces to his brother-in-law James
Laxton’s mill in Baildon but found the
fleeces weren’t good enough quality.
‘Today we breed for a fat lamb out of
a Swaledale. I’ve found that’s better for
me than a Mule and we’re now working
more that way. It’s all about adapting
to different circumstances. The day-to-
day running of the farm across the 230
acres and moorland is down to me, with
support from Julie and Susan. Julie’s
Auntie Mary helps during lambing. Ian
Smith comes to do all our scanning.’
‘I buy the best quality tups I can without
going stupid. I’ll go to Carlisle for Beltex tups
and Skipton for Swaledales and Blue Faced
Leicesters. I can’t leave that to Shearwell!’
Wishing the Alastair Jenkinson of Beech House Farm continued success.
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