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grass quicker in the unpredictable Yorkshire weather . The New Holland chopper is fully equipped with additive tank .
They are getting more and more calls for their Spreadwise Hydraulic Slurry Mixer , this is a very versatile piece of equipment , works quickly and mixes the slurry to prime status for easier spreading .
Parkin Hall Farm today now comprises of 350 acres - all under grass . The grass is primarily cut for sileage . They are just in the throes of replacing their current sileage clamp as the old one is starting to perish and split . The new one will be housed in a state of the art shed . It will be erected by local company JC Engineering . Richard tells me that making sileage in the dry is so much easier and you can also make much better quality as well . Comment has been made on his sileage quality , so much so he is thinking of entering into a sileage competition ! “ It ’ s all a case of using good grass and clean sward ”. The quality of the grass they grow has been considerably improved recently by the grazing
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of a sheep herd from Pateley Bridge , the sheep clean the land allowing good quality grass to grow . The new shed will also have some new cattle pens as well .
Richard , Lucy and Emily are very proud of their dairy herd which comprises 230 pure British Friesians including followers . They are all put with an Angus Bull and second time with a Friesian . As you so often find with farmers who are passionate about their herds , some of them wind up with pet names . Lucy and Emily were calling to quite a number by name . The herd ’ s diet is complimented by the excellent supplementary feed from Massey ’ s . They actually have a healthy 20-year-old who is now classed as a pet as she is no longer milked !
Richard , like his father , has always had a long-term plan for continual development and renewal on the farm . A new milking parlour has been recently installed , both Richard and Lucy remarked on how pleased they are with it . As Lucy was telling me , “ It was worth saving up for ,
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it ’ s an amalgamation of two parlours we bought - Pennine did a great job installing them for us . It meant we could streamline and greatly speed up the process , from previously milking in blocks six abreast . We are milking about 70 at the moment .”
Years ago , they used to sell to the then Milk Marketing Board , then in the early 90 ’ s they decided to move to Northern Foods , which became Express Dairies , subsequently then sold to Arla . They have a very good contract with Arla . It gives them security , even with Arla setting the fluctuating price - Richard likes the 13th bonus payment which is always a pleasant surprise .
I asked them all about the future . Lucy said they have just started a suckler herd with five head and a bull for them . Emily is keen to do as well at college as Lucy and get back to the farm full time . Richard and Lucy said they want to keep things pretty much as they are now , there is always room for some more local contracting , although Richard said , “ We seem to get more calls all the time for contracting ”. Right now , the focus is on the new shed and clamp , maintaining the dairy herd and developing the suckler herd .
What came across as we talked , is how much they all enjoy what they do , the
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Proud supplier to Richard Wood and Parkin Hall Farm , wishing them and their team continued success
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various challenges it throws up and how no two days are the same . Standing talking to Richard , Lucy and Emily , one cannot fail to feel inspired . As I made a move to go , Lucy bid a cheery farewell , leaping into the New Holland and disappeared down the lane with trailer behind . You would not think she was only 20 !
Richard must be very proud to have Lucy and Emily to work with and eventually succeed him at Parkin Hall and carry onto the fourth generation .
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