The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2018 - Issue 58 | Page 52
52 CROSBY COURT GRANGE
AUG/SEP 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
74013 - JohnWalker.pdf 1 29/06/2018 11:17:43
the farm as I make all the calf pens and gates.
It was the building of a new milking parlour
that got me a lot more in with the cows.’
Gearing up the dairy herd and reposition-
ing the farm for the future is clearly a matter
for the whole Baker team and James tells of
where they are at presently.
‘Like many other dairy farmers if we were
to take out what people class as a proper
wage the farm probably couldn’t survive.
We take what we are happy to live with. If
things get tight like they were particularly
tight two years ago you manage and do
other things. When we were down at 11p per
litre I worked elsewhere feeding cows here
and then working over at Thimbleby Estate.
We’ve still a long way to go on a stable and
hopefully rising milk price before we fill the
gap from that lull.’
‘We would like to invest, and we are
looking at perhaps upping cow numbers
by 20. We’ve recently also started crossing
our black and white Holsteins with Norwe-
gian Reds. The way the dairy job has been
for the last few years we felt the need for
a cow that is easier to look after with less
attention required. We have seen an imme-
diate impact with the first of the Holstein X
Norwegian Red calves born this year. When
they hit the floor, they wanted to be up and
running. Thy had much more vigour.’
‘Our herd average is 7500 litres as we
don’t push them and like them out to graze.
We average around 4-5 lactations. We use
an Angus on any heifers we don’t want to
breed from and Belgian Blue as a sweep on
those that we can’t get in calf.’
‘This year we are also investing in cubi-
cles and sand, replacing straw due to its
price. At the moment we’re on straw but
struggle with availability.’
Land at Crosby Grange Court is largely
heavy clay. Grass is in with the rotation
and no grass leys have been in over three
years apart from permanent pasture. Silage
is three cuts and wheat yield are around 4
tonnes per acre.
The beef enterprise sees the Bakers
buying cattle from a local dairy farmer at
between 1-3 months with all bulls finished
and heifers sold as stores through Northall-
erton Mart at 14-16 months.
W. E. Jameson & Son Ltd continue to be one
of the Bakers key suppliers of feed, seed and
fertiliser, backed by their excellent service.
Teamwork on farm, with YFC and certain-
ly on the rugby pitch has always been key
to any of James’ success.
‘I captained Bishop Burton College and
played in the Northallerton team that got
to the National Cup Final at Twickenham.
I’ve played prop most of the time but also
second row. I’ve been playing in the second
team more recently, but whatever I play
or do it’s all about the team whether here
at home with Emma, my mum and dad
and gran, with young farmers or playing
rugby.’
John M Walker
(Farm Buildings) Ltd
C
M
Y
CM
Holly Farm, Kirby Sigston, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL6 3TB
Tel: 01609 883447 » Email: [email protected]
MY
CY
Simple agricultural extensions • Large agricultural buildings • Whole farms • Industrial units
CMY
K
John has been building Agricultural
buildings since 1994 following many
years in agriculture on the family farm.
John’s wealth of experience means he can design,
plan and build from the ground up any size or
type of agricultural building you require.
“Pleased to be a supplier to James Baker of Crosby Court Grange Farm and wish him all the best for the future”