The Farmers Mart Aug-Sep 2019 - Issue 64 | Page 43

WEST WOLD FARM 43 • AUG/SEP 2019 SAM JEFFREY FODDER BEET SERVICES Specialising in fodder beet & sugar beet, grass cutting, grass tedding, raking, baling, harvesting, planting & sales. Proud to be working with Derek Watson. Call 07949 293432 | Malton, North Yorkshire [email protected] ESTABLISHED 1860 CHARTERED SURVEYORS • AUCTIONEERS • VALUERS LAND & ESTATE AGENTS • FINE ART & FURNITURE AGRICULTURAL SERVICES approaching him and asking if there was anywhere to pitch their tents. Always keenly looking at the bottom line and opportunities, they thought why not give them somewhere to camp and whilst we are on with it, why not caravan spaces as well! So, in 2004, the Yorkshire Wolds Way Caravan & Camping Site opened. Today it has 80 pitches, area for tents and full on-site facilities, with a view that every visitor admires and envies. It was a considerable investment and to date over £500,000 has been invested, but if you are going to do it, it might as well be right. The development also included improving the mile or so track up to the site and farm, both widening and strengthening it with some 10,000 tons of stone crush and tarmac. Derek told me that the caravan and camping side is the nicest part – they are great people to talk to and advise about the walks etc. Unfortunately pigs and people don’t really go well together for a number of reasons, so by the close of 2003, all the pigs were gone, and the caravan and campsite opened in 2004. In 2008 there was an opportunity to by 60 sucklers from next door, of which 30 were Hereford Cross’s, which all calved as well as the Stabilisers with similar sized calves. Having a depth of knowledge of Stabilisers, including having visited Stabiliser farmers in Colorado who really know about running a farm as a business, Derek decided to completely destock and start again to create the best herd possible. Even the pet Highland on the campsite went. May 2010, he bought 80 pedigree Stabilisers and two bulls. The following spring, 79 calved silently and only one assisted “leg back” calving. Derek has developed the herd in the past nine years, always buying the most expensive bulls possible, bred from the best of cows. He puts the bull in with the herd for a limited period and any cow not taking will be culled. Stabilisers calve well due to the lower birth weight, providing no cow is allowed to go overweight. The Stabilisers aren’t really show cattle, as they are for the mass market. The very business targeted approach has meant that this year there were 179 calved with only one assisted. • Farm Sales & Purchases • Valuations • Lettings & Contract Farming Agreements • Farm & Estate Management • Planning, Diversification & Development • Compensation Claims • Single Farm Payment & Grant Scheme Advice • Live & Deadstock Auction Sales 15 Market Place, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LP T: 01653 697820 E: [email protected] Reagarth Farm, Helmsley, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 5XH Tel: [phone] E: [email protected] 40 Burgate, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7AU Tel: [phone] E: [email protected] WWW.CUNDALLS.CO.UK Concrete Products - Mortars Ready Mixed Concrete - Screeds » Pre-stressed concrete panels. » 95mm, 150mm or 180mm thick. » 1m, 1.2m or 1.5m high. » Lengths – made to order or from stock. » Suitable for grain stores, stock buildings, retaining walls, compounds or bunkers. » marked and produced with BSi quality assured ready mixed concrete. Pre-stressed panels, Free standing “A” walls, Interlocking. Lego blocks (various sizes), concrete water troughs, concrete gate posts, Floor beams tel. [phone] - sales@wa�smix.com www.wa�smix.com