26 GOODFELLOW FARMING LTD AUG / SEP 2021 • farmers-mart . co . uk
Dynamic Diversification and Success in Picturesque Northumberland
www . poacherblock . co . uk
BASED IN NORTHUMBERLAND
4 M WIDE CONCRETE BLOCK TO PREVENT POACHERS ACCESSING LAND THROUGH FIELD GATEWAYS
Why Poacher Block ?
• A long term solution to blocking gateways preventing poachers entering fields causing crop damage
• Allows tractors and sprayers access to fields but prevents car and 4x4 access
• No wasting time opening and closing gates , simply drive over it
• Can be used on bridle ways to prevent unwanted vehicle access
• Gates can be broken or stolen but Poacher Block which weighs over 1 tonne makes it hard to move
• Poacher Gate in development for Livestock Farmers
• 4 M Poacher Block will protect a gateway between 12 ft and 20 ft wide
£ 350 per Block or 5 for £ 1500 PATENT PENDING
GOODFELLOW Farming is one of Northumberland ’ s most successful farming businesses that demonstrates just how well both diversification and multiple discipline farms can survive and flourish in today ’ s tough agricultural climate and marketplace .
The business spans two farms , Longwitton Farm near Morpeth and Riding Farm at Bellingham , covering between them some 5000 acres including grass . 2500 acres are under crop rotation with winter wheat , barley , oats , oil seed rape , beans and forage Maize for cattle . The Livestock side is just as important with 3500 ewes , a mixture of Scott Black Faced Mules , Texels and Aberdales and also 330 spring calving suckler cows .
All livestock reared are finished on the farm or retained for breeding . Lambs are finished on clover rich silage aftermaths and are marketed dead weight through Stephen Kirkup . John is a firm believer in Bull Beef system , male calves are weaned at 7 to 8 months old then feed on homegrown beef finishing cereal mix with Maize silage for roughage , most bulls achieve 650kg at 12 to 14 months . The Bull beef system allows us to keep 25 % more cows because we are not grazing steers for a second summer . These are also marketed dead weight . The heifers are grazed for a second summer , the best are retained for breeding the rest going fat .
As if there wasn ’ t enough going on , they have a strong versatile contracting side with an impressive array of tractors , combines , drills and sprayers . Goodfellow are also feed and grain manufacturers . 70 % to 82 % is in various mixes from home grown barley , wheat , oats , beans along with bought wheat distillers ’ grains , molasses , soya ( for ewe ration ) and high-quality minerals . All the blends are mixed in a Keenan Feeder , available for bulk collection , tipper or blower delivery . Dumpy bags and 25kg bags are available for a small extra charge . Everything is FABBL 185 certified .
Longwitton also has a shoot which is well established and covers 2,400 acres . Blocks of woodland have been thoughtfully positioned throughout the estate to provide habitats to ensure quality shooting .
Now you would think surely that must be everything , well you would be wrong . I first met the owner of Goodfellow Farming , John Goodfellow , at an agricultural show . He was demonstrating his new product , Poacher Block , which
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