The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2015 - Issue 38 | Page 40

Meadow Meats

Future proofing a 60 year
tradition of dairy farming
»»The Lea family has
farmed at Manor Farm, Hood
Green on the edge of Barnsley
since the 1950s.
It was Richard’s
grandparents who first
launched the business in 1957
Lea and Son, both worked
on the farm for many years
his grandfather remained
involved in the business to the
ripe old age of 82. This family
clearly doesn’t believe in early
retirement - two active uncles
are still in farming at the ages
of 74 and 78.
None of the Lea family is a
stranger to hard work. Richard
Howard’s son joined the family
farm after leaving school,
having spent most of his
childhood working and being
involved in the farm.

40 Feb/Mar 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

Not long after Richard’s
joining, the family took on
the tenancy of nearby Stone
Farm which gave them better
buildings, more land and
a better dairy unit as well
as major bonus of having
everything in one place - and
the advantage of not having
daily to take the cattle on the
road. This also helped to free
up grazing land for sheep that
would be needed later on.
Two years ago, in order to
comply with new regulations,
they installed a new slurry store
which provides them with extra
capacity and which will allow
them to increase the herd to
200.
As our readers know only
too well, farming is a tough
business. In 2006 the family