The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2019 - Issue 63 | Page 44

44 MANOR HOUSE FARM JUN/JUL 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk WHEAT GROWS WELL AT THE MANOR HOUSE Chris Berry talks with Chris Richardson in Brandesburton. PREPARATION for the next generation is under way at Manor House on the edge of Brandesburton in East Yorkshire. Chris Richardson is the third generation to have farmed here following on from his grandfather Francis who arrived at the farm in 1906 and Chris’ father John who succeeded. Chris farmed in partnership with his brother David until 1992 when both broth- ers having young families meant it was more sensible to share out the business separately. David took 70 acres and the 500-sow pig unit at Catfoss while Chris was happy with the 300 acres of all arable land and one or two grass paddocks. ‘While we farmed together we built up the farm to around 400 acres and added the sow unit in 1975. There was never any fall out. It worked well for both of us and we continue to help each other even now,’ says Chris. ‘I contract farmed to add to my existing acreage which meant I was at one time farming around 800 acres with two good men working alongside me. We also had a flock of around 300 breeding ewes.’ Once again the natural course of events in people’s lives began to dictate Chris’ next move and when the two men retired Your local family run dealer. CAR & COMMERCIALS www.bmccarandcommercials.co.uk Beverley | 01482 887755 Brandesburton | 01964 543603 [email protected] [email protected] “ Everyone at BMC is pleased to be associated with Chris and his family and wish them all the best for the future. ” in 2008 and 2010 and with the contract farming operation drawing to its natural end, as sons on the contracted farm start- ed to take it back in hand, Chris sold the ewes and the rest of the operation back at home and on David’s land fell into place. ‘I currently farm 350 acres as I have mine and also farm his arable land with two very good casual farm men – David himself, who ploughs, and former agri- cultural contractor and long-time friend Chris Elliott from Lincolnshire. When we’re together we are the farming equivalent of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. Mark Mewburn my neighbour handles all the contract spraying work.’ ‘We’re lucky here that we farm on good wheat growing land that is medium loam to heavy and with sand that runs down to the gravel pits. It is good bodied land and we generally average 4 tonnes per acre for wheat. Last harvest we were just over thanks to the exceptional summer. This year we are growing big heap varieties Grafton, Kerrin and Graham. We invested in a new fully automated grain shed five years ago with on floor drying facilities.’ ‘We grow 50 per cent second wheats and our other crops are oilseed rape, vin- ing peas for Swaythorpe and sometimes spring or winter barley. Wheat averaged