The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2020 - Issue 69 | Page 38

38 THROSTLE NEST FARM JUN/JUL 2020 • farmers-mart.co.uk
While Fraser is totally behind
the concept of ‘public money
for public goods’ he’s also very
much a farmer who grows
crops and rears animals. He’s
definitely not some kind of
‘goody-two-shoes’ environmentalist
campaigner, it’s just that he
understands and is eloquent on
the overall picture. His farming
operation comes first and much
of this past year has proved his
most challenging period since
taking over from his father Edgar
nearly a decade ago.
‘The cattle have been the
brighter side of the operation
recently with the new contract
with Morrisons but this year’s
arable cropping, well let’s just
say I’d really love harvest to be
over as quickly as possible this
year so that we can hopefully
get on with next year’s.’
‘I have never known a time
when we haven’t been able to
drill up in autumn or winter at
Great Broughton and of what
we did manage to get in when I
drilled in February I almost wish
I hadn’t bothered. We ended up
with 40 acres of winter wheat
there, plus 17 of winter barley
and 23 of spring beans.’
‘Throstle Nest is a very wet
farm at the best of times and it
was game over trying to get any
winter crops established early
on. We managed 60 acres of
spring barley and 28 acres of
naked oats in spring.’
‘The weather was just so
extreme. We would normally
have had 80 acres of winter
wheat at Great Broughton. The
rain started on 24 September
and basically never stopped.
It’s the wettest period I’ve ever
known.’
‘By May and early June the
weather had turned on its
‘ Damage
limitation
was Fraser’s
catchphrase
in June’
head completely. The soil then
needed rain. It came later in
June, but whether it has been
enough for our spring beans that
were looking good up until then
we will see at harvest.’
Damage limitation was Fraser’s
catchphrase in June.
‘The only thing you can do
is look where you can make
savings, minimising spend on
such as fungicides, but that can
be false economy if your crop
then shows signs of disease.
You just have to keep constantly
reviewing. Like I said, I’d just
like this harvest to be over so
that we can start picking up the
pieces. Higher prices because
of a possible shortage will not
make up for the loss of yield.’
‘The cattle are great. I have
always been keen on pedigree
Continued on page 40
Taking care of
our customers
& their animals
for generations
H.H. Smith & Son
Whitby are pleased
to be associated with
Fraser Hugill of Throstle
Nest Farm & wish him
well for the future.
At the
forefront of
animal health.
A leading
scheme with
nationwide
coverage and
competitive
prices.
Providing a wealth of advice
on all aspects of business
matters, taxation and
�inancial implications.
Wishing Fraser Hugill continued success.
Tel [phone]
paultranter.co.uk
Paul Tranter
& Company
Chartered Accountants
31 High Street,
Stokesley,
North Yorks, TS9 5AD