The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2014 - Issue 36 | Page 26

AJ HAZARD FARMS THREE BUSINESSES COVER MANY OF FARMING’S ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS Running one agricultural business is hectic enough today, but when there are three different businesses, it can become quite a challenge in juggling. But it is one that Simon Hazard of AJ Hazard Farms LLP, based at Garthorpe Lodge, Melton Mowbray, seems to manage very successfully, with support from his wife, Sally-Anne, who is a partner in the farming business, alongside and business partners ‘Kiwi’ Carl Stephenson, now settled in England and a director of the metal fabrication business; and Daniel North, who is a 50 percent shareholder and director of Rutland Contracting, set up in 2012 to focus on the plant side. Work is plentiful across all the business and the trio, covering arable farming and agricultural contracting, plant contracting, and metal fabrication, dovetail well together and provide that essential element of flexibility and overlap that enables each of them to function efficiently. A BUSY AND SUCCESSFUL HARVEST SEASON “It works pretty well,” says Simon, who specialises in arable, so this year enjoyed a very successful and busy harvesting season with the farm contracting business. “If we need custom equipment for the farm or metal work repairs, we have our metal fabrication business to make up whatever is needed, and that also applies to the plant contracting. We have a good, hardworking and versatile team here and can pull labour in from one business to another where necessary, so overall, it works very well.” Simon does admit, however, that there are always challenges to be faced. “It does get more and more difficult at times,” he said. “For example, we are struggling with the problem of black grass. Delaying drilling to try and control it means we can then be up against the weather. But it is all part of farming. Simon himself grew up in farming - the family name is well known in agricultural circles in that part of the country. The Hazards (AJ Hazard) have been involved in agriculture as a family business for many years, but in 2008, the family agreed to split different aspects of the overall business, arable and livestock, into separate companies in order that each H L Hutchinson Ltd proud to be working with A J Hazard Farms LLP www.hlhltd.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] 26 Oct/Nov 2014 FarmersMart To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk