The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2019 - Issue 65 | Page 33
NORTH DALE FARM 33
• OCT/NOV 2019
WIDE SELECTION OF VEHICLES IN STOCK
Visit our website - www.gboyes.co.uk for more details on the vehicles
SERVICING & REPAIRS TO ALL MAKES
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MOT Testing ▪ Vehicle diagnostic checks ▪ Welding repairs
Air conditioning recharging & repairs
Tyres - All makes supplied & fitted
Wheel alignment & balancing ▪ Cambelts changed
Exhaust systems supplied & fitted
All makes of Batteries supplied ▪ Alternators checked & replaced
4x4 specialists - WE LOVE LAND ROVERS!!!!
Ring today for
any estimate!
We are pleased to be associated with Richard Jackson and wish him continued success.
SPECIAL OFFER
All Lassa and Davanti tyres - Puncture repair and ruined
tyre insurance included in tyre price – Call Pete for details
THE GARAGE, CHAPEL LANE, KILHAM, DRIFFIELD YO25 4RP
T: 01262 420627 M: 07778 230037 E: [email protected]
‘Our cattle operation sees us buying in
stores at 12-18 months and taking them
through to finishing. We generally buy
continental X cattle such as Limousin and
Charolais. We fatten around 100 beasts a
year.’
‘We lamb 320 mainly Charollais X Texel
breeding ewes and produce all our own
replacements. We also use the Suffolk tup
on the flock. My father had a Suffolk flock
and that’s the main breed I steward for
at the Great Yorkshire Show, but ours is
very much a commercial flock although
Helen (Richard’s wife) has a small flock of
Hampshire Downs. Our hoggs and cull ewes
go to Malton livestock market while all cattle
and spring lambs are traded deadweight.’
Being near to the coast as well as in the
countryside Richard always gets his fair
share of an inquisitive public either from
those on the cycle route that goes past the
farm or walkers.
‘People stop when there are sheep out
in the field and they are usually curious to
know how old the ewes and lambs are. I
don’t think they generally equate seeing
sheep in a field to the lamb they eat, but
they enjoy seeing the lambs running around
when they are still relatively new-born.’
‘One of the messages we try to get across
at our increasingly popular Education Days
at Driffield Showground is to talk about
the sheep’s year. The first question I ask
is why farmers keep sheep and because
children are watching and listening and can
see a clipping machine they will always
say because of the wool. When I tell them
farmers would not make a living out of wool
they then think of meat. There are those
who curl their noses up and start shaking
their heads at this point but that’s where we
need to educate children about why sheep
are in the countryside. We certainly don’t
want to traumatise them, but it’s important
they know.’
Richard’s involvement with the Great
Yorkshire Show started in 1978.
‘My father was a senior ring steward. I
was put with the Suffolks when I started
and I’ve been with them ever since. I’ve got
to know the breeders over the years and
some real characters like Bert Harper and
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Jack Bulmer became great friends. At one
time when the Suffolk was the predominant
breed before the Texel its classes used to
last more or less the whole day, but now I
steward for the Suffolks in the morning and
the Zwartbles in the afternoon. We were
a lot nearer to the stewards’ dining room
in the early days before the sheep were
moved to the modern purpose-built sheds
at the other side of the showfield. It’s now a
long walk to get fed!’
Richard is justifiably proud of his home
show – Driffield Show.
‘I got involved 20 years ago when the
late David Stubbings, who was chairman
at the time asked me. I became livestock
secretary in 2008 and had 10 years in
that post. During that time we moved the
livestock section to Dee & Atkinson’s sale
field. It was a bold and very positive move
and our numbers of cattle, sheep and pig
entries have improved considerably due to
far greater capacity. Our sheep numbers
continue to climb and this year we had to
do a bit of rejigging to get everyone in. It
was just a shame that the pig classes had to
be cancelled, but as we all know it was the
right decision.’
‘At Driffield we are constantly adding new
parts to the show. This year we had a new
forestry area; the fencing competition has
been a great attraction for the past decade;
and we also had a farrier competition. Our
Education Days have now been running
for four years. As a society we invest a lot
of time and energy into teaching young
people about farming. For me personally
being chairman has widened my view of
Driffield Agricultural Society.
‘Helen also has her own business run
from the farm – Rosebud Flowers – selling
flowers for all occasions.’
At NFU Mutual we offer tailored insurance and a local service.
We cover all farms from arable and horticulture to sheep and poultry.
For a real conversation about your insurance: call 01723 585307, email
[email protected] or pop in NFU Mutual, Centenary
House, 1 Manor Court, Manor Garth, Scarborough YO11 3TU
Agent of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited.