Greystones Farm
‘ The fertiliser spreader is on variable rate P & K, which saves a lot of money and we use a hire tractor that has autosteer.’
The Bainbridges are now 90 per cent one-pass mintill using a Sumo Trio.
‘ We like to keep with the plough in the rotation for barley establishment but one-pass has saved us time and diesel.’
Les is the cattle man and buys Limousin X stores from Hexham that are destined for top quality butchers’ heifers.
‘ The quality is brilliant and Les regularly tops the market at Northallerton where we sell. We will turn over around 500 a year and at any one time we will have around 200. They’ re really smart looking cattle that we feed with ad-lib barley that we mill ourselves, and silage to complement it.’
Free range hens producing eggs for the Happy Egg Co. have been added to the farm mix in the past decade.
‘ We started our poultry enterprise around nine years ago and have 9000 free range hens that come in at 16 weeks and go right through to 76 weeks. We keep them a little longer than we used to and that helps with profitability. We buy pullets and feed from Noble Foods and they take away the hens when they are finished.’
The sheep sector has been the family’ s latest move.
‘ Jonathan has gone into partnership with his fatherin-law Steve Coulson who is full-time shepherd for Robert Campbell at Oneholmes Farm nearby. They’ re two years into their new flock and they are now lambing 400 ewes using a Mule X Texel tup with lambs destined for Northallerton Mart. They’ re really keen to expand further.’
A new Allmet grain dryer installed by JW Installations of Cowton and a new weighbridge are firm indications of the family’ s commitment to its future in farming.
‘ We’ re always looking at what we should be doing next. If any land comes up to rent I’ m the first out there to try for it. The way to drive our business further forward is to farm more land and I like growing crops.’
James is 36, he’ s married to Sam( nee Bradley) whose parents farm in Ellerker, East Yorkshire. They met at college. The couple have three children, Holly, Jack and Chloe. Jonathan’ s partner is Claire( Mitchell) and they have a son Robert. James’ mum is Jean and his auntie, Les’ wife, is Karen.
When James is not on farm organising their next move or on NFU duties he enjoys riding his trails bike, a Gas Gas TXT 280.
‘ I’ m not brilliant but it get me off the farm and it’ s my escape. We go up to Reeth, Guisborough and Northallerton.’
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DEDICATED SUPPORT FOR EGG PRODUCERS
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JAMES BAINBRIDGE HAS been an egg producer for Noble Foods Ltd for seven years. Throughout that time he has been primarily producing eggs packed into the brand, the Happy Egg Company. This means that James maintains the highest welfare standards for his hens and he continuously ensures that all requirements for both Noble Foods and industry are met. A support network is provided to help all Noble Foods contract producers, including James, with the day-to-day and larger industry challenges that all laying hen producers face.
Six dedicated regional managers cover the UK supporting the producers in maximising productivity and efficiency, and advice and guidance is given on all areas from housing pullets to egg quality and assistance with industry audits. The aim is to provide a high degree of support to our producer base, therefore helping to make the day job just that little bit easier.
Alongside the producer team there are a number of knowledgeable feed representatives, which supply a range of feed rations which are designed and formulated to realise the tremendous genetic
potential of the modern layer breeds. The Noble approach has always been to use carefully sourced, consistent, highly digestible raw materials producing a high-density diet which will not only give good levels of egg production but also exceptional feed efficiency.
There is increasing scrutiny on all agricultural industries, and the laying hen sector is no exception to this. Noble Foods has dedicated employees that can help producers navigate this minefield, and ensure all requirements are met, and any retailer specifications can be completed promptly. To keep ahead, Noble Foods says it needs to work together with the whole industry and this will always remain a priority.
Lastly, the business would like to congratulate James on his appointment as chairman to the local NFU branch – it is sure he will do a great job being the voice of the local farmers.
www. farmers-mart. co. uk Summer 2017 87