Cheshire Grassland Society

Farm Walk: H.V. Wright & Son - Alan, Jill, Mark Wright & family
Yew Tree Farm, Hall Lane, Haughton, Nantwich, CW6 9RJ

Date: Thursday, 6th May, 2010

Time: 7:15 pm prompt

Evening sponsored by: Yorkshire Bank & Reaseheath Enterprise Delivery Hub

The Wright family have been farming at Yew Tree Farm for circa 70 years, originally an 80 acre truly mixed farm; the farmed land is now in excess of 1000 acres, purely dairy with 700 milkers and 700 youngstock.  Cows are principally a Holstein / Shorthorn cross – this has been followed for approximately the last eight years.

The farm held organic status from 2001 to 2008, despite now selling milk conventionally to Heler’s, the farm is managed with organic methods – no artificial fertiliser is used.  Grass growth and usage is a major priority for the business, which focuses on profit, not yield per cow.  Recently the farm has invested in a cubicle shed extension and has been milking through a 50 point rotary parlour since Jan 2002. 

The Wright family look forward to an interactive visit and wish to discuss the opportunities to maximise milk output via different grass varieties and stages of grass growth.  As part of Reaseheath Enterprise Delivery Hub’s involvement, Mark Sheridan, previously at NIAB will be joining us.  Please come along to see how this farm has developed and join in the discussion.

The Grazing Management Competition 2010

The Grazing Management Competition was well supported last year and we would again encourage entry by farmers who would like to be recognised for their best use of grazing management techniques and maximizing the potential of grazed grass.

Preliminary judging will be on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th June with the final judging taking place on Thursday 10th June by Farmer David Lee. We are pleased that Elaine Jewkes of GrowHow will again act as technical assistant and we are pleased that GrowHow have offered to sponsor the competition. Entries are invited by the 30th May and the competition is open to both members and non-members alike.

Intention to enter the Grazing Management Competition should be made to the Secretary by email on martyne@reaseheath.ac.uk or telephone on 01270 613179 (with answer phone, please leave a message indicating your name, address and phone number) alternatively contact any of the committee listed below.

We as a committee are committed to the Cheshire Grassland Society and the inclusion of all the diversity of farming methods in the use of grassland.  If you would like to contact one of the committee to discuss the competition or are part of the annual programm then we would welcome you to do so.