NOVEMBER 2023
MEMBERS NEWSLETTER Director James Mu on—Burlerrow Farm I don’t want to wish the year away but every farmer in Cornwall has been saying the same, “what a year this has been!” From a long winter to a very wet spring, and then a dry early summer which turned into a good growing mid-season towards the Autumn. Our seasons are certainly no longer consistent and make our farming calendar an interes ng one to say the least. For me personally, the year at Burlerrow Farm has been one of my most, if not the most challenging one in my farming career to date. We have produced beef, sheep and cereals organically at Burlerrow since 2006 and this has most definitely been the toughest one for growing organic cereals; so much so I will be significantly reducing our acreage next year giving way for more extensive grassland, Stewardship areas and part of our diversifica on in the form of miscanthus and conven onal haylage for horses. Even though grass has grown extremely well through the last few months we s ll seem to be plenty short of forage going into winter, partly due to the lack of cereals and whole crop. I have kept our ca le numbers to a maximum (100 plus sucklers) and ewe numbers reasonably stable (approx. 450) which in our organic system is more than enough especially during these mes of ever-increasing produc on costs. The beef and lamb markets although having been reasonably strong throughout the year are s ll vola le. Both export markets are reliant on too many outside factors out of our control. The most frustra ng part for me as an organic producer who is trying to produce high quality, locally grass reared beef and lamb is the lack of support from not only the supermarkets but the consumers themselves. But then the inflated cost in the supermarkets is very hard to jus fy for your everyday consumer……….the contrast in the UTM and cull cow market proving this with stark differences. This has resulted in us all looking at our produc on systems; over the past couple of years, I have con nued the transi on to a more extensive grazing system suited to the Stabiliser suckler and the Highlander ewe which is proving successful. But like every other producer, I am finding the challenge of keeping costs to a minimum more and more difficult with margins being forever squeezed. As a result, the need to produce high quality stock and target the op mum market is more vital now than ever before which is where we as producers will all benefit from the abili es of CQLP in marke ng our finished animals.
I will add that to help our final margin we must all be looking at areas to increase our income. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme and more recently the SFI scheme offer many op ons for us all as producers to not only try and claw back our declining Basic Payment Scheme but to also claim payments for ac ons and methods that we have rou nely carried out on a regular basis. With payments in excess of £200 per acre for some op ons, all producers need to be looking at the schemes if not already involved. I believe for our business we have not just benefi ed financially but also the crea on and enhancement of various wildlife habitats can also be rewarding. As winter is fast approaching, and my red tractor and organic inspec ons are upon me I seem to be spending more and more me in the office. We all moan about the paperwork but unfortunately it is necessary in this ‘modern world’ and we just need to find methods to make the workload more efficient for us. Even though I classify myself as ‘old school’ I am trying to enhance the use of computer programmes and mobile apps…. but s ll on numerous occasions find myself threatening to throw the computer out the window! Its certainly a learning curve……….and farming in todays world is certainly that……..we con nue to learn……….which for me keeps it interes ng……but we must all con nue to adapt and try new things…….and never be afraid to ask other producers or professionals any ques ons……..we are all in this trade together and must work together to benefit not only individually but as an industry.