As fifth generation farmers at Long Buckby, near Northamptonshire, Keith and Robin Thompson have carefully developed Bridge House Farm Limited to face the challenges of the 21st century.
Straightforward wheat and oilseed rape production is complemented with pig and poultry enterprises. In fact, given fertiliser prices, the considerable bi-product from the livestock side has become the envy of many.
Guided by the Pig Improvement Company, the pig operation focuses on genetic development and is responsible for 12 different breeding lines. This involves a mix of 5,500 boars, sows, gilts and followers.
“My brother Robin introduced the pigs as a new venture in 1987,” said Keith. “It has grown considerably into a super nucleus. A real plus is our isolation from other pig units which helps us to maintain high standards of health which is particularly important in genetic development.”
Keith and Robin’s parents started the poultry operation in 1959 - their mother studied poultry husbandry at Reading so was particularly instrumental in this development. The main outlet was hatching eggs for Ross Poultry but as Keith explains Edwina Currie’s misplaced comments on Salmonella in 1988 destroyed this side of the business. But the Thompsons recovered and today they have 30,000 free range and 26,000 barn laying chickens supplying eggs through Noble Foods to the main supermarkets.
So there is plenty of manure to spread about. In fact, there is rarely a need for potash or phosphate and the ‘dirty water’ from the pigs saves on nitrogen applications for the oilseed rape.
In total, the brothers farm 800 hectares. The home farm accounts for 270 hectares and includes the pig and poultry operations as well as arable. The remaining hectares are run under arable contract farming agreements within an 8-mile radius of the home farm.
“We began contract farming with 200 hectares in 1996 when we were approached by a local landowner,” said Keith. “Since then two additional main farms have come on board. All our clients benefit from our home-produced fertiliser – there’s transport and spreading to pay for but it still saves them money.”
Keith is no stranger to collective buying. His father helped to establish the Daventry Buying Group and Keith took on the role of agrochemicals co-ordinator in the 90s but when it demanded too much of his time he turned to Anglia Farmers and he and his brother joined in 2005.
“The move to Anglia Farmers has freed up a lot of my time and has helped me to alleviate our cash flow as our contract farming clients are members too so we no longer buy inputs on their behalf – they carry their own costs.”
The Thompsons acquire all their own arable inputs and much of their livestock requirements through Anglia Farmers. Sundry items such as building products are also ordered through the group.
“Anglia Farmers has really boosted supplier accounts in our region,” said Keith. “It’s now a question of us remembering to put it through our Anglia Farmers account!”
While there are no diversifications on the farm, Keith and Robin continually develop their core business. Last year they completed a new 5000 tonnes grain store which proved its worth with last year’s wet harvest.
FACTS and BASIS qualified, Keith takes a keen interest in agronomy. He refers to The Arable Group and Crop Management Information for the latest advice and can always turn to his brother Mike who is an independent agronomist based in Norfolk.
While there is a lot of forward thinking with nitrogen sensing, yield and soil mapping and subsoil drilling for rape, the brothers by no means eschew old methods. The lack of black grass on the home farm is something they are proud of.
“Rob and I used to hand rogue black grass and wild oats as children and now we keep on top of it with a hand spray. It’s labour intensive but it’s cost-effective, it works and it allows us to see every acre of the farm close up – warts and all.”
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