Farming for profit and wildlife

90% of the land at Halls Farm and Little Haugh Farm is used for agricultural production or, put simply growing crops. The remaining 10% of the land is actively managed to support wildlife, and for the game birds for the shoot run over the two farms. At first glance 10% for wildlife may not seem a lot however, many farmers with 5% of land out of production consider this very generous and most have a percentage very much lower than this.

Linnet on Groundsel in old stubble field Suffolk, Carduelis cann

Most of the soil in Norton Suffolk is clay based and is excellent cereal growing land; Mid Suffolk is know as the bread basket of England. The land here some of the most intensively farmed in the UK, the attractive Suffolk landscape is all man made. Although wildlife management and shooting may seem at odds the reality is that most woodlands, many hedges and rough areas would have ploughed up long ago but for shooting and hunting, Suffolk wildlife relies heavily on this shooting legacy.

No matter how good the soil is, growing cereals on the same ground every year leads to lower yields, farmers use a “break crop” to counter this.  Break crops include oil seed rape, sugar beet, beans and peas. With modern inputs of fertiliser and sprays to counter invasive plants, fungus disease and insect pests it is possible to grow two or three years of cereals before needing to plant a break crop.

Lapwing at evening roost site, early spring Vanellus vannellus

Halls and Little Haugh Farm follow this break crop cycle, they are unusual in growing much higher acreage of oats instead of wheat. The oats are grown for Jordans cereals on contract and the oat straw is made into Honeychop horse food in the factory at Halls farm. Jordans demand high environmental farming standards that they call “Conservation Grade”; this also benefits the Honeychop horse food.

Without the use of inputs including fertiliser and sprays to manage crop disease and other problems crop production would fall by around 75%. Conservation Grade standards and the Honeywood family try to minimise the environmental impact of these inputs as much as possible. This helps wildlife and also can increase profits by avoiding unnecessary work.

As we move into spring and crops accelerate their growth they must be managed with inputs to maximise yields. Over the coming months I will talk to Steve Honeywood and find out how he tries to balance making a profit by using the right inputs, with at the same time caring for farm’s wildlife and environment.

Cock Pheasant dissplay on spring day. Phasianus colchicus

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