Toby Baxter’s farming and contracting business is based at Compton Abdale. Main enterprises are sheep, arable, contract spraying, primary cultivations, and farm track repairs. There are four full time and two part time people working in the business.
There are 728ha of arable cropping mainly under contract farming agreements and they also do the primary cultivations on a further 350ha.
The sheep enterprise consists of 2857 ewes: 2495 Romneys and 380 Lleyns and lambed 2389 ewes this year; the majority of lambs are sold fat.
In 2005 new shepherd, Geraint Powell, arrived and changes began: from North Country Mules to Romneys with flock numbers expanding mainly from retaining ewe lambs. With the aim to improve lamb carcass quality, this year pure Romney, NZ Hampshire, NZ Suffolk, South Down and Berichon rams were used.
The grassland area is 411ha which is predominantly permanent pasture under ESA or HLS agreements. There are 27 ha of grass leys including 6ha of chickory and red clover. Stubble turnips and fodder beet are grown for wintering ewes and lambs and extra grass keep is taken in the autumn. Full stocking rate has now been reached.
In 2008 another block of land became available complete with a herd of sucklers which are managed for the owners.
Renutrack is the other farm enterprise, rejuvenating farm tracks, yards and driveways.
There are 728ha of arable cropping mainly under contract farming agreements and they also do the primary cultivations on a further 350ha.
The sheep enterprise consists of 2857 ewes: 2495 Romneys and 380 Lleyns and lambed 2389 ewes this year; the majority of lambs are sold fat.
In 2005 new shepherd, Geraint Powell, arrived and changes began: from North Country Mules to Romneys with flock numbers expanding mainly from retaining ewe lambs. With the aim to improve lamb carcass quality, this year pure Romney, NZ Hampshire, NZ Suffolk, South Down and Berichon rams were used.
The grassland area is 411ha which is predominantly permanent pasture under ESA or HLS agreements. There are 27 ha of grass leys including 6ha of chickory and red clover. Stubble turnips and fodder beet are grown for wintering ewes and lambs and extra grass keep is taken in the autumn. Full stocking rate has now been reached.
In 2008 another block of land became available complete with a herd of sucklers which are managed for the owners.
Renutrack is the other farm enterprise, rejuvenating farm tracks, yards and driveways.