Technical know-how is something arable grower Edward
Clark takes very seriously, from producing the best combinable
crops through to benchmarking costs and profitability.
The 34-year-old sees continuous learning as a vital part of his
own professional development and key to success at Decoy Farm,
Upper Winchendon, Buckinghamshire.
Edward runs the farm with his parents, Michael and Leah Clark,
and one full-time employee, which is no mean feat given the mix of
combinable crops, a suckler herd and beef finishing unit set in two
blocks six miles apart. They have been tenants at Decoy Farm for
many years, but acquired Tythrop Park Farm at Kingsay 10 years
ago.
The soil type varies considerably between loamy sand on one farm
to heavy Oxford clay on the other. There is no significant
diversification other than property lets, but environmental
stewardship was taken up at the earliest opportunity.
Edward's focus has been on the arable side while his father has
controlled the livestock. He admits this is something he needs to
address for the future. "As they say with corn and horn, when one
is up the other is down. They balance each other nicely. But I need
to get more involved in the beef side and I need to learn," he
said.
Together they handle 400ha, of which half is owned and the rest
tenanted, rented or contract farmed. Edward is a firm believer in
handling all his own grain marketing. He makes good use of
Glencore's buying power for all input purchases and relies on their
web-based grain marketing tool, Grainman, for pricing data. He is
an active member of the Vale Arable Group and works with the HGCA
to share information with other farmers online. Benchmarking has
convinced him that his fertiliser costs are low in comparison with
other farm businesses, but his other variable costs are still too
high.
"I believe this to be an invaluable exercise and our quarterly
meetings are always lively and thought provoking," he said. "It's
sometimes very easy as a farmer to not think outside the box, as
it's not an industry that lends itself to facts and figures. I am
now able to know my exact cost of production per tonne and even
forecast more accurately, which is imperative given the market
volatility and fluctuation in input costs."
Feed wheat is grown on one site and milling wheat on the other
as well as barley, oilseed rape and beans on a five-year rotation.
Edward enjoys doing the forward selling himself and has achieved
good wheat prices at £125/t for this harvest. In the past year he
became FACTS and BASIS qualified, but still employs an independent
agronomist because, he says, "the more you know, the better".
Edward is keen to improve the livestock side of the farm, as he
is in charge of calving 100 Simmental cross cows and admits he is a
beginner. The fattening work is done at Tythrop Park Farm, where he
and an employee have just built an 8000sq ft finishing shed
entirely on their own. All cattle are sold through Thame Auction
Mart.
The future for Edward will be to expand through buying more
land, but only if it lifts farm profitability. He describes himself
as a "forward thinker, but with a certain amount of caution".
Farm facts
- 400ha, half owned and rest tenanted, rented or contract
farmed
- Combinable crops, plus suckler herd and beef finishing
unit
- One full-time member of staff
- Turnover £500,000, profits £112,000
- Pioneering spirit: James (seen with judges Adrian Ivory and
Jane King) has expanded fast.
What the judges liked
Paul Davies, vice-principal, RAC, Cirencester:
- "Edward is a very good, knowledgeable arable farmer with
high-yielding modern crop varieties. He enjoys and does
particularly well at personally marketing his grain."
Adrian Ivory, Scottish beef producer and FW Farmer of the
Year 2008:
- "I was very impressed with his knowledge and his dedication to
selling his own crop."
Three achievements
- Strong on agronomy and benchmarking
- Keen to learn all aspects of business management
- Forward thinker