Nine new monitor farms have been named by the AHDB as it seeks to grow its cereals and oilseeds knowledge exchange programme in England and Wales.

The fresh batch of host farms are located right across the country, from Kent to Cheshire, and vary greatly in size, from 200ha family farms to estates of more than 1,000ha.

Some have other enterprises such as dairy and farm shops, while others are solely arable and establishment techniques range from ploughing and combination drilling to strip till and a variety of min-till approaches.

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The new monitor farms are:

• James and Georgie Cossins, Rawston Farm, Blandford, Dorset
• Adrian Joynt, Apley Estate, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
• Simon Brock, Swanton Morely Farms, Dereham, Norfolk
• Jack Smith, Stoughton Estate, Leicester, Leicestershire
• John Miller, Manor Farm, Newark, Nottinghamshire
• Tom Banks, Courteenhall Estate, Northampton, Northamptonshire
• Mark Bowsher-Gibbs, Hempstead Farm, Sittingbourne, Kent
• Howard Emmett, Tregaire Farms, Truro, Cornwall
• Robert Cross, Clifflane Farm, Warrington, Cheshire

Tim Isaac, AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds interim head of regional development, says these new monitor farms makes it easier for more growers to attend meetings, as they will likely be more local.

“Businesses across the country have already benefited from the existing monitor farms, but growing the network to 24 farms will allow the programme to better reflect a range of localised conditions and help a wider cross-section of growers.”

New monitor farm host Howard Emmett in Truro, Cornwall says he hopes the addition of more farms to the programme will help growers in the West Country better understand how to sustain profits in times of low grain prices.

His arable unit extends to 192ha with a further 49ha contract farmed, growing winter wheat, winter and spring barley and cauliflowers.

“If I can help in this process in our area I will be very pleased. 

“My own business aim is to sustain the profitability of my farm in the current economic climate. I’m hoping that the meetings will be useful to others.”

For more information on the monitor farm programme and the latest additions to the scheme, visit the AHDB’s website.

AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds is now looking for nine new monitor farms in Scotland, as part of a £1.2m campaign jointly run with Quality Meats Scotland and funded by the Scottish government. Find out more on the AHDB’s website.