Farmer Focus: Paul Westaway been successful with awards wins
Its early December as I write my last piece of 2013. We have had a brilliant year, which was finished off nicely when my Single Farm Payment arrived on the first day of payments.
In previous years it has been as late as June so payment on-time makes a huge difference and means Mrs W will now get an awesome Christmas present. We go into the depths of winter in great shape with lots of high quality fodder and dry cows and in-calf heifers still out grazing.
After a wet early November it’s lovely and dry here with the grass still growing. I have never seen our in-calf heifers look better and the saving in straw and feed is huge.
On a personal note we have won three huge awards this year. Winning the Burke Trophy with “Prona” fulfilled a lifetime ambition and I was also proud when a pair of our fillet steaks won a diamond award at the HEFF awards dinner at the NEC.
It’s easy to forget sometimes when you are flat out breeding and feeding cows that we actually produce beef for people to eat and enjoy. I am really proud to be a British beef farmer and I know our beef is the best in the world. It’s really nice to win awards and realise that people appreciate what we do.
2013 will also be remembered for a couple of big political stories, Horsegate, while concerning at first, was the best thing that ever happened to British beef.
We produce a great product with the highest welfare and regulation and horsegate shifted more emphasis back to where beef comes from. CAP reform is around the corner and everything points towards a move to an environmental-type payment scheme.
We are in ELS here and we spend a lot of time doing what we can to work with nature rather than against it. However, with the global population heading north of nine billion I hope we can still push for more production per acre.
I would like to say Merry Xmas and a huge thank you to everyone who makes Melview Farming tick. We have a great team of friends and family who make this place what it is. Special thanks to Mrs W who is the unsung hero – now I am off to get that present.
paul@sterlingsires.co.uk
@sterlingsires
Facing winter in great shape
Paul Westaway farms in partnership with his wife Kirsty on a 69ha Gloucester County Council farm, running more than 220 Angus and Holstein Cattle. The pair also run an AI business and have recently launched an online steak and wine shop
Paul Westaway farms in partnership with his wife Kirsty on a 69ha Gloucester County Council farm, running more than 220 Angus and Holstein Cattle. The pair also run an AI business and have recently launched an online steak and wine shop
paul@sterlingsires.co.uk twitter @sterlingsires
For more articles from Paul Westaway visit https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/farmer-focus/paul-westaway/
Read more from our other livestock farmer focus writers https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/farmer-focus/
Dymock, north Gloucester