Beth Speakman

Little Braxted Hall Farm, Witham, Essex 

• Farm size: 275ha
• Annual rainfall: 610mm
• Soil type: Loamy clay

With wheat yields hit by drought, de-risking the arable enterprise by growing different crops is a priority for the Speakman family.

Beth took over the role as Farmers Weekly Transition Farmer from father Kit and will continue to work towards their transition goals.

Wheat was previously the cash crop for but returns will be down this year because the dry weather has challenged their farm’s light, gravel soils.

The farm will consider entering the SFI’s low-input cereal option, growing oats or barley.

The beef side of the enterprise is doing well and they plan to adjust the rotation to include a greater acreage of grass seed, which is more profitable.

Transition goals: 

• Bridging income gap after stewardship
• Creating fully integrated farm business
• Increasing grass and widening rotation