A Cornish dairy farm has expanded its pastureland by around 40% after securing a £230,000 funding package.
Farmer Heydon Dark has acquired around 30 acres of land for Higher Skewes Farm, located on the Lizard peninsular near the town of Helston, taking its total foot print to around 105 acres.
The business produces 700,000 litres of milk per year from its herd of 100 cows, selling directly to the UK’s largest producer of dairy products, Arla.
Mr Dark, who was recently named Young Dairy Farmer of the Year at the British Dairying Cream Awards, said: “growing consumer demand” for locally sourced dairy products had driven the investment in the farm’s milking capacity.
“Investing in the growth of the farm is a hugely important part of my strategic plans. Despite the immediate challenges facing the sector, I need to be thinking long-term and introducing changes now to ensure a successful future.”
The business, which Mr Dark founded two years ago, said the foraging land it had bought would also ensure the herd was fed sustainably through a mixed grazing system, that allows fertiliser usage to be minimised.
The deal was facilitated through a funding package the farm agreed with Lloyds Bank.
Agricultural relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Jeremy Weekes, said: “Higher Skewes Farm is a perfect example of a small business that embodies the values of British Farming.
“Despite being relatively new, it’s brilliant to see the effort that Heydon is making to futureproof the business in what can be a challenging sector, as well as the skills being applied to do so more sustainably.”
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