Our ethos at Meads Farm is very much around putting the right crop in the right field, using the right machinery, at the right time. Tom and Peter’s joint skillset provides a great mix of experience and confidence to enable this.

Working with nature and the weather are key factors when making any decision. We grow a wide range of crops with the focus on protecting our soils. We’ve embraced new technology and modern machinery, always with a keen eye on the benefits, the challenges and the cost-effectiveness.

The key to our long-term sustainability is growing a wide variety of different crops. We grow wheat for bread, barley, peas and beans. We also grow an area of sugarbeet which goes to British Sugar and our oats go to Richardsons to produce delicious porridge.

Our soils are the most important asset at Meads Farm. We work very hard to protect and enhance them. With increased variability in rainfall and weather, resilient soils are more and more important. We aim to increase organic matter in the soil by incorporating our straw and adding organic manures. Soil rich in organic matter will help us hold on to more water during dry periods and maintain more soil structure during wet ones.

Tom and Peter have a sharp eye on all operations across the whole farm business. Through regular benchmarking with other local farmers and a wealth of mechanical and machinery experience, no stone is left unturned.

Tom is BASIS trained which gives him a good understanding of the requirements and challenges of each crop. In addition to this, we take expert advice to get a more in-depth understanding of what our crops need. 

We work closely with Andy Hutchinson from Farmacy on all aspects related to crop protection. Our focus is on prevention of pest outbreaks, close monitoring, using a wide range of techniques and regular evaluation of success.

Farming is reliant on nature and the weather. We are therefore keen to use this as our guide to what crops we grow and where. In addition to this, we work to actively enhance habitats and protect wildlife.