Philip Metcalfe is the fourth generation to farm at Foxberry Farm, right at the tip of North Yorkshire
“A number of years ago I read somewhere that arable soils only had probably 50 years left in them if we carried on abusing them and so I’ve been adding organic matter all the time to try and extend the soil’s life and leave it in a better state.”He is 'obsessed' with improving soil health and boosting insect numbers on the farm
“Our crop rotation is winter barley, oilseed rape, winter wheat, winter beans, winter wheat, with either spring barley or grass or potatoes in the sixth or seventh years. “It’s just that once a slug or flea beetle has been on it the crop is gone, so you have to be on it, to be vigilant, to prevent it.
Cover crops play their part in Philip’s cropping mix and he said they are also part of his involvement with the Countryside Stewardship scheme although he admits to being baffled by legislation at times, which has worked against what he feels is the right thing to do. “We’ve seen tremendous increases in insect and wildlife and organic matter in our soils. There are so many positives. Increased numbers of lapwings, grey partridge and skylarks are certainly keeping the ornithologists happy too. We also have pollen and nectar areas.”
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