A NORTH Yorkshire farm is one of eight new monitor farms joining AHDB's Cereals & Oilseeds (C&O) Monitor Farm programme.

AHDB C&O Monitor Farms is a nationwide network of farmer-led, farmer-driven communities centred around real working farms. The host farmers are committed to sharing information, ideas and best practice to improve both their own, and their peers’ businesses.

Crathorne Farms, near Yarm, which is a mixed arable and dairy farm, became a Monitor Farm in May 2024

It comprises 1,000 ha (of which 650 ha arable) with a rotation of winter wheat, oilseed rape, winter beans, winter oats and winter ahiflower. Non-arable enterprises involve dairy and milk vending.

With the support of their regional AHDB Knowledge Exchange (KE) managers, monitor farmers host a series of open meetings to discuss current and locally relevant topics, often using their own businesses as case studies and inviting industry expertise along to support discussions. Attendees can also claim BASIS and NRoSO points for attending Monitor Farm events.

AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Head of Engagement Ana Reynolds said: “We had a great response to the recruitment campaign. I am absolutely delighted to welcome the eight new Monitor Farms and wish them every success during their tenure.

"It takes a special mix of qualities to be a monitor farmer, including willingness to scrutinise every aspect of your business and talk about it, and an appetite for trying innovative approaches. The new farmers all share these attributes, and we’re looking forward to working with them.”

Believing that it’s important to share and open up to feedback, Joe Dugdale of Crathorne Farms believes it is important share and open up to feedback, which is why he has joined the Monitor Farm programme.

He sees the next three years as an opportunity to focus on the farm’s short- to medium-term goals. These include:

n Reducing reliance on artificial inputs through crop health, good rotation and targeting of inputs;

n Further reducing cultivations without compromising output – compensating by building SOM and extending the rotation with diverse plant species;

n Dealing with drainage infrastructure that is coming to the end of its useful life;

n Looking to new arable technologies that can help achieve these ambitions where possible.

For more information, visit www.ahdb.org.uk.