Farmers Weekly Awards 2022: Grassland Manager of the Year
Ian Boyd © Richard Stanton Ian Boyd of Whittington Lodge Farm, Gloucestershire is Farmers Weekly’s Grassland Manager of the Year
Ian Boyd is hugely passionate about improving on-farm habitats for wildlife, and what makes his system so impressive is that he is managing to do that without compromising on profitability.
He is cleverly using grassland to both provide for his 45-head pedigree Hereford herd, with all meat sold directly, and drive production on arable land.
The farm’s total grassland is made up of 65ha of wildflower meadows, 35ha of permanent pasture and 70ha of herbal leys, all split into paddocks.
See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2022: Grassland Manager of the Year finalists
His low-cost, organic system sees cattle mob-grazing the various types of grassland on the farm, with long rest periods in between to allow for flowering and seed setting.
Swathes of the farm which used to be conventionally managed cereal fields are now established wildflower meadows, the oldest of which contains 43 different species and features a sea of orchids.
Farm facts
- 280ha owned and farmed in partnership
- 259m above sea level
- 70ha herbal leys, 65ha wildflower meadows, 50ha spring barley, 35ha permanent pasture and 30ha woodland, plus floristically enhanced grass margins and wild bird seed areas
- 45-head pedigree Hereford herd with all meat sold directly to consumers
Grazing management
With more than 2,000 individual homes ordering beef from the farm on a regular basis, year-round supply from the late spring-calving herd requires strategic grazing plans and daily moves.
Grazing management is the same across all grassland and follows the principle of holistic grazing animal days a hectare, alongside a “gut feel” based on years of experience.
Ian records all plans on Google Sheets so they are easily accessible from any device.
Good resource use sees the cattle predominantly based on the older pastures, while multispecies leys are grown on arable land and cut to drive soil improvement and crop production.
All paddocks are surrounded with mains electric-powered fencing. This can be remotely controlled, which has been a huge time-saver.
The herbal ley mixes contain no less than 15 species, undersown in barley crops for successful establishment.
Ian now also increases the level of sainfoin in the mixes because the cattle like it and it helps control bloat issues.
Despite having a successful, profitable system already, Ian is constantly researching new ideas.
Keen to reduce the need for conserved fodder, he is exploring ways to minimise hay- and silage-making and keep youngstock outside over winter.
Profitability and passion
Ian believes the 100% grass-fed production system is what gives the farm’s beef its unique flavour and has created its popularity with repeat customers.
The grassland system is also protecting both the beef and arable enterprises from rising input costs, while improving soils and on-farm biodiversity.
Ian’s passion, which is shared by his daughter and business partner, Steph Ackrill, has driven them to develop a multipurpose centre in the farmyard called the Sainfoin Centre, building on the farm visits they already host.
Not only will this provide another income for the farm, but their hope is to host the public, students and established farmers to share their story, knowledge and ideas around regenerative farming.
Ian has a clear vision and seven goals for the business.
They are: to be economically viable, produce high-quality food, farm with high animal welfare, improve water quality, reach net zero, engage with the community, and increase wildlife photography opportunities.
Impressively, with grassland management front and centre of the system, he is achieving all of them.
Winning ways
- Low-cost, pasture-fed beef system, using nature-friendly methods to add value
- Excellent herbal ley establishment and management, achieving strong regrowth
- Evolution of species-rich wildflower meadows
- Drive to continue to improve through different grazing management methods
- Passion to share experience and skills with others in and out of agriculture
A word from our independent judge
“One of Ian’s key challenges is his shallow Cotswold brash soils. He has developed a system that recognises – even embraces – that resource constraint. His system is cushioned from high feed, fuel and fertiliser costs and is clearly delivering for biodiversity.”
Emily Grant, independent sheep and beef consultant
The other finalist was:
Peter Lord, Hinton Farm, Somerset
The Farmers Weekly 2022 Grassland Manager of the Year Award is sponsored by Germinal
Farmers Weekly’s farming awards celebrates the very best of British agriculture by recognising hard-working and innovative farmers across the UK.
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