Farmer Focus: Maize Maze was success but family more important

I’m not sure if this is the real start of spring, or a false dawn, but the recent weather has been welcome either way.

It has allowed us to get the slurry and sand out of the store, the rough muck spread, and begin ploughing.

See also: 5 ways to be more efficient at maize production in 2025

About the author

Tom Stable

Tom Stable and family, Ulverston, Cumbria, milk 350 Holsteins three times a day, producing milk for Arla and ice cream for their Cumbrian Cow brand. The 300ha operation, of which two thirds is rented, grows grass, maize and winter wheat and cows average 11,800 litres.

Read more articles by Tom Stable

The poor weather last spring affected us all year long and we are still feeling it now, with reduced maize yields affecting the ration, and the late-drilled wheat poorer than normal.

In fact, the last 4ha (10 acres) we drilled will have to be scrapped and planted with barley.

We have gained some more land and decided to use 16ha (40 acres) extra for forage, to build up a little stock after having to buy forage this spring.

I hope by my next article, drilling should be well under way, both maize and barley, but there’s plenty of time yet for spring to bite, so we shall see.

Arla managed another price hold for March, which at this time of year really was a pleasant surprise.

April’s announcement will be a big one and I, for one, will be crossing my fingers hoping they can leave it the same.

After some careful consideration, Anna and I have decided not to run the Maize Maze again.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the past four years, but the venture has been a challenge for us both, and as our own two boys get a little older, we worry about missing out on the summers with them.

Earning money by making people happy is a very nice thing to do, and it’s difficult to give up something that has been so successful.

However, we are finding opportunities keep coming on the farming side and have decided to focus on those and our family.

Cumbrian Cow Ice Cream, which has always been my parents’ enterprise, will continue.

This year, they have welcomed my sister, Heather, into the business. She has a background in design, originally in clothing, and more recently interior design.

Her skills will be valuable and her enthusiasm should allow my mum a bit more freedom.

I wish Heather luck: working with family – as many of us know – is challenging but ultimately rewarding.