Philip Vickers

Raby Estate, County Durham

• Farm size: 1,250ha (part of wider land holdings across County Durham and Shropshire)
• Annual rainfall: 650mm
• Soil type: Loam, high magnesium content

Farm manager Philip Vickers is in charge of a new regenerative agriculture policy across the 1,250ha at Raby Estate. The aim is to maintain or improve margins as the farm moves to direct drilling and a five- to six-year rotation that sees the OSR area reduced by one-third, and second wheats largely replaced by spring barley, spring beans, lupins and grass. He is also experimenting with a pea/barley bicrop and feed wheat variety blends, and looking at the potential for a sheep share-farming agreement to become an integral part of the rotation.

Transition goals: 

• Maintain margins while changing approach
• Improve soil health and resilience
• Enhance the natural environment