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Rachel & Richard Risdon

Woodrow Barton, Brampford Speke, Exeter, Devon 

  • Farm size: 110ha 
  • Annual rainfall: 865mm
  • Soil type: Clay loam over river gravel 

Rachel and Richard Risdon have a 300-strong spring calving Friesian cross Jersey dairy herd in Devon.

The herd is rotationally grazed and yield about 4,900 litres and 452kg of milk solids from about 650kg of concentrate.

They operate a grass-based system – and top up with cake when necessary, focusing on having cows out grazing from calving in February until late November.

Transition goals: 

  • Securing adequate labour
  • Better understanding ELMs 
  • Reducing carbon footprint
 

All articles featuring Rachel and Richard Risdon

BUSINESS

Analysis: Faster progress needed on Transition

The fourth annual Farmers Weekly Transition survey – carried out by Macleod Research – provides a detailed picture of UK farming as it transitions from farm support payments to alternative…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Transition Farmers expand and restructure businesses

Farmers Weekly’s Transition project is following a group of farmers on their journey to adapt and meet the challenges of farming. Here, we look at the progress of two farms.…

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Considering a new future: Ways to deal with farming pressures

It is no secret that stress and poor mental health are endemic among the people who make their living from the land. As the UK moves away from direct farm…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

4 popular carbon calculators for farms compared

Strategies to improve the economic situation on a farm will very often result in also reducing your carbon footprint, which can make a carbon audit a useful benchmarking exercise for…

LIVESTOCK

Reducing emissions is major aim for dairy transition farmers

Transition Farmers Rachel and Richard Risdon have three main goals: reducing their carbon footprint, generating an income from the environment and securing adequate labour for their family farm. The couple…

DAIRY

Can all-forage dairy diets be practical and profitable?

At about 3,250 litres annually, cows fed wholly on forage produce much less milk than dairy herds on diets including concentrates. But producers who have made the switch say other…

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