Dairy farming alongside nature and biodiversity

Jonny and Ben Charmley milk 500 Holstein-Friesian Jersey cross cows on a spring-block calving system at Kennels Farm, Whitchurch. They run the farm with parents, Richard and Carole who have farmed at Kennels Farm since 1996, when a loan from Midland Bank helped set up a move to Kennels from a much smaller holding in Cheshire. This marked the start of a long and fruitful relationship with HSBC as their agricultural banking partners.

The farm is now predominately run by the brothers and has grown to 750 acres with a mix of tenanted and contract farmland. They are ready to grow the business with sustainability in mind looking at how they can incorporate low carbon farming methods such as direct drilling and herbal leys, into the dairy system to produce commercially viable returns. When asked how they look to run the dairy farm they described themselves as developing a “sustainable and regenerative, home-grown commercial dairy farming system”.

Through their strategic planning, intense research and modernising their approach to grassland and soil management they have found ways to improve soil organic matter, whilst reducing fertiliser cost and feed costs.

Their Spring block calving system is effective for several reasons, they work closely with Grasstec to support grazing management and mapping to ensure they utilise the grass they grow. The business annually soil tests for NPK, PH, organic matter %, carbon levels and further nutrient levels such as calcium, and monitors all 80 of the paddocks grass growth weekly with a rising plate meter to understand when to graze and conserve. They only purchase 350 tonnes of concentrate each year due to how effective they are at growing their own grass and forages. This reduces their reliance on the feed market in turn taking volatility out of the business.

The Charmley brothers have reduced cultivations on the farm, reseeding fields was historically done through ploughing.

At the moment they use clover to fix nitrogen and high sugar grasses, but to open up options within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), they hope to add herbs and further legumes to create a herbal ley, with its deep rooting system so it can also help improve soil structure, allowing the grazing season to be extended.

The brothers also farm alongside nature, where they contract farm, the hedges are on a 3-year cutting cycle, this improves the hedgerow habitat and supports biodiversity, as well as managing fields with 4m field margins where they can’t spread fertiliser or manures.

When asked about what the future holds for the farm, their response was characterised by growth and succession. The brothers explained how ‘we’re keen to grow, we’ve found a system that works, and we feel can be replicated’, they are focused and driven and energised off the back of a successful year and are working closely with the whole HSBC team, and local land agents to ensure that they can take advantage of any opportunities that come to the table. They also understand the importance of the farm to the local and wider agricultural community, noting that they regularly engage with Harper Adams, the local rugby club, and young farmers organisation to provide teaching and work to those who want to learn more about the dairy industry.

Today we finance a number of industries that significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We have a strategy to help our customers to reduce their emissions and to reduce our own. For more information visit www.hsbc.com/sustainability.