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NEWS
Beckhithe Farms is the 2007 winner of the Farmers Weekly
Beef Farmer of the Year Award – with ‘a remarkable
business template’ for beef production.
Norfolk men win Beef Farmer of the Year
Beckhithe Farms, run jointly by Gary Gray and Barry Brooks, in
Norfolk is the 2007 Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year
sponsored by McDonalds.
Gray and Barry impressed the judges with their close working
relationship with other people in the industry. “We value everyone
as a partner and for this industry to survive the people in it have
to work together for the good of the supply chain.”
David Hendy, independent beef consultant and one of the judges
commented: “It’s quite the most remarkable of business templates
for any beef producer to comprehend and appreciate, regardless
of size. Their utter professionalism in amalgamating management,
technical, environmental and economic requirements for a profitable
beef enterprise is outstanding.”
Over 100 farmers have entered in this year’s Awards with more
than 30 businesses in the line-up reflecting the very best that
British producers can offer across 12 categories.
The Awards’ aim is to recognise innovation and achievement
among individual farmers as well as celebrate excellence within
the industry.
In the run-up to the Awards, Farmers Weekly magazine is profiling
the shortlisted farms from each category every week, with a focus
on the three finalists competing for each award.
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Beckhithe Farms was chosen as the 2007 East of England
regional winner in Natural England’s prestigious new
‘Future of Farming’ awards.
The scheme celebrates environmental excellence and innovation
in farming and recognises farmers who have made the greatest
contribution to both conserving England’s special wildlife and
landscapes, and to helping people have access to out natural
environment.
The award was made to Beckhithe Farms for ‘exemplary management
of wildlife, landscape and access’ on the extensive Broadland farm.
"These awards are a result of hard work by all our team and we
also work very closely with our suppliers," says Gary Gray.
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Welcome to school children
Beckhithe Farms hosts two visits each year for pupils from the
Freethorpe Primary School. The children tour the farm on a purpose
built trailer and hear about the various activities on the farm. The
information forms part of a work project for the term.
This is a link to one of the letters received from three pupils
in the school's Blue Class. |
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AWARDS
Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Food Awards
- finalist 2004
Norfolk Farmland Conservation Award
- winner of large farm section 2003
Living Lakes Best Conservation Practice Award
- winner 2003
English Nature SSSI Award
- winner 2000
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NEWS
Healthier animals
Looking after the health of animals means protecting them from
diseases such as pneumonia as well as providing a welfare-
friendly environment — as illustrated in a high-profile advertising campaign featuring Gary Gray, manager of Beckhithe Farms.
In the advertisement Gary is quoted as saying he didn’t realise,
for instance, the true cost of underlying respiratory viruses
until he started vaccination.
"In my experience it's not just obvious pneumonia cases that
cost so much , profits are also hit by hidden damage caused
by underlying respiratory viruses in the rest of the herd," he says.
"These animals can look healthy but show a reduced weight gain
and are later finishing.
"Once I started using Rispoval 4 vaccine, I was impressed by
how much healthier was the whole herd, improving growth rates
and maintaining profits."
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Cut Above campaign
Gary Gray, manager of Beckhithe Farms, was one of 23 delegates
to the Farm Business Beef Industry Summit at the House of Lords
in April, held in conjunction with the Cut Above campaign
organised by the journal.
The delegates, hosted by Lord Palmer and including Shadow
Agriculture Minister James Paice MP, represented the supply
industry, vets, producers, processors and retailers.
The summit agreed that despite the threat of imports, British beef
does have some significant advantages. But for these to be
exploited fully, major changes are needed in all parts of the supply
chain. These included more focus on consistent quality and
branding, greater communication throughout the chain, more
transparency of data between processors and producers and
greater understanding of costings.
The event was part of the Cut Above campaign run by Farm
Business in conjunction with Pfizer Animal Health during which
more than 700 beef producers discussed the industry in
14 meetings around the country.
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