Glovers Farm

David farms with his father John in north west Norfolk within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. He has been back at the family farm for four years having previously managed beef and sheep farms in New Zealand and North America.

Farm size – 360ha of tenanted land, with around 30ha sublet to a free-range pig operation. 80ha of temporary grassland feature heavily within the arable rotation, in addition to barley, wheat, potatoes and sugar beet. The farm sits predominantly on light alkaline soils over chalk making it susceptible to drought in the summer months.

Livestock – David runs a closed flock of 900 ewes tupped by EasyRams. He is currently strengthening the genetics of his flock and considering changing bloodlines and breeds.

Environment schemes – Environmental schemes feature within David’s farming ethos. The farm has 40ha permanent HLS grassland as well as other Mid-Tier options including GS4 legume and herb-rich swards, which David is currently trialling and comparing with various seed mixes. David is keen to integrate legumes, including Lucerne, into the rotation to reduce his dependence on granular fertilisers, alongside improving soil health while strengthening the grazing enterprises’ resilience to seemingly ever-changeable weather patterns.

Why did you join the Monitor Farm programme? With the Basic Payment phasing out, David wants to get a better overview of the farm, develop integrated farming strategies and improve the future sustainability and resilience of his farming business.