Kingsford Farm

Rob and Liz farm 290 acres in partnership on their Devonshire home farm on the North Cornwall-Devon border. Repeatedly challenged by wet weather, utilising grass growth proves difficult. In 2021, the couple seized the opportunity to take on another 220-acre farm 15 miles away in Bude, Cornwall. This involved them selling a 160-acre holding to purchase the new site.

Running both cattle and sheep, most replacements are bred on farm and all stock are finished deadweight.

• 80 Stabiliser cows make up the sucker herd. The heifers begin calving at two years of age and the youngstock are then finished between 20-24 months on a grass-fed diet
• There are 630 ewes on the farms, 130 of which are mule crossbreds, 270 Highlanders, and 230 Aberfields. All ewes are tupped to Aberfield, Highlander and Primera Rams. 370 ewes will lamb outdoors this year (2022)

For the past 15 years, Rob and Liz farmed organically in Devon and are now in the process of organic conversion of the farm in Cornwall, where the farm had previously been conventionally managed. At present, Rob and Liz also have 60 kW of solar panels, a biomass boiler and a rainwater harvesting system to reduce input costs and provide additional income for the farm. Recently, the couple decided to re-enter the mid-tier countryside stewardship.

Having implemented rotational grazing since 2016, Rob and Liz want to take their grassland management a step further by attempting to outwinter their cattle. They would also like to focus on improving the percentage of lambs and calves reared. Driven by facts, figures and honesty, the Priests like the idea of being accountable to an audience to encourage them to push their farm business to meet its full potential.