Nafferton Farm
The Nafferton farming business comprises two main farm units run from the base at Nafferton Farm in the Tyne Valley approximately 15 miles west of Newcastle. All the land is rented. Nafferton Farm is 294 ha, and the second unit, Ouston Farm consists of three blocks of land - arable, temporary grass and permanent - totalling some 233 ha.
The principal objectives of the farm are to provide:
- A land-based research facility especially in the area of Organic production;
- Demonstration facilities for teaching purposes;
- A viable farming business.
The farm's financial output is broadly comprised as follows:
- Milk Sales -35%
- Crop Sales - 50%
- Livestock Sales - 15%
Livestock farming covers:
Crop Farming covers:
- Organic Cropping (Forage Systems, Arable Systems)
- Conventional Cropping (Forage Systems, Arable Systems)
The University Farms' Director is Dr Philip Cain, and the farm is managed by Dr William Taylor.
Nafferton Farm is home to the Nafferton Ecological Farming Group (formerly Tesco Centre for Organic Agriculture) which undertakes research and also provide advisory services to growers, processors and consumers.
Further details on the management and accounts at Nafferton can be found in the Nafferton Farm Guide, which can be obtained free of charge by contacting the Farm Director.