Staff Profile

James Standen is the Farms Director for Newcastle University Farms.  The University has two farms, Cockle Park and Nafferton, which are farmed as one unit with a dairy herd, breeder finisher pig unit and arable enterprise, most of the land is conventional although there is an area of organic land at Nafferton.  The farms have a commercial focus but provide a facility for teaching and research both for the University and other users.  In addition there is an AD & CHP plant at Cockle Park, short rotation coppice, woodland and let properties.   James also farms in partnership with his wife on a tenanted arable and livestock farm with a holiday let and fishing lakes.  The farm is LEAF Marque certified and has a focus on environmental management.  James is also an appointee on the NFU Combinable Crops Board, a member of the Farm Management Board at Plumpton College, a council member of the Institute of Agricultural management, a Governor of Askham Bryan College and a director of their farming company.

Previously James managed an estate in Kent with covering 2,300 acres of arable of owned, rented and contract farmed land, 1,000 acres of woodland, let properties, an in hand shoot and a biomass boiler with a district heating system.  the estate had previously had a dairy herd.  Prior to that James worked for ADAS as a Farm Management Consultant managing and advising a number of farms across the South East.  He has also managed a large arable farm in North Yorkshire.

James is a commercial farming manager and has led a number of restructuring projects on farms.  He has a keen interest in sustainable farming, environmental management and co-operation among farmers.   James has a BSc in Agriculture and a MSc in Agricultural Economics from Wye College he is also BASIS and FACTS qualified.