Bertie is 25 years and has full responsibility for the management and running of Manor Farm in Cattistock
“I have always wanted to be a farmer it is my blood! After finishing a diploma in Agriculture at Sparsholt college I was fortunate to spend six months working on several farms in New Zealand and Australia. It was a fantastic learning experience, as well as teaching me how to care for myself it also gave me a real insight into how different farms are managed. There is so much more freedom and less ‘red tape’ in New Zealand. At 18 I was given both the authority and jobs to do that I would never have been allowed to do in the UK. I would recommend to anyone who wants to go farming to spend time working on another farm, not necessarily overseas as I did, but somewhere away from home in the north of the country perhaps. You will be amazed at what you learn and how it helps your confidence and progression when you return.
When I came back to the family farm in 2014, I set up a successful suckler herd of 35 cows of my own and proved to everyone that I was a farmer and ready for responsibility. I became a partner in the family Manor Farm in 2017 taking my herd with me, and in 2018 I took over the sole management when my father started running my grandfather’s dairy business.
From the 600 ha organic farm I produce high quality beef and lamb from 120 angus-cross suckler cows and 1000 North Country Cheviot ewes. To make use of available resources and to improve cashflow I have started keeping dairy origin beef and doing some contracting, I have also set up a TB isolation unit where I am rearing calves. I have 1 fulltime and 1 part time employee.
I make good use of technology to help run the business, there is a massive amount of different technologies around these days available to help farmers become more efficient. A good example is an app I have on my phone called Breedr which enables me to capture data on my livestock on the move and then I can use analyse the data to help improve my efficiency and profitability.
It was through my work with Breedr, helping them to develop their product that I was nominated for the Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year 2020. It was a huge surprise to find myself as one of the three finalists but to be announced as the winner is just incredible.. it hasn’t really sunk in yet…. Just a shame that unable to celebrate as would normally! ”
Bertie is an ambassador for the Discover Farming programme, available to answer any career-based question that students looking at career choices may have.
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