THREE generations of farming at a historic Sudbury farm is set to come to an end next year — 10 years after the owners defied critics to move into the world of organic produce.
The Jeffrey family have been working the land at Aston House Farm since 1920, moving from traditional dairy farming to organic 10 years ago and have reaped the rewards ever since after increasing profitability and selling produce to the likes of Waitrose.
Robert Jeffrey, like father Henry and grandfather William before him, has worked on the picturesque Derbyshire fields all his life but has also set up an agricultural consultancy firm called NewLandOwner with fellow dairy farmer David Morris.
Retiring from the family business will see Mr Jeffrey dedicate more time to his new career which aims to help anyone wishing to move to the country and own some land.
Mr Jeffrey, 71, told the Advertiser it will be a ‘terrible wrench’ to leave Aston House for pastures new and his family recently held an emotional farewell at their annual August bank holiday gettogether.
He said: “It will be a terrible wrench but I’m looking forward to having time to build the other business. At the moment the farm work tends to get in the way. It is enjoyable but I’ve realised I’m getting older and the physical side of it is eventually going to be an issue.
“I’m going to miss dealing with my cattle in the summer but I’m definitely not going to miss dealing with them in the winter! “We recently had a family party here where everyone came back as we do annually as I am one of four children and we all grew up here and they have brought their children here. It was a very poignant occasion being as it will be the last time.” The farm converted to organic status in 1999 which Mr Jeffrey admitted raised a few eyebrows at the time but those doubters have been silenced as the last 10 years have been the most profitable of his farming life.
He said: “The long horn bulls we keep appear to do particularly well on grass that has not got any fertiliser and get fat, sometimes too fat, on nothing but grass and silage which has made them very profitable.
“The fact that these animals thrive on grass alone means that my costs are minimal.” Mr Jeffrey said everything is now for sale at the farm, including the herd of 40 suckler cows with calves at foot, and hopes that his experience will encourage others to find success in organic farming.
He said: “The message I would like to send to other small family farms is that it can be done but a complete change in mindset is required to turn your back on all the salesman and have faith in working with Mother Nature to create a sustainable farming business with minimal inputs, producing high value output produce.” The farm is being re-let now and anyone wishing to take it on should contact Smiths Gore at the Sudbury Estate offices.
