Real Results Grower: John Thomas
J & D Thomas, Stewarts Hyde Farm, Pencombe, Herefordshire
Stewards Hyde Farm covers 80ha over a soil type of medium clay load. It has been no plough for 15 years and has a rotation of OSR, winter wheat, winter barley and spring beans. The majority of the OSR, wheat and bean straw is chopped and incorporated and followed with min till or direct drilling. IPM is at the heart of Mr Thomas’ farming operation with buffer strips round the majority of his fields sown with pollen mix.
The Real Results Trials were established by the farm’s agronomist David Lines.
About John and Sustainability at Stewards Hyde Farm
Mr Thomas moved to Stewards Hyde in 1955 when his parents bought the farm. He has always wanted to farm and began full time work on the farm as soon as he left school. At this point the business diversified into contracting.
Stewards Hyde is a family farm on undulating land with lots of trees. There are records of the family farming in the area from the start of the 20th century. Mr Thomas has carried on the business from his parents and his own son now works in the business with him. Mr Thomas is keen to improve the land for his children and has been farming sustainably and without ploughing for the last 15 years.
IPM is at the heart of Mr Thomas’ farming operation with buffer strips round the majority of his fields sown with pollen mix.
Stewards Hyde is a pilot farm on ELM’s, they have gone straight into the high-level scheme as they have been doing everything that is required for this for the last 20 years. The farm is involved with DEFRA and are able to feedback on what is working well with the scheme and what ought to be changed. Mr Thomas’ son is heavily involved with this aspect.