Real Results Grower: Richard Hinchliffe
Dikes Marsh Farm, Rawcliffe Bridge, Yorkshire
With over 500ha of grade 1 land, Dikes Marsh Farm is a high yielding arable farm sitting on medium silty clay loam and Mg clay. Farmed by Richard Hinchliffe, his dad David and uncle James, sustainability underpins every decision made at Dikes Marsh Farm – from cultivations to crop protection. Today, the farm is no-till and has a broad rotation that includes winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, OSR, linseed and winter beans.
IPM is integrated into every part of the farm business and every decision made. They endeavor to do everything in the most environmentally friendly way, for other people and for the next generation.
Rawcliffe bridge has been hosting fungicide and variety trials since 1996 and has worked on some of their sustainability projects with BASF since 2002. Being part of the Real Results Circle has given them opportunities to meet with some of the countries best arable farmers, Richard says he learns as much from talking to other farmers as anyone else.
About Richard
Richard grew up on the family farm and gained a National Diploma in Agriculture at Riseholme College, Lincolnshire (now part of Bishop Burton) in 2001, before going on to do a HNC.
He is BASIS and FACTS qualified 16 years ago and runs the farm jointly with his Dad and Uncle. Richard is married and has two sons. He was also an arable finalist in the Farmers Weekly Awards in 2008 and completed a Nuffield Scholarship in 2016.
What would you say is your farming philosophy? “It’s a cliché but there’s some sense in second half of the phrase ‘live like you’re going to die tomorrow, but farm like you’ll live forever.’ Farming is a long-term, multi-generation game. Often, I’m thinking about the next 50 years, not the next two or three.”
Why did you get involved in Real Results Circle?
“Because of our relationship with BASF, and for the opportunities to meet with some of the country’s best arable farmers. I learn as much from talking to other farmers as I do from anyone else. It’s the collective.”
How has your involvement in RRC benefited you and your farming business?
“We get to see new technology, such as fungicides, firsthand – it provides useful insights. We’re learning all the time.”
What do you get out of by hosting the Real Results Demo site?
“It comes back to people – it’s particularly interesting meeting some of the international visitors. Wherever we are in the world, the underlying principles of farming are the same but there are often different approaches to addressing the challenges we face.
“Agronomy is one of my hobbies. It’s always evolving, and I enjoy keeping up to date.”
Sustainability and looking to the future of Dikes Marsh Farm
What are you doing to ensure your farming operation remains sustainable and resilient for the future?
“It’s about the triple bottom line – people, profit and plant. Profit has to be at the top of the list because without it, we’ve not a sustainable business. As a family business, the people side is very important, and in terms of the planet, our farming strategy is one of integrated crop management.” “We’re always fine tuning the business and how we farm.”
How is IPM integrated into your farming operation?
“IPM is integrated into every part of our business and every decision we make. We try to do everything in the most environmentally-friendly way because of the people, the next generation. “We’re going into our third season without any insecticides.”
What most excites you about the future of farming and agriculture?
“The idea that I can leave the farm in a better place for the next generation.” “Farming is becoming a ‘sexier’ industry in which to work. There’s a greater diversity of roles available – from mechanical engineering, software development and data analytics, to agronomy and crop breeding, there’s someone for anyone. Hopefully that will continue to attract talent to the sector.”
Why farming is the Biggest Job on Earth?
“Without farming, there’s no food and no people.”