Oakley Farms Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 In-between the storms the weather isn't too bad, on the levels its a different story, Oakley is situated in South Somerset higher up than the levels, we are right on the catchment area to one of the rivers that feeds the levels so run off and soil erosion are important to us, with the wind some of the land has pitched off, the majority of the home farm soil is light silty loams but some of the contract farmed areas are very heavy & wet, they will be left alone for some time yet. There are no external investors in the company, there is simply a wealthy land owner who inherited the land and has bought surrounding farms as years went on and agricultural labour changed, he has very little input in the farm as he is an MP & Lord so has other priorities. It is left to the farm & estate manager to run things and make decisions, having monthly progress meetings with the land owner, the farm finance situation is like any, making a profit by doing things right with attention to detail and efficiency saving money in the long run. It strongly believes in investing money to reap the rewards later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I see, wealthy old boy then! What does land cost around your place then, must be in the regio of £6-7000 per acre? That's still 12-14 million, big sum! Don't know if the farm also contains buildings, storage etc.. Hopefully cereal and rape prices will rise for Mr. Lord ;-). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 Extremely wealthy! The farm has been built up over 25 years, and with this size of output tax can be a problem! Extra income comes from two business parks & a sawmills too, the new venture & separate business into contract farming (oakley farms agri business) will also bring extra income, offering a complete stubble to stubble service with drying, storage & marketing available in partnership with Frontier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy6930 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 We have a Grimme GL32B prototype version, i would like to move over to a new belt planter at some point, and the spuds go to mainly Greenvales Tern Hill Site with some going to Floods Ferry I work for Greenvale but up in one of the Scottish sites really like your story can't wait to see the grader we had one in to help us in the wet year of 2012 it's a nightmare to travel on the road tho 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Land Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Jumping jupiters Alex, your growing. That big sprayer might have to stay on the job just to get round it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 Jumping jupiters Alex, your growing. That big sprayer might have to stay on the job just to get round it all. Cheers Ol, well Jack Pollard from Barrow Brook Farm has a trailed Amazone sprayer that helps out, Jack and I are building his model farm as we speak, the idea is to work together, he will help with spraying, bale all the straw as he buys it and sells it on, spread chicken litter & compost and i help him by growing 80 acres of potatoes on his ground, planting, harvesting, grading, storing & marketing them, we have a joint contract farming partnership of 500 acres at North Cadbury together so you will be seeing more of Jack on here in time. My Plan is to keep acreages the same on the home farm and expand on the contract farming side of things, we have the kit & tackle to cope and that way there is little investment for 50% of the returns, half for the land owner and half for Oakley Farms, therefore its in our interest to make a good job of other peoples farms 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Not too sure i like the sound of an MP / Lord having Oakley Farms Alex that bits nearly put me of me tea ha ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 He is a good chap Jon, fights for whats right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) I ll email him at the big House ( Lords ) & asked him if he buy you a nice big Massey that do just nice may be win a few more votes too any way back to the farm Edited February 12, 2014 by 590 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenside MF Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 brilliant updates always something going on at Oakley farms 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 You have built up a good layout with some great kit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0025 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 but are u as big as wardman farms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 You have built up a good layout with some great kit. Thanks Pete, nice comments like that are appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 but are u as big as wardman farms? Who is Wardman Farms? Never heard of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Ok we're back with some updates, after a trip to Lamma with Jack Pollard of Barrow Brook Farm we had a look at some kit to go halves on for our joint farming venture at North Cadbury, first we looked at a 3 metre Horsch Express drill with idea that im running an 8 metre Vaderstad Rapid and Jack runs a 4 metre Horsch Pronto both will be impossible to drill with in wet conditions so the 3 metre mounted Express was bought to become a back up drill when the going gets tough which is becoming more often with the English weather! We were impressed with the disc arrangement allowing soil to flow through and the drill to stay on top. Second bit of kit we looked at found us on the Bailey stand, a 20t lowloader with triple axel was contemplated for moving kit about such as the telehandler with a lot of land now spaced out over a wide area this will come in handy, both shared between both farms, as Barrow Brook is still being constructed delivery was taken at Oakley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Combine number 2 has arrived! The Lexion 770tt ordered last year has now made it to Oakley. Since Oakley Farms works very closely with Frontier Agriculture, using their agronomy & marketing services, and we have the South West area grain store for the company we struck a deal, we have become the company's demonstration farm for the drying & handling of grain & oilseeds, having visitors come from around the country & world to view the facilities, with a close partnership they in time will have a South West office based here and we have had this new combine wrapped in the Frontier colour scheme for marketing purposes and to promote Oakley's contract farming service as all grain is dealt with by Frontier 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Nice idea with the combine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) Finally for this week Phil's new tractor has arrived, a JD 6210r in black along with a black Richard Larrington 16t root king trailer, decided to have two bits of kit painted up in special black along with silver signwriting to commemorate 25 years of services to the Ag industry, 2014 Oakley's silver anniversary. Edited February 20, 2014 by Oakley Farms 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Light Land Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 He'll not be getting a pay rise this year with his new ride. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Boy oh boy Alex you spending some real pocket money here mate , im still thinking about buying something on page 2 that i d seen , real good thread your doing here thats for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tractorboyjules1977 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 loads of money !!!! ul have to send some up to hinton st George to us poor farmers !!! great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 loads of money !!!! ul have to send some up to hinton st George to us poor farmers !!! great job I heard thats where all the money is up Hinton, espically with all those Brushwood sheds joined together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0025 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 still dreaming of new kit! after 2 years why not donate these models to charity ha ha!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPN Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 A John Q for the 25th Anniversary? Would have thought you'd have splashed out on something upmarket, like a Fendt or a Newfie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakley Farms Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 (edited) A John Q for the 25th Anniversary? Would have thought you'd have splashed out on something upmarket, like a Fendt or a Newfie. A Fendt would be nice but try to keep everything matching, so with a fleet of JD's it had to be a black 6210r Edited February 21, 2014 by Oakley Farms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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