Farmer Profiles
Jilly Greed and husband Edwin
One of our Devon suppliers, Jilly Greed and husband Edwin, have featured on the labels of our Standard Beef range. Here is a brief summary of their farm and what they do.
Jilly Greed
“I am a 4th generation beef producer farming in Devon in the flood plains of the Exe and Culm, near Exeter with Edwin and son George, on a 500 acre family farm.
Earlier this year I went on 5 day beef study tour of Argentina and Brazil with Tesco and other industry representatives to see their South American supply chain, visiting farms and the processing industry. I am a council member of the National Beef Association South West and member of the Food Chain Initiative committee of the Country Land & Business Association. I am also involved in the pr and marketing of regional food through Taste of the West.
Our farm is divided almost equally between permanent water meadows and arable land with every field on the holding in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone as well as a triple SSI (site of special scientific interest). Our business focus is to keep it simple and concentrate on what we do best. Our aim is long term sustainability and we are adapting to the new era of CAP reform by adding value to our enterprises and reducing cost wherever we can.
The 3 main enterprises are quality suckled beef, energy and feed crops and the environment, with Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Level Schemes, to increase the endangered cirl bunting and grey legged partridge. Meanwhile we are seeing other species thrive on the farm, in particular skylarks, otters and kingfishers.
We have a closed suckler herd of 200 head of spring calving South Devon and Blonde beef cattle, pure and cross bred, with over 50 years of bloodline between them and high herd health plan and strict bio security. Farming in the flood plain means we cannot out winter, so cows and calves graze the river meadow from early April to the end of October and are then housed in a mix of modern and traditional buildings.
We do not have a large labour force. 25 years ago six men were employed on the farm, 7 years ago four, and now there are only 2, Michael who has been with us for 31 years and my husband Ed. With over wintering costs and pressure on available buildings, efficient beef production systems and reducing costs including labour are crucial.
A supply chain system and partnership that would give us added value and extra margin was also key. Which is why we became a member of Blade Farming South West (part of Southern Counties Fresh Foods) in October 2004, agreeing a forward contract that rewarded quality and consistency - but also ensured a high level of technical backup and expertise to improve what we do and reduce cost.
However we are very dependent at the moment on the Single Farm Payment to continue farming and without this payment, we would not be in business! Which is why we are looking at the possibility of going organic to achieve a higher return for what we produce. The two year conversion period would mean that our product would not be fully organic until 2009 – so we are reviewing all the options meanwhile to make sure we make the right decision and that it will be sustainable!”
Jilly Greed
Fortescue Farm
Thorverton
Exeter EX5 5JN
email jilly@onevoicemedia.co.uk (day job)
