stuart hird yockenthwaite, langstrothdale...stuart hird yockenthwaite, langstrothdale yockenthwaite...

VoicesFromtheLand,2017.InterviewbyLaurenHunter,EmilyOwenandHollySmith;TranscriptEmilyOwen

Article©HarrietFraser;images©RobFraserand©EmilyOwen

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StuartHirdYockenthwaite,Langstrothdale

YockenthwaitefarmhouseoverlookstheRiverWharfeasitwindsitswaythroughLangstrothdale.Builtinthe1600s,originallyaspartofthehuntingestateLangstrothdaleChase,itisrathergrandlooking,and,fromtheoutsideatleast,haschangedlittleoverthecenturies.Stuart’sfamilyhavebeenfarmingheresince1842,whichmakeshimthefifthgenerationtofarmhere.ThefamilyrentsthefarmfromtheNationalTrustonagenerationaltenancy.‘Welookafteritasthoughitwasourown-that’stheadvantageofalongtenancy.’

Aroundthefarm,inbyelandiswalledinbydrystonewalls.Thisaccountsforroughly400acresofgrazing,andwithrightstograzeontwocommons,RaisgillHaggandYockenthwaiteMoor,thetotalgrazinglandisover2000acres.Stuartrunsaflockofaround1000breedingewes(DalesbredandSwaledale)andasmallnumberofcattle,whicharekeptmoreasamanagementtoolforthelandthanforanyfinancialreturn.LikemanyfarmsintheDales,Yockenthwaitehaspublicfootpathsrunningthroughitsland.TheDalesWaypassesinfrontofthehouseandacrossthesmallbridgethatarchesovertheriver,linkingthefarmwiththeroad.Stuart’swifeLizorganisesarefreshmentstopforwalkers,withhelp-yourselfhotdrinksandhome-madeflapjacksinatraditionalstonebarn.Lizisafarmer’sdaughter,andmight

havebeenhandsonatthefarmifitwasn’tforthesuccessofthefamily’sgranolabusiness.‘Itgrewoutofusdoingbedandbreakfast,’saysStuart.‘BedandBreakfastwasanobviousoneforus,becauseofthelocality,butafterfootandmouth1Bed&Breakfastwasn’tquiteasgoodbecausepeoplehadgotusedtonotcoming.ItisstillanimportantpartoftheDaleseconomy,butwefeltthatitwastooseasonal,andwhatyouweremakinginthesummer

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youwerehavingtoputbackintoyourhousetogetitreadyforthenextyear.Thegranolaisallyearroundandeasiertomanage.’ThissideofthebusinesshasgrownmassivelyintheandproductionhasmovedfromthefarmtopremisesinSkipton:YockenthwaiteGranolasaresoldnationwide,andonlinesaleshavebeendoublingeverythreemonthsoverthelastyear.StuartandLizhavetwosonswhoareinvolvedinbothsidesofthefamilybusiness.‘Edward’sthefarmer.David,worksmoreonthegranolaside.’SoStuartfindshimselfworkingonthefarmalongsideEdward,andformostoftheyearitisjustthetwoofthem.‘Andthenforlambingtimeandonweekendsthere’sEdward’sfiancée.Ifweneedmorehands,there’smywifeandDavid.Davidturnsupforhaytimeandthatsortofthing,andLizhelpsatlambingtimeandanyothertimesthatshecan.Butwetrytokeepstaffingtoaminimum.Wedoallourownshearing.Wedooccasionallygetcontractorsinifweneedany:ifwe’reabitbehindwithwalling,andfencingandsilaging.’

Inmanagingthefarm,Stuartsignsuptoanagri-environmentscheme,asmostfarmersdo.‘Theschemesarequiteanimportantpartofourbusiness:asystemthatencouragesustofarminwhatsomewouldcallmoreold-fashionedwaysortraditionalways,withouthavingtointensify,andconsequentlymaintainthelandscapeandenvironmentthatpeopleenjoyvisiting.’Theschemes,withthedetailsdeterminedbyeachindividualfarmerinnegotiationwithNaturalEngland,involveagreementsaboutmanyaspectsoffarming,includingstockinglevelsofsheepandcows,preservationofmeadowlandwithrestrictionsoncuttingdates,treeplanting,andupkeepofwalls.StuarthasalsojoinedapilotprojectwiththeNationalParkandtheNationalTrustwherepaymentsarebasedonoutcomes;theprojectfollowsonfroma

projectknownasHigherNatureValuefarming.Stuartexplainshisapproachtotheschemes.‘We’vetakenadvantageoftheschemesandwehavebeenabletoreducethestockintensityonthefarm.Whatwegetfromthelivestockisn’tapatchonwhatwegetfromtheagri-environmentschemes.Butthisisthewaythatwe’rebeingaskedtogo.Imeantheytalkaboutpublicgood:politicianshavetojustifywheremoney’sspent,andhowit’sspent.Andtheperceptionisthattheagri-environmentrouteisthewayforward,especiallyforareaslikethis.Wecouldgodownamoreintensiveproductionroutebutwhetheryouwouldhavealandscapethatwouldmeetwitheverybody’sapproval-wellitdoesn’tmeetwitheverybody’sapprovalasitisnow.’Stuartreferstoa‘resistance’fromtownspeople,manyofwhom,hethinks,havelittleideaoftheroleoffarminginlookingafterthelandscape.‘Whentheycomeoutwalkingtheywanttoseethesesortofareasandlandscapepreservedastheyare.Butyoucan’taffordtoturnthemintomuseums–theeasiestwayofconservinganythingistokeepitinuse.’Stuarttalksaboutthepressureforfarmerstorespondtothedesiresofothers,andthepredicamentthisleavesthemin.‘It’soneofmybugbears,thefactthatfarmersareblamedforalotofthedamagethat’sbeendoneintheenvironment,inthecountryside,allegedly.

When they comeout walking theywant to see thesesort of areas andlandscapepreservedas theyare.Butyoucan’t afford to turnthem into museums- the easiest way ofconserving anythingistokeepitinuse.



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ThetruthofthematterissincetheSecondWorldWarupuntilthemid’80s,wewerepaidtoproducemoreandmorefood.Farmersdeliveredit.Intensiveagricultureallowedcheapfoodproduction,butcheapfooddoesn’tbenefitfarmers.IwenttoNewtonRiggCollegewhenIwasseventeen.Theyhada12-acrefieldtherethatproducedasmuchlambasIdonowonabout2500acres.Thefertiliserusagewashorrendous.Itwasn’tnicetosee,butthoselambswereabouthalfpricewhatourlambswere.Itallcomesdowntopriceattheendoftheday.’Practiceshavechangedsincethen,andoneaimofstewardshipschemesistoreducetheamountoflandthatis‘improved’withfertiliser,withthemoneypaidundertheschemesintendedtomakeupforthelossofincomearisingfromlowersheepproduction.Buttheschemesthemselves,bothincontentandintheircontinuation,areuncertainwiththeimpactonhillfarmingfromtheUK’swithdrawalfromtheEuropeanUnion.Stuartconsiderswhatmighthappen.‘Ithinkthatthebasicpaymentschemewillbeseverelycurtailed.Ithinkthatthemeninthelowlandswillbeallowedtofarmastheywantandthepublicwillhavetolumpit,eveniftheydon’tlikewhatthey’redoing.Ifthere’snopublicmoneygoingintoit,thenthere’snothingtheycanreallydotoinfluenceit.Areaslikethis,Ithinktherewillbesupportofoneformoranother.Thereareareasofoutstandingbeautywhichwillattractan

awfullotofmoney,andthenthere’llbeotherbitsthatwon’t,thatperhapswe’llbeabletointensifyalittlebit.Butwe’renotgoingtointensifythatmuch–itjustisn’tviable.AndwhathappenswithBrexit,well,yes,Ithinktobehonestit’llbeamonumentalfudge.’Theremaybesomepositives,though,Stuartthinks.‘Whenthepoundwasatthelevelthatitwas,itwaseasierforustoimportfoodfromoutsideEurope.Nowanythingthatweimportisgoingtobemoreandmoreexpensive.Sothat,tomywayofthinking,meansthereisanopportunityforBritishagriculture.Providedwepullourfingersout,anddoitright,Ithinkwe’veagoodopportunity.It’sinterestingtimes.But,Ithinkfarmerswillrisetothechallenge.’Thechallengeofmeetingthechangesthatcome

withBrexitisoneofthemosttalked-aboutissuesatthemoment,butadaptingtochangeisnotnew:farmershavebeendoingthisforcenturies.Economicpressuresshift,policiesalter,andtrendsinpublicopinionsriseandfall.Stuartreferstothosewhoadvocatetheremovaloflivestockaspartofwhatispopularlycalledrewilding.‘Imaybewrong,’hesays,‘butIdon’tthinktheNationalParkswouldreallybeinfavourofre-wilding.They’rewantingwhat’sbeenmaintainedoverthelandforthelast50,60years,orhoweverlongthey’vebeen.Yougetsomepeoplewhothinkthatwedon’treallyneedthestonewalls–theysay,canweconsignthemtohistorylikethecoalmineswere?’Stuartisunhappywiththeimpositionofideasandpoliciesdevelopedelsewhere.‘Wehaven’ttimetokeepbattlingeverybodythat’sgotanideafromLondon,orfromdownsouthorwhateveritis,thatthinksit’dbeniceifthishappenedintheYorkshireDales.That’swhatIasafarmerresent.It’sa

When the pound was at thelevel that itwas, itwaseasierfor us to import food fromoutside Europe. Now anythingthat we import is going to bemore and more expensive. Sothat, to my way of thinking,means there is an opportunityforBritishagriculture.Providedwepullourfingersout,anddoit right, I think we’ve a goodopportunity. It’s interestingtimes.But, I think farmerswillrisetothechallenge.



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differentworldwhenyougooverthetop.’Stuartgesturestothelandaroundhim.‘Itcanbesunshinethere,anditcanberainingonceyougetroundthatcornerorpastthatbridgeatthebottomofKidstones.Policiesneedtobedesignedbypeoplethatarefamiliarwiththearea,notpeoplefromalongwayaway.’Schemesthatpaybyresultsactuallyinvolvefarmersinreportingonandmonitoringtheirownland.‘Hopefullytheenvironmentalbodiesarestartingtocomeroundtothatwayofthinking.’AndintheYorkshireDales,wherethelandscapeiscelebratedforitsappearance,thedrystonewallsandtraditionalbarnsareanimportantelement.YockenthwaiteFarmhasanew,largebarn,whichis

betterforlivestockandforstorage,butalsohasfourteentraditionalbarns.‘Weusemostofthemforstoringhay,andsomeweuseforlivestock,’saysStuart.Althoughthey’reinuse,theyareinneedofadaptationtomakethemmorepracticalandaccessiblewithnewmachineryandlargertractors.‘Theycouldalldowithabigdoubledoorintheendofthemsowecanactuallygetinandout,tocleanthemout.Wedon’tmindcarryingstuffinbutit’sshovellingstuffoutthatwedon’treallylike.’

OneofStuart’sperpetualchallengesistheweather.‘I’vebeenfumingforthelastthreeorfourdaysbecausetheweatherforecastwasinaccurate.Wecouldhaveprobablygotabitofhayifwe’dhaveknownitwasgoingtobeassunnyasthis,butitwasforecastingrain.Youcan’trelyonthem,notunlessit’sforecasttobeaheatwaveorwall-to-wallsunshineforamonth,that’sfine.Butitisvery,veryfrustratingbecause,ifwe’regoingtohavetendaysofsunshine,wecouldallgethaytimedone,you’renotworryingaboutit.’Inreality,oftenitistheweatheritself,aswellasthecomputer-drivenforecasts,thatisunpredictableandunfavourable.‘Haytime’soneofthosethings.It’snotlikelambingtime.Whenlambingtime

We haven’t time to keepbattling everybody that’s gotan idea from London, or fromdown south or whatever it is,that thinks it’d be nice if thishappened in the YorkshireDales. That’s what I as afarmer resent.Policiesneedtobedesignedbypeoplethatarefamiliar with the area, notpeoplefromalongwayaway.



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starts,itcarriesonbecausethesheeparegoingtolambwheneverthey’reready.There’snostoppingthem.Whereaswithhaytime,ifit’sgoingtobewet,youhavetostop,it’sassimpleasthat.Itcanlastaweek,itcanlast3months.’Whentheweatherisfavourableforhay,orformakingsilage,collectionandbalingaresimplernowwithupgradedtractorsandtechnology.Stuartrecallsthechallengeofworkingwitholdbalingmachinesandhavingtoaddthewrap,ataskneedingtwomen.Nowitcan

bedonewithonemachineandoneman.‘Therewasalotoffaffingaboutinthosedays.Butnottoolongbeforethattheyweredoingeverythingwithhorses.Technology’smovingonallthetime.’Howabouttheinternet?Hasthischangedanything?‘Mywifeusessocialmediaforpromotingthegranolasideofthebusiness.Wedointernetbanking,andweusetheinternettotryandforecasttheweather,butthat’samug’sgame!’Stuartisseldomonthecomputerthough–it’ssomethinghissonsaremuchmorecomfortablewith.Edwardusesitwhenpedigreeflockcataloguesareprinted.‘Hecanlookatapedigreeflockcatalogueanywhereinthecountry.So,inthatrespect,youcandecidewhetherit’sworthgoingtoasaleornot:justlittlebitslikethatsaveyouaday.’

Itisperhapsunavoidableasafarmer,theneedtomakethemostofthetimeavailableandtokeepontopofanever-endinglistoftasks.‘WhenIwasEdward’sage,’saysStuart,‘Iwouldn’thavesatdownanddonethiswithyou,Ijustwouldn’thavehadtimetodoit.You’realwaysunderpressure.AsI’vegotolderandhe’sthere,IknowIcandothis,andwe’renotgoingtoloseouttoomuch.Oneoftheproblemswithfarmingisthatit’susuallydonebyindividuals,andifanybodyasksthemaquestion,theynearlyalwaysaskitatadifficulttime,soyoucancomeacrossasbeingshortandunpleasant.But,havingsaidthat,weliveinaworldwherepeoplefeelaneedtobeinformed,andweasfarmershavetodomoreofthat.’Duringtheinterviewseveralwalkerscomeintothebarn,helpthemselvestoadrink,andstoptochat,soitseemsthatStuartcertainlyisdoinghispartandgivinganideaofthecommitmentandpassionthatunderpinwhathedoes.‘AllIeverwantedtodowasfarm,’hesays.Stuartsayshedoesn’tdothesoppysideofthings,doesn’tgetemotional,butneverthelesssharessomethingofhisenjoyment.‘Atthistimeofyear,ifIknowthesun’soutandI’mgoingtogetmyfieldofhaygatheredup,thatcanputasmileonmyface.ButIdon’tparticularlycareforsummer,itcanbeastressfultimebecauseoftheweather.Butwhenitgetstoaboutfiveo’clockorhalfpastfiveatnight,Ilikenothingbetterthantosetoffandgowallingforacoupleofhours,andjusthaveathinkaboutthedayandwhatperhapsI’dliketogetdonethefollowingday.AndthenIgowallingagainthefollowingnightwonderingwhyIdidn’tgetitdone!’Butoutthere,walling,despitechoresthatgoundone,isStuarthappybeinghere?‘Yeah,Iam.Yeah,Ican’tthinkofanywhereelseI’dliketobe.’

Haytime’soneofthosethings.It’s not like lambing time.When lambing time starts, itcarries on because the sheepare going to lamb wheneverthey’re ready. There’s nostopping them. Whereas withhay time, if it’s going to bewet, you have to stop, it’s assimple as that. It can last aweek,itcanlast3months.



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www.dalesfarmers.co.uk

Atthistimeofyear,whenitgetstoaboutfiveo’clockorhalfpastfiveatnight,Ilikenothingbetterthantosetoffandgowallingforacoupleofhours,andjusthaveathinkaboutthedayandwhatperhapsI’dliketogetdonethefollowingday.AllIeverwantedtodowasfarm.Ican’t

thinkofanywhereelseI’dliketobe.

stuart hird yockenthwaite, langstrothdale...stuart hird yockenthwaite, langstrothdale yockenthwaite...

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