Petworth Farm competition results

Throughout the year the Petworth & District Agricultural Association holds a variety of on-farm competitions from best growing crops to best commercial dairy herd and the coveted best farm competition.
Roger & Kate Lywood tending their cows and calves, winners of the best farm and best commercial dairy herd competitionsRoger & Kate Lywood tending their cows and calves, winners of the best farm and best commercial dairy herd competitions
Roger & Kate Lywood tending their cows and calves, winners of the best farm and best commercial dairy herd competitions

This year classes have been judged by representatives from the Crowborough & District Ploughing Association who have all spent several days visiting farms and had the difficult job of separating so many well managed crops and farms.

As we all know, the weather has delivered a severe test to British farmers in the past year particularly the seemingly endless rain through the winter and into the spring coupled with cold temperatures and a slow start to the 2013 growing season.

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For most it has been a year to forget but as usual the judges found plenty of excellent management to praise and with kind weather this summer the association’s farmers are poised with optimism for next years crops.

Several farmers did well in the forage competitions but notably Edward Tupper from Littleton Farm who won two of the three grass ley classes and James Renwick from Buddington Farm who was awarded the best clamp of maize silage and 2nd best clamp of grass silage.

Growing crop competitions were also well contested with a number of farmers taking first prize in at least one class with standout winners Richard & Mark Chandler from Moor Farm taking 3 first prizes and Tom & William Tupper from Bignor Farms taking 4 first prizes.

The prize for the best overall crop was also awarded to Tom and William for their crop of Soft Wheat.

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The sought after best farm competitions were won by Keith & Andrew Gadd from Ridlington Farm, Duncton in the under 500 acres category and Roger & Kate Lywood from Marshalls Farm, Kirdford in the over 500 acres class.

Roger & Kate (pictured) enjoyed further success being declared the best farm across both classes and also winning the best commercial dairy herd competition.

They currently milk around 325 cows on their farm at Kirdford where dairy judges noted the “tremendous strength of cows, structured breeding policy and low lameness.”

They also praised the farms “excellent milk hygiene and impressive plans for the future.”

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Roger is extremely happy to have won both competitions commenting that he is “pleased that judges have recognised the merits of an extensive cost-controlled system and not focused entirely on cow performance.”

Prizes will be awarded at the PDAA’s annual Ploughing Match that will be held on Sunday 22nd September at Crawfold Farm, Balls Cross by kind permission of R Chandler & Son.

The association hopes for a repeat of the spectacular weather we have enjoyed on plough match day for the past four years.

Around 50 ploughmen are expected to compete on the 80 acre site including a large turnout of vintage and classic machinery. Admission is free and spectators are welcome with ploughing commencing at 9.00am.

The 2013 results were as follows:

Class 51 – Best Clamp or Pit of Grass Silage

1st - J M Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford

2nd - J Renwick. Buddington Farm, Easebourne

3rd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green

Class 52 – Best Clamp or Pit of Maize Silage

1st - J Renwick. Buddington Farm, Easebourne

2nd - J M Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford

3rd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green

Class 53 – Best Bale of Silage

1st - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham

2nd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green

3rd - J M Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford

Class 1 – Ley sown on 1st January 2010 or before

1st - J M Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford

2nd - R Lywood, Marshalls Farm, Kirdford

3rd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green

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Class 2 – Ley sown between 1st January 2010 & 31st December 2011

1st - D H Tupper Farms, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham

2nd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green

3rd - P Strudwick, Downs Farm, Amberley

Class 3 – Ley sown since 1st January 2012

1st - D H Tupper Farms, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham

2nd - P Strudwick, Downs Farm, Amberley

3rd - J C Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham

Class 4 – Best Commercial Dairy Herds

1st - R Lywood, Marshalls Farm, Kirdford

Tremendous strength of cows, Structured breeding policy with low lameness. An extensive and efficient grazing system. Impressive future plans for increasing cow numbers. Excellent milk hygiene.

2nd - P Crawley, Crouch Farm, Barlavington

Excellent strength of cows. Great NZ and GB breeding and grazing style. Best in calf heifers. Impressive whole crop forage. Low cases of lameness. Impressive investment for over wintering housing.

3rd - Strudwick, Downs Farm, Amberley

The smallest of the Holstein type Cow, with high yields. Tremendous yield and hygiene. Best length of grazing, considering the challenging soil conditions. Good use of home grown cereals and calves to complement the dairy. Best view.

4th - C Stickland, Burchetts Farm ,Wisborough Green

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Best yield to weight of fat and protein. Impressive uniform cows of above average size. Great grazing techniques. Efficient use of bore-hole water. Considering the challenging transition of new housing and slurry system, I was very impressed. Very confident in his future plans.

Class 5 – Best Crop of Hard Wheat

1st - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

2nd - D H Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham

3rd - J Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham

Class 6 – Best Crop of Soft Wheat

1st - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

2nd - D H Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham

3rd - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth

Class 7 – Best Crop of Spring Wheat

1st - R Comber, Manor Farm, Heyshott

2nd - N Moss, River Park Farm, Lodsworth

3rd - R Wilkins, Pallingham Manor Farm, Wisborough Green

Class 8– Best Crop of Spring Rape

1st - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth

Class 9 – Best Crop of Spring Barley

1s - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

2nd - P Chandler, Redlands Farm, Lodsworth

3rd - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth

Class 10 – Best Crop of Winter Oats

1st - R Green, Mitchell Park Farm, Northchapel

Class 10a – Best Crop of Spring Oats

1st - N Moss, River Park Farm, Lodsworth

2nd - L Dallyn, Strood Farm, Petworth

3rd - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham

Class 11 – Best Crop of Winter Barley

1st - P Strudwick, Downs Farm, Amberley

2nd - J Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham

3rd - R Gadd, Fitzleroi Farm, Fittleworth

Class 12 – Best Crop of Winter Sown Oilseed Rape

1st - D H Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham

2nd - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

3rd - R Gadd, Fitzleroi Farm, Fittleworth

Class 13 – Best Crop of Winter Beans

1st - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth

2nd - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

Class 14 – Best Crop of Spring Beans

1st - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth

2nd - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

3rd - R Green, Mitchell Park Farm, Northchapel

Class 17 – Best Crop Organic Crop

1st - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham

Class 18 – Best Crop of Linseed

1st - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor

2nd - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham

Overall winner of the Boxall Cup W Tupper for Soft Wheat

No comments were made for the cereal class

Environmental Competition did not take place as there was only 2 entries

Class 20 – Best Farm of 500 acres or less

1st - K L Gadd, Ridlington Farm, Duncton – Immaculate and well run, but what is next?

2nd – P Chandler, Redlands Farm, Lodsworth – Small but perfectly formed

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3rd - J C Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham – Good results with an eye on the Big Picture

Class 21 – Best Farm of 500 acres over less

1st – R Lywood, Marshalls Farm, Kirdford – Winner on the basis that this is an exceptional farm with a very clear vision being delivered in 2 or 3 years.

2nd - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth – Could easily be winners. A superb farm with a clear plan.

3rd – Stag Park, Petworth – Bouncing back from a disaster

Overall winner R Lywood, Marshalls Farm , Kirdford

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