Farming in Suffolk

[Exfarmer]

Such as the beautiful jewel in the crown, Great Yarmouth. (Ended up there on a stag do a few weeks ago)

You beat me to it
If that i Norfolk at its best I am glad I left, however luckily I know there are many lovely parts, just as there are in Suffolk

 

[ajd132]

You beat me to it
If that i Norfolk at its best I am glad I left, however luckily I know there are many lovely parts, just as there are in Suffolk

Spent many a happy week in north Norfolk Thornham area. Huge amount of good pubs and restaurants in a small area. Stanhoe duck my favourite up there at the moment.

 

[Pilatus]

I think a Cotswold farmer by the name of Adrian Clark bought a small farm in Suffolk about 3yrs ago, after him and his brother sold their Cotswold farm, due to family reasons.Yet another unfortunate family situation.
But best to move on as life is too short.

 

[Will 1594]

Spent many a happy week in north Norfolk Thornham area. Huge amount of good pubs and restaurants in a small area. Stanhoe duck my favourite up there at the moment.

I thought younwould of been , a more of a morston hall sort of lad ,
we go to crown at rudham ,consistently good

 

[farmerfred86]

Just been trying to imagine life on a 500 acre Farm in Suffolk within a ring fence grade 2 & 3 land.

I've grown up on the foothills of the Pennines with small stony fields, lots of walkers, dogs, anti social behaviour etc.

Family would mean, I'm not moving, but heck its tempting.

But what are the down sides of Suffolk farming life?

I imagine things I've no experience of such as soil blow, blackgrass, nematodes , drought & maybe even flooding on lower lying ground. Oh no vets either? or livestock markets.

Where I live we can drill spring barley 20 th April and harvest 55cwt/acre most seasons, I'm guessing Suffolk would be too dry? On the other hand hay & grain harvests can be a struggle in a damp Autumn.

I had a previous career working all over the UK.... I now really appreciate what we have here in Suffolk. Farming wise it depends where in Suffolk but its certainly a great place to farm.
Possibly getting drier that some areas looking ahead with climate change

 

[Devil's advocate]

I had a previous career working all over the UK.... I now really appreciate what we have here in Suffolk. Farming wise it depends where in Suffolk but its certainly a great place to farm.
Possibly getting drier that some areas looking ahead with climate change

How about the opposite flooding. I've heard of sandland flooding, upwards the water table rising through the sand.

 

[JP1]

Interesting thread. It is my farm. It is heavy land and does have the usual blackgrass and heavy land issues. It is Beccles series clay and won’t dry out and to date this year we have only recorded 145mm from Jan 1st. Winter crops look really good but some spring drilled ones are a bit thin as I no til drill and April only saw 1mm rain and was cold, so the spring crops struggled to pick up nutrition to fill out.
The farm is about 3 miles off the A14 in mid Suffolk but it’s not in a village that is expanding a lot.
I am having to sell up due to family members requiring their money out.

Lovely village actually, almost feel guilty as it's my rat ru out of work (Woolpit) to many places

 

[JP1]

Best thing in Suffolk is the A134 coming back to Norfolk.

That is an absolutely terrible road plus all that Brecks vista. Not for me thanks

 

[Cowcorn]

Interesting thread. It is my farm. It is heavy land and does have the usual blackgrass and heavy land issues. It is Beccles series clay and won’t dry out and to date this year we have only recorded 145mm from Jan 1st. Winter crops look really good but some spring drilled ones are a bit thin as I no til drill and April only saw 1mm rain and was cold, so the spring crops struggled to pick up nutrition to fill out.
The farm is about 3 miles off the A14 in mid Suffolk but it’s not in a village that is expanding a lot.
I am having to sell up due to family members requiring their money out.

Very sorry to hear that you are having to sell to pay out the family.
Best of luck in the future .
The downside of high land values and modest farming returns .
You couldnt generate their share from what the farm makes .

 

[Tractor Boy]

Imho, there are better places to locate to in Suffolk, since the farm is along the A14 corridor and many local villages are doubling in size along there. Nice farm though, been there in a previous life. I'm sure Wetherden will have development opportunities though, so maybe a good investment in that respect.

I don't live too far from there, and always find ourselves travelling East towards Framlingham for scenery and quality.

You say you have been in a previous life. How recently as I presume I must know you?

 

[Stewie]

I don't live too far from there, and always find ourselves travelling East towards Framlingham for scenery and quality.

Agreed. I find the villages and the countryside between Diss and Framingham really lovely.

 

[JP1]

Agreed. I find the villages and the countryside between Diss and Framingham really lovely.

Don't care much for Diss itself but all the way round there are lovely villages

But as I study a small map looking at those villages you describe, there are many many more in a wider area.

I just pray they don't all get consumed with development and London sprawl. One of the saving graces currently for not having any motorways in Suffolk and Norfolk