FARMING
Our farming operation comprises of farm business tenancies, contract farming agreements, and our own farmland. We have a 20 mile operating radius, with varying topography and soil types, from light chalky soils to heavy boulder clay. We grow wheat, barley, oats for conservation grade, oil seed rape (OSR) and sugar beet.
Farm Business
Sustainability
We have always farmed with environmental sustainability in mind, and are deeply committed to the proactive conservation of biodiversity, habitats and the landscape. We are currently operating three Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) schemes over 1500ha within the business, which aims to deliver significant benefits in priority areas.
Working closely with Natural England, it is our intention to continue to support and manage these conservation areas for the foreseeable future. Our aim is to promote and maximise environmental sustainability, not only across the farmland, but also across the business as a whole. We are also members of Conservation Grade and the LEAF Marque scheme, which encourages sustainable food production. Farmers who qualify for the scheme are shown to produce food to exceptional standards whilst farming in an environmentally sensitive way.
Renewables
Our commitment to the environment extends to renewable energy sources. We have recently installed over 2,500 solar panels on our grain stores covering an area of 3000m², providing us with a more sustainable source of energy to run the grain laboratory and storage facility.
Research and Development
The farm business works closely with KWS, international plant breeders, whom occupy a committed acreage for seed variety trials purposes. This proves a valuable tool for the business in deciding cropping strategies and Rand Farming provides the trial plots for KWS at Fowlmere.
Livestock
Rand Brothers run a small suckler herd which is based at Malton Park Farm. The majority of the Cows are Aberdeen Angus although we do have a few Lincoln Reds, all of our calves are sired by Aberdeen Angus bulls. One of the attributes of these traditional breeds is that they will finish slowly on grass without the use of concentrate feeds. We are proud to supply Bury Lane farm shop, Morrisons and Tesco with sustainable grass feed beef.
Alongside the Cattle we have a small flock of Suffolk X ewes which are put to Hampshire Down and Texel tups in November. The lambs are finished on grass and are sold to local wholesalers and butchers at Colchester Livestock market.
Farm Assurance
Our farms are all farm assured with NSF International, aiming to provide complete traceability and demonstrate the responsible production standards we as UK farmers strive to meet. Our assurance schemes comprise Assured Combinable Crops, Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb, LEAF Marque Standard and Conservation Grade.