Goodwood Farm
Goodwood is committed to the care of its livestock and soils, building a traditional system that provides wholesome food for local people while, at the same time, stimulating the right conditions for increasing the natural flora and fauna across the Estate.
Organic farms
Goodwood’s Home Farm is one of the largest lowland, mixed organic farms in the UK and has been supplying food to the Dukes of Richmond for the last 300 years. It achieved full organic status in 2004, although the concept that the Estate could be farmed organically originated in the 1950s, very much as a result of input from the present Duchess of Richmond who ran her kitchen garden on organic principles and was one of the first members of The Soil Association. The current Countess of March has continued the family’s passion for organic food and is actively involved with the Elm Farm Research Centre which was founded by her uncle, David Astor.
From September 2010, Home Farm will cover more than 3,300 acres, ranging from typical chalk Downland to light, gravelly fields on the Chichester plain – sea-level up to 206 metres (676 feet). Of all the fields devoted to farm use, not all are prime land, so it takes skill and non-stop hard work to keep them in good heart. The farm is run on organic principles, which involves growing crops on a rotational basis in order to assist with the build up of nutrients to encourage natural fertility. No pesticides, herbicides or fungicides are used.
Dairy herd
Our prime grassland is used for the dairy herd – averaging 200 milking cows mainly bred from Dairy Shorthorn stock. The beef cattle are bred using Sussex bulls and are also grass reared during the summer months on the slopes of the Sussex Downs. Our sheep – typically 1200 breeding ewes including 30 pedigree Southdowns, the traditional breed of our area - are also grazed on the Downland. Our herd of pigs help to clean the fields before the cereal crops are planted. They are Saddlebacks and Gloucester Old Spots, very well suited to an outdoor, organic life. Newly introduced are the organic geese and Norfolk Black Turkeys.
The Soil Association works closely with the Home Farm. It demands the highest standards in organic farming and monitors our system to ensure that all requirements are adhered to.
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