Show Notes
We share the cab with Peter Wilkinson of Lodge Farm Contracting. Situated in Hertfordshire, Peter farms 800 acres of arable crops and contract sprays for a number of farms within a 30 mile radius.
Peter’s story in farming began with a phone call. The consequence of dropping out of university was enough to convince Peter to flee the country. His Mother’s displeasure could wait. Whilst making his way around New Zealand, an offer out of the blue to work on his Grandfather’s farm was enough to bring Peter home.
Making the most of this opportunity, Peter threw himself into farming life. Many years later the business would be passed down to him. Being in the right place at the right time also enabled Peter to branch out into the world of contract spraying. For Peter variety is the spice of life, the split between duties on his farm and contracting suits him down to the ground.
If you ask Peter about the state of farming right now, he will tell you that things can only get better. Maintain a positive outlook, keep doing what you’re doing, the only way must be onwards and upwards.
Away from farming Peter enjoys watching Saracens, his local rugby team. Over the last couple of years Peter has swapped his boots for a pair of trainers and runs during the winter months to maintain his fitness. However, one of his most rewarding exercise regimes is a brisk walk with his dog to a country pub, followed by a good pint and decent meal. Bravo!
More from Spraying Alive
Tim Cotterill is a very busy man. So much so that rather than the cab of his Bateman we almost required a Flux Capacitor to catch up with him.
In this episode of Spraying Alive we join Joe Skipper of W J Skipper. In addition to working in the haulage side of the business, Joe is lead sprayer operator for the family’s farm in Staffordshire.
We join Morgan Senior of M J Senior Agri Contractors for a chat in the cab. Morgan contract sprays for a number of businesses across Somerset and into neighbouring Dorset.
Sean Postlethwaite of Ryton Fields Farm joins us for this episode. Situated in Ryton on Dunsmore on the outskirts of Coventry, Sean runs the family business which grows predominantly potatoes along with milling wheat, winter oilseed rape and maize.
We sit next to Wayne Rose, lead sprayer operator at Guiting Manor Farms. Situated in the Cotswolds, the business grows milling wheat, winter and spring barley for malting along with break crops of oilseed rape and hemp for fibre. Stubble turnips are also grown to feed sheep over the winter.