A historic estate with roots in the agricultural revolution has been crowned Norfolk's best farming business - as it continues its legacy of food-growing innovation.
The Raynham Farm Company, based at the estate near Fakenham, has won the 2023 Norfolk Farm Business Competition run by the organisers of the Aylsham Show.
As well as the overall championship, farm manager Tom Pearson also claimed the best farm manager trophy.
He is keen to prove that "you can farm intensively in a sustainable way, while benefiting the environment at the same time".
In parallel with the famed four-course crop rotation popularised by Charles 'Turnip' Townshend at Raynham Hall in the 18th century, the estate's spirit of innovation is now applied through Mr Pearson's four 'core principles' - soil health, plant health, timeliness of operations and attention to detail.
This ethos can be found in the modern seven-course rotation, the use of cover crops and organic manures, and the commitment to data-driven decision-making.
And it is all aimed at building resilience - both economically and environmentally - by helping soils cope with extreme weather, while protecting the farm's bottom line from volatile costs and commodity markets.
"We are always looking at adopting new practices and looking at what we can do to keep ahead of the curve," said Mr Pearson.
"Back in the 1700s Turnip Townshend was a huge player in the agricultural revolution, and the four-course rotation had a clover crop, while we are using cover crops to improve our soils - so we are essentially working on the same basic principles of what Turnip Townshend was doing all those years ago.
"I am very aware of that legacy, and I am proud of it. It makes me strive to succeed, and to carry the legacy on."
Mr Pearson oversees arable operations across 1,500 hectares, where the rotation includes maize, winter wheat, sugar beet, spring barley, spring beans, forage rye and winter oilseed rape - with cover crops and organic manures used to improve soil structure and health.
There are two 'higher-tier' agreements governing the environmental stewardship of the arable land, parkland and grass pastures.
Meanwhile, a 600-strong herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle grazes on water meadows alongside the River Wensum, providing premium beef as well as muck for the arable fields.
That organic manure adds to the digestate generated by an anaerobic digestion (AD) energy plant, supplied with maize and rye feedstocks on a 25-year deal.
"For organic manure, we are taking everything from the AD plant, all the liquid and solid digestate, and muck from the cattle as well," said Mr Pearson.
"As a result, we have not applied any bagged phosphate and potash here for the last four years.
"The use of liquid digestate on standing crops has also reduced our artificial fertiliser bill by 40pc. That has been a huge positive in what has been a turbulent two years for fertiliser prices.
"And with artificial fertiliser being one of the biggest emitters of carbon, it is a very positive story [for the environment]."
Data and collaboration are also central to the strategy at Raynham, which is one of four Norfolk estates comprising the Catalyst Farming partnership, which shares information across a combined 7,000 hectares of farmland.
"As well as the four core principles, the decisions I make on a daily basis are all driven by the data we collect through our Catalyst group," said Mr Pearson.
"It is all about how we can push boundaries, adopt new practices and progress existing practices, and how we can use that data to make better-informed decisions."
Among the 12 field trials at Raynham this year are crops treated with differing fungicide and fertiliser rates, which will be compared against yield data and grain analysis at harvest time to assess any opportunities to reduce chemical rates and optimise yield.
And the estate continues to look forward, with a grant secured for a reservoir to future-proof against drought and unlock possibilities for growing irrigated potatoes, and plans for a purpose-built winter cattle shed to make the beef unit more efficient.
On winning the competition, Mr Pearson said: "I am delighted.
"This is very much a team effort, so it is a testament to everybody within the business, not only on the farm, but in the office as well - and the Raynham family for supporting the decisions I make on the farm."
A celebratory farm walk will be held at Raynham on July 4.
Full results: 42nd Norfolk Farm Business Competition, 2023
- Champion and Winner Class A: Raynham Farm Company
- Reserve Champion and Winner Class B: Wm. Youngs & Son
- Runner-Up Class A: LF Papworth
- Runner-Up Class B: HBS Farms
- Small Farms (under 160ha) Tony Bambridge - Park Farm Blickling
- Diversification Class Winner: Dilham Hall Retreats
- Diversification Class Runner-Up: Hirst's Farm Shop & Cafe
- Best Livestock: J F Temple & Son
- Best Farm Manager: Tom Pearson, Raynham Farm
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