WELCOME TO LAUNCESTON FARM ORGANICS
Spread over 700 hectares of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Launceston Farm is home to a beef suckler herd of over 600 cattle, arable crops, mixed woodland and the River Tarrant, River Allen and River Frome catchment. The farm was converted to organic in 2008; a regenerative method of agriculture which demands the highest levels of animal welfare, lower levels of pesticides, no manufactured herbicides or artificial fertilisers and more environmentally sustainable management of the land and
natural environment. The gently sloping hills of the Dorset chalk downland have been home to farmers for thousands of years; the various water courses and light, well-draining soils providing opportunities for many different types of agricultural production. Launceston Farm itself dates back to the 1600s but our family story begins with Jim Strange, the youngest of nine, who took on the farm tenancy with one of his brothers in 1929, at the age of 16.
THE FARM
Organic farming is an agroecological system; we apply ecological processes to the design and management of our beef and arable production system. These processes are constantly evolving to reflect the changes in climate and ecology.
Grass-fed Beef
Grazing animals play an essential role in organic farming systems. We are constantly developing the grazing systems we use to work harmoniously within the local climatic and environmental parameters.
We operate successfully with a higher weed threshold which is integral to our pest management; the volunteer plants within our crops attract beneficial insects and pollinators which, in turn, help control pests.
Our System Cameleon is capable of precision drilling seed, fertilising crops and inter-row hoeing as well as direct drilling cover crop seed into tilth prior to combining the cereal crop.
ENVIRONMENT
We rely on biologically active soil for our very existence on this planet. To ensure favourable soil conditions for plant growth we must nurture and protect our environment.
In 2018, with the help of a Countryside Stewardship Woodland Creation Grant, we planted 5,000 mixed, native broadleaved trees over 3 hectares of the farm.
Through our diverse Natural England stewardship agreements over the last ten years we have carried out a wide variety of environmental improvements to habitats, soil and ground water quality on the Farm.
Launceston Farm is part of the Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster, a group of neighbouring farmers and landowners working together to deliver far reaching environmental improvements.
COMMUNITY
The strongest businesses know that proactively connecting with their local communities and adding value where they can is the only way to ensure their future.
Farm Visits
We encourage people to get in touch with us to find out more about what we do. Farmers need to invite people onto their farms to help make connections with the land, the animals and the environment.
Cow Share improves local accessibility to our high quality, sustainably produced beef by improving its affordability.
Schools
We can offer educational days on a variety of themes to help teachers meet their pupils’ curriculum learning objectives in a wide variety of subjects.
DIVERSIFICATION
As part of our ongoing on-farm diversification, we have converted redundant farm buildings into homes for other rural businesses as well as events spaces, self-catering accommodation and an indoor swimming pool.
This multi-purpose facility is used as a meeting and workshop space for community and school visits, training events, pop-up restaurants and street food, fitness and recreational activities and micro-weddings.
The Grade II Listed Georgian Farmhouse was restored and converted in 2008 and then developed in 2016 into a Farmhouse self-catering with indoor swimming pool.
The Farm has a limited number of units to rent out to rurally based businesses. We are always interested to hear from like-minded people who feel they have something special to bring to the Farm.