NEWS

 

 
 
a photographer's notebook issue 14
into the light
  
 

In this, my first newsletter since the pandemic, I explore how the agricultural sector adapted to the challenges of Covid - from large scale agri-services provider, Origin Enterprises, where I revisit an annual report assignment, to a small independent livestock producer in the heart of Devon.

 
 
 
 

As café culture moved outdoors and into the fresh air, 
food miles mattered and animal welfare took on greater significance.
Farm shops thrived, and opportunity beckoned for smaller local producers.
So when the phones stopped ringing and the emails stopped arriving in my inbox
Chris was one of several young farmers whose daily life I documented.
 
 
 
 
 
 


As a tenant farmer Chris looks after a herd of Devon Ruby Red cattle. 
With the evenings getting shorter it’s time to bring them in for the winter.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Unwrapping a bale of winter forage.
 
 

 
 

The young cattle really enjoy getting stuck into their feed.
 
 


At Throws Farm near Stansted, an agronomy open day organised by Agrii provides an opportunity to inspect trials of existing approved winter wheat and barley varieties.


 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 


There’s more to agronomy than meets the eye. 
Encompassing soil science, metorology, plant genetics and physiology,
here we see an agronomist checking soil quality.
 
 
 


As well as checking on new crop varieties, inspecting the latest large machinery, 
and sampling the barbecue, it’s also a chance for old friends to catch up. 
 
 
 
 


We last visited the orchard at Four Elms Fruit farm in issue ten of my newsletter.
At harvest time the challenges of apple picking in all weathers remain unchanged.
 
 

From a lovely autumnal evening ...
 
 

 
 
to grabbing a sandwich whilst sheltering 
from the rain in an apple crate ... 
 
 
 

  
 

… and with a large bucket of Egremont Russet apples,
in quiet contemplation of a rather heavy grey sky, as rain threatens.
 
 

In next months newsletter we will meet two more enterprising young farmers.
Both brimming with ideas on livestock welfare, Amelia and Ben also share a keen interest in rare breeds.
 
 
To see more of Charlie’s photographs, visit the website at www.charliefawell.com 
 
 
w  www.charliefawell.com e info@charliefawell.com m 07802 820408 
 
 
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