A dairy farm in Somerset has hosted a visit from the governor of the Bank of England.
Radstock Co-operative Society, a 154-year-old farming and retail co-operative, took Andrew Bailey around its 1,000-acre farm at Hardington on the outskirts of Frome.
The farm has a herd of around 750, including young livestock and Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bulls. According to the Society, the herd produces in the region of 3.5 million litres of milk each year which goes to supply Co-operative stores throughout the UK.
The farm also produces wheat and maize crops, which are harvested to provide animal feed, and has a small man-made lake containing 10,000 cubic litres of water. The lake is fed from an underground fresh water spring and is used in the farm operation, reducing the consumption of metered mains supplied water.
The Society’s chief executive Don Morris said Mr Bailey spent time discussing the business and its plans for the future, as well as being given a tour of the rotary parlour and observing the milking process in action.
Last year the Society installed a 70-point carousel in the parlour which, at the time, was the largest of its type in the country.
“We were honoured to be chosen as one of the governor’s visits as it was a fantastic opportunity to discuss our business face to face, along with the current economic climate and our plans for the future,” said Mr Morris.
“Using new technology and automation has massively helped the business to grow. We are extremely proud of the improvements we have made and continue to make to the farm.”
Mr Bailey began his term as the governor of the Bank of England on March 16, 2020, and is based in London. Visits outside the capital are central to his work and include meetings with consumers, charities and businesses across the country.
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