Current Weather at Jack Buck Farms 2°C and Mist
At Jack Buck Farms, we are continually looking to improve our practices. Our investments, from solar panels and reservoirs to satellite navigation and new machinery, are focused on creating a more efficient and sustainable future.
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing us all, and we must do all we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We monitor our progress annually and are constantly seeking ways to cut energy use, most recently with our new energy-efficient celeriac washer.
Guaranteeing our customers a reliable supply of produce in today’s demanding supply chain requires resilience. For many years, it was thought that our proximity to the sea meant drainage water was too saline for local agricultural use. However, by careful testing, we found we could extract and store fresh water during a few weeks in most winters. We completed this vital water and irrigation project in 2020.
One of our reservoir projects was fortunate to receive a Water Resources Management Grant financed by the European Union. We can now:
This is by far the biggest project that Jack Buck Farms has undertaken in our history. If we are to keep up with our customers’ increasing needs, this investment was essential. The project included:
A new access road for HGVs onto our site.
10,000 square metres of concrete.
A 2,100 square metre building for washing, drying, and packing celeriac, including a work-in-progress chill store.
A new wash line that will more than double output.
A water treatment plant that cleans and recycles all water.
A drying system designed to reduce energy use.
A packing line that reduces waste and handles even the most difficult specifications.
Over the last ten years, a small revolution has been taking place on all UK farms, and Jack Buck is no exception. Satellite guidance and steering of equipment enables extraordinary accuracies in the fields, reducing waste by eliminating overlaps or gaps. It also allows for “controlled wheelings,” meaning we can use the exact same track each year to minimize soil compaction.
So far, half our tractors and sprayers are equipped, and we anticipate all will be in time. While it’s a mixed blessing to a highly skilled driver – as now anyone can maintain that perfect straight furrow – no one is complaining; it’s so much less tiring, and the benefits are terrific.
After completing the packhouse project, we turned our attention to the next potential bottleneck: harvesting capacity. We felt it necessary to increase our efficiency for both potatoes and celeriac.
We used to run two harvesting machines, each lifting 2 rows of potatoes or 3 rows of celeriac. After a study trip to Holland, we saw the benefits of investing in a self-propelled harvester that can manage 4 rows of potatoes or 6 rows of celeriac. This machine is also quicker because it has superior soil cleaning capacity. Crucially, it runs on tracks at the back where most of the weight sits, which spreads the load and leaves the fields much more level for the subsequent crop.