Sustainable Farming Incentive
South Farm has implemented an initial three-year SFI agreement for multi-species cover crops across its arable land following the harvest. This fast-growing mix of cereals, grasses, and brassicas is designed to "catch" leftover nutrients in the soil from the previous season, preventing them from leaching into local waterways.
Maintaining a growing crop throughout the autumn and winter protects against soil erosion during the most inclement weather before spring drilling begins. Furthermore, this practice encourages biodiversity, enhances soil structure, and aids in carbon sequestration.
Stewardship of the Land
As the source of the River Meon rises here, we’re very aware of the responsibility that comes with looking after this special place. We farm in a way that cares for the soil, supports local wildlife, and protects the water that begins its journey on our land. Being stewards of the River Meon’s headwaters is something we’re proud of, and it shapes the way we work — with care, common sense, and a long-term view for future generations.
Precision Farming
Agritech at its finest: this type of precision farming enables us to flex the amount of fertiliser needed in each field. First, this approach requires extensive soil testing over the whole farm. Once this testing is complete, the fertiliser rate can be increased for the areas that require more, and decreased in the richer areas that don’t need as much. All the data is mapped and recommendations made online, with the help of our partners at SOYL, and then sent remotely to the tractors and implements that will carry out the work. Clever stuff!
Sheep
In 2025, the farm invested in a faecal egg counting machine called FecPak (pictured), which rapidly analyses individual or grouped faecal samples to provide real-time feedback on the gut worm burden in the lambs. Following an egg count, an effective worming drench can be administered to the lambs to aid in rapid body mass growth rates. The speedy feedback from the FecPak also reduces the amount of sheep wormer that is used on our Downs because it is only used when the results show that there is a significant burden.
Solar Panels
In 2023 a 40 kW solar panel unit was installed on the South Farm grain store, harvesting the sun’s energy and allowing us to use the electricity for our day-to-day activities. This includes operating the grain dryer during the harvest when the moisture of the grain is too high. When solar energy production exceeds usages, the excess is fed directly back into the grid as green energy.
South Downs Farmers Group
We are proud to be members of the South Downs Farmers Group. The farmers in this group share a passion for farming in a way that delivers public benefits. The Group’s approach focuses on providing high-quality, affordable food while simultaneously enhancing the natural environment and local wildlife.
Supporting the South Downs National Park Trust
The campsite at Upper Parsonage Farm has joined the South Downs National Park Trust’s Visitor Giving Scheme. For each booking we donate £2 towards the improvements of natural habitats, flora and fauna. We are extremely lucky to be surrounded on three sides by the South Downs Path and have seen first hand the improvement that these donations can help bring about. We regularly have volunteer SDNP rangers come to manage the expanding scrub on our Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Butser Hill. Management of the scrub is essential as it allows the rare flora and fauna to flourish, attracting rare species such as the Duke of Burgundy Butterfly.
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
Alongside the extensive arable and grassland enterprise South Farm is proud to have obtained a highly sought-after Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agreement for all the priority habitat on species-rich calcareous grassland. We have been working closely with Natural England to secure this agreement. With the addition of other Meon Valley farmers, this has created a protected ‘corridor’ of over 150 hectares of species-rich calcareous grassland.
Before this, South Farm was awarded Higher Level Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship.