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Farmers on Dartmoor working together to help raise the profile of both farming and their superior Dartmoor products.
Dartmoor and its farmers are intrinsically linked, with one dependent the other. The cattle and sheep help create and shape the landscape, an environment that draws the tourists and visitors to the area; the local businesses (restaurants, hotels, butchers etc.) support the farmers by creating a market for their products.
Dartmoor’s herds and flocks of native breed cattle and sheep graze this diverse and wild landscape enjoying the benefits of living unbound during the Spring, Summer and Autumn months giving a superior texture and flavour to the meat - a result of the grass-fed, wide ranging farming process on the moor.
Prior to 2007 support from government subsidies moved away from the production of livestock to a less complicated land valuation system (known as the Basic Payment Scheme), leaving many pastoral farmers seeking new ways to improve their profitability and in many cases diversify to ensure their survival. Dartmoor farmers have been particularly affected, with the majority of them small beef and sheep farmers, often tenanted, making profitability especially hard. This is not helped with competition from larger farms nationwide and ever-growing demands and reduced payments from supermarkets.
Knowing that the quality and taste of the meat produced on Dartmoor is superior to much of the standard mass produced products available elsewhere, a group of farmers from Dartmoor got together to visit and investigate a project which has been successfully established in Lenk, Switzerland. Lenk has many similarities to Dartmoor and was also keen to encourage visitors, enhance and maintain the environment and landscape as well as promote its products.
On their return and with considerable support from both Dartmoor National Park, The Duchy of Cornwall and personally from HRH Prince of Wales, a feasibility study was undertaken. This subsequently led to the formation of ‘Dartmoor Farmers’ – starting with a small committee and membership of over 50 farmers, some of whom invested into the formation of Dartmoor Farmers Ltd (Dartmoor Farmers trading name) by buying a shareholding in the company which helped get the project up and running. All the farmers are based on Dartmoor and are keen to market together to promote both Dartmoor and its products.
Several successful years on it is now running the company as a sustainable business, post funding. It still has the support and input from HRH Prince of Wales, Duchy of Cornwall and the DNP. Dartmoor Farmers is now managed by five farming directors plus a business mentor (who works for HRH Prince of Wales), a very dedicated secretary and treasurer and a Marketing Officer who runs the company day to day - tirelessly promoting Dartmoor Farmers nationally and internationally. They all work closely with local farmers, service providers and customers to ensure the company grows to achieve its full potential.
So what makes Dartmoor Farmers meat products so special? The list of aspirations and production criteria as seen on their website (which has to be adhered to by every member) will give you an insight into how seriously members of the Dartmoor Farmers Association (DFA) take their product production - from animal welfare, transport miles, slaughter , waste management and more…. And as mentioned at the start of this article, the animals are encouraged to roam freely on the moor and to have a diet rich in diversity, all adding to their superior flavour.
The Future?
Working as a co-operative brings with it considerable advantages and a vast array of potential resources. It is hoped that more products can soon be added to the list of those already available, that farmers can start ‘buying’ groups to be able to buy commonly used products in bulk to make huge savings for all, and that equipment and machinery can be bought and ‘shared’. All these savings will then help each individual farmer sustain a profitable business, in turn helping to preserve and sustain the local farming businesses and the beautiful Dartmoor landscape that visitors and locals alike can enjoy for generations to come.
How can I support Dartmoor Farmers and buy their products?
Several local butchers in West Devon support Dartmoor Farmers products but you may specifically have to ask your butcher to provide DF meat.
Many restaurants, pubs and hotels also source DF meat – always ask when ordering.
If you are unable to find a butcher, then go directly to the Dartmoor Farmers website where you can purchase the meat online with guaranteed next day delivery, all butchered, boxed and beautifully packaged ready for the fridge or freezer. www.dartmoorfarmers.co.uk
Lizzie Watt