January 2017

George is featured in the Midland Farmer magazine.

This article can also be viewed on the Midland Farmer magazine website


July 2016

Article in the Buckingham Advertiser.


June 2016

Article in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

Northamptonshire farmer in line for national Farming for the Future award

A farmer from Northamptonshire has made it onto the shortlist of this year’s prestigious M&S ‘Farming for the Future’ awards.

George Coles, from Red Oak Farm, in Westbury, will find out if he has been crowned winner on the first day of the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, Powys on July 18

 

George has been nominated for the Innovation award for his production of beef at Red Oak Farm, as part of Owen Farms Ltd, which he supplies to M&S through Dawn Meats.

 

The commercial herd at Red Oak Farm is a mixture of Hereford, Simmental and Aberdeen Angus-cross cattle and numbers around 120 breeding animals. George is currently working to expand the herd to 200 breeding cattle and also develop a pedigree Red Aberdeen Angus herd.

 

Under George’s direction, the farm has also undergone considerable investment, with a new buildings complex and handling systems put in place to allow room for future expansion.

In order to maintain the high health and welfare of his cattle, George has readily embraced new technologies and ideas at Red Oak Farm and has recently purchased a thermal imaging camera to help him locate problems with his cow’s feet and hips, allowing for more rapid identification of problem cows, targeted treatment and reduction in the use of antibiotics.

Alongside the work he does at the farm, George is also incredibly keen to improve his own approach to cattle rearing, therefore is an active member of three beef discussion groups. Red Oak Farm has also hosted a number of events for AHDB Beef and Lamb.

The judges were extremely impressed with George’s vision and hard work in establishing a new Red Aberdeen Angus herd, alongside his commitment to improving his own knowledge and understanding of beef production. George has also embraced new technology to improve herd health and welfare.

 

M&S Farming for the Future is a programme of initiatives which champions sustainability and innovation. The programme is designed to help farmers identify opportunities for improvement, increase their profitability and provide a sustainable supply chain that can continue to deliver quality and innovation for the long term.

Steve Mclean, M&S head of agriculture and fisheries, said: “We are continually impressed with the commitment and passion our suppliers show towards sustainable farming practices and with such strong talent emerging within the industry, the judging process for our Farming for the Future Awards becomes more challenging every year.

“In what is my ninth year of presenting the M&S awards, I’m looking forward to once again honouring some of our top suppliers at the Royal Welsh Show next month.”

 

This article can also be seen on the Chronicle & Echo website.


June 2016

 Article in the Buckingham Advertiser.

Farmer makes award shortlist

A Westbury farmer has made it on to the shortlist of this year’s prestigious M&S Farming for the Future awards. 

George Coles, from Red Oak Farm, will find out if he has been crowned winner on the first day of the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, Powys on July 18.

George has been nominated for the Innovation Award for his production of beef at Red Oak Farm, as part of Owen Farms Ltd, which he supplies to M&S through Dawn Meats.

 

The commercial herd at Red Oak Farm is a mixture of Hereford, Simmental and Aberdeen Angus-cross cattle and numbers around 120 breeding animals. 

George is currently working to expand the herd to 200 breeding cattle and also to develop a pedigree red Aberdeen Angus herd.

 

Under George’s direction, the farm has also undergone considerable investment, with a new buildings complex and handling systems put in place to allow room for future expansion. To maintain the high health and welfare of his cattle, he has embraced new technologies and has recently purchased a thermal imaging camera to help him locate problems with his cow’s feet and hips.

 

This allows for faster identification of problem cows, targeted treatment and reduction in the use of antibiotics.

 

George is also keen to improve his own approach to cattle rearing, and is an active member of three beef discussion groups. 

M&S Farming for the Future champions sustainability and innovation. 

 

M&S head of agriculture, Steve Mclean, said: “We are continually impressed with the commitment and passion our suppliers show towards sustainable farming practices and, with such strong talent emerging within the industry, the judging process for our awards becomes more challenging every year.”

This article is also on the Buckingham Today Website.


June 2016

 Article published about the pedigree Red Aberdeen Angus embryo program in Argentina.

We will add a better copy when we have one and also a translated copy.


June 2016

 George was interviewed by BBC Radio Northampton in the build up to Open Farm Sunday.


November 2014

 Eblex use George as a case study for their grassland news publication.


 

 

 

 

 

 

One of George's photos is being used to help promote Towcester Veterinary Centre's beef suckler contract (see small photo in top right hand corner of Ermentrude with her calf Florance taken in 2014).