The resourceful Somerset dairy farmer who grazed through the hot dry summer of 2026.
Updated: 2 days ago
While searching for farms that have endured a relentless summer of high temperatures and months with little or no rain, I visited Milton Farm, part of Westcombe Farms in Somerset. The visit was especially interesting because I had helped set the farm on a regenerative path a few years earlier. Its Dairy Shorthorn and Holstein Friesian herd had continued grazing throughout the heat of the summer.
This was genuine grazing, with grass covers of about 3,000 kg DM/ha. Albeit the cows were housed each night to maintain the milk yield and quality required for Westcombe’s renowned Cheddar. Throughout the summer, they grazed high covers on long rotations of around 50 days. Grazing and trampling returned plant material to the soil, feeding microbes that support grass regrowth. It is also thought that the physical pull on grass leaves during grazing signals the roots to release additional energy for regrowth, together with saliva and manure deposits.
The paddocks contain multispecies leys, herbal leys and permanent pasture; surprisingly, ryegrass has returned in some areas. The farm uses polysulphate fertiliser, a natural source of potassium, sulphur, calcium and magnesium. This supports plant growth without suppressing soil microbes with chloride salts and this may also help the soil retain moisture. Although the farm lies on an exposed hillside, it has many established trees for cow shade, along with new planting introduced through an agroforestry scheme.
The clearest evidence is the excellent soil structure, despite the difficult summer. A spade passed through the turf and surface soil “like a hot knife through butter”, while the crumbly layer beneath matched textbook descriptions of healthy soil. Good aggregation, signs of potential fungal development and an apparent capacity for self-sustaining fertility were all evident.
The sward included a wide range of grasses: abundant cocksfoot, whose metre-deep roots help during drought; creeping bent, which maintains ground cover after grazing; and meadow fescue, timothy and ryegrass. Herbs included yarrow, plantain, chicory and birdsfoot trefoil, while white and red clovers provided the legumes. These species performed well, partly because biodiversity creates benefits greater than those of the individual plants, supported by associations with beneficial microbes and probably the afore mentioned fungal colonies all growing well on a 50 Day rotation.
A biological amendment would be beneficial, particularly because suitable materials may already be available on the farm and could replace current fertiliser inputs. Given the high magnesium levels, calcium may be needed, although a full soil test would be essential. This could provide a clearer picture of soil function and its capacity to grow more grass. The farm has performed impressively through one of the driest summers on record, but there is no accurate annual measure of grass dry matter production. Estimating it from livestock intake is complicated by daily buffer feeding; using a fixed rotation would make the number of annual grazing cycles a useful indicator.
The future could hold some interesting developments such as full time grazing with buffer if required fed after milking, in which case the cows could be break fed a couple more times a day. The silage leys could be incorporated in to the grazing rotation, which would give Nick a few more options regarding rotations.
There would be more infrastructure needed but the reduction in costs from cutting, ensiling and dispensing silage would more than pay for it.
An aerator has been used but would have had a limited affect if other principles weren’t adhered to such as good/ high grazing residues, soil friendly fertilisers, awesome biodiversity and great soils that haven’t been “over slurried” or compacted as a result.
Very impressive farming management, Nick has truly been inspiring and has got through the cruel summer where many have not fared so well, even grazing farms. Milk solid yields were on average a respectable 1.86 kg from 24.5 litres with 7.35 kg concentrates fed per day from April to August. An Autumn calving herd over September and October which helps, however the production figures are still good as is the synergy of the farm.
I’d like to find a test for the milk quality to prove its unique nutritional benefits, but I guess the fact the majority of the milk comes from this farm goes to make the famous Westcombe cheddar cheese is proof of the pudding.
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