SFP loan supports farm growth in Leicestershire

Farm Facts

• Total of 1,800 acres of arable land
• 160,000 bird broiler unit with homegrown wheat used for poultry feed
• Rotation: Half the farm is first wheat, the other half is break crops including grain maize, oilseed rape, and winter beans
• All agronomy done in-house as Will is Fertiliser Advisers Certification & Training Scheme (FACTS) registered
• Diversifications include a livery yard and fishing lakes
• 250kW solar panels and a 960kW ground source heat pump system for the poultry sheds
• Participating in 7 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements including cover crops, companion cropping, no insecticides, and winter bird seed mixes in field corners
• Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Strategic Farm undertaking trial and demonstration work

Will Oliver’s family has banked with HSBC UK for three generations, and their Leicestershire farm has grown significantly over that time. Once only arable, the business is now a mixed farming enterprise including arable, poultry, livestock and renewable energy. They operate a circular farming system using poultry manure on their arable land, growing their own grain maize and wheat to feed back to the broilers, and managing nutrient use efficiently. Will values the bank’s commitment to farming, especially the personal touch of a dedicated agricultural manager and how he was included in bank meetings and decision making from an early age.

Even before applying for the Sustainable Farming Pathway (SFP) loan, sustainability was central to the business, with Will describing soil health as his passion. The farm’s approach includes cover cropping to improve organic matter and water retention, and using poultry manure as fertiliser, reducing artificial fertiliser costs. Significant investments in solar panels and ground source heating for the poultry sheds have further reduced the farm’s carbon footprint. Will sees net zero as a natural byproduct of running an efficient, common-sense operation.

HSBC UK’s Sustainable Farming Pathway has played a role in the farm’s most recent growth. The SFP loan was for a land and property purchase - specifically to buy a neighbouring farm, complete with a house, buildings, and land. To access the SFP, Will completed the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review (LSFR). The process was straightforward for him, thanks to his in-house agronomy records, and other farm audits undertaken, much of the documentation that was required for the LSFR was already part of the farm’s routine.

The benefits of using SFP has been tangible. Reduced arrangement fees saved the business several thousand pounds, and Will notes that working with LEAF could open doors to new marketing opportunities with buyers seeking sustainability credentials. Having found the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review simple to complete, he is now considering pursuing a LEAF Marque certification to potentially qualify for further discounted fees on future projects.

Looking ahead, Will is continuing his focus on soil health, to further improve organic matter and water retention. In terms of business growth, he plans to keep investing in infrastructure such as a new grain store and potentially a new layers unit. Will’s advice to other farmers is, above all, open-mindedness, emphasising that willingness to test new approaches is key. Additionally, having young children has shifted his perspective, motivating him to secure the farm’s long-term sustainability for future generations.

For more information visit HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway | HSBC UK.

Today we finance a number of industries that significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We have a strategy to help our customers to reduce their emissions and to reduce our own. For more information visit www.hsbc.com/sustainability.