University Farm

Not many universities have their own commercial farm on campus. Harper Adams students are able to learn ‘in the field’ on the 494-hectare University Farm.

Through a multi-million pound investment we’ve expanded our dairy and pig units, and created a food research centre and on-farm teaching hub. Livestock include 390 dairy cows and 280 followers, 230 sows, two sheep flocks and an intensive beef unit.

The £2 million, leading-edge dairy unit has a 40-point internal rotary milking parlour and a computerised system for identifying cows and recording milk yields. A robotic dairy will help develop advanced technologies to increase productivity and sustainability in UK agriculture.

Soil types vary from a light sandy loam to heavy clay loam. A rotation aimed at maximising first wheat is practised, made possible by the range of break crops on the farm – grass, maize, lucerne, oilseeds and stewardship crops. Up to 24 hectares of grass and arable areas are devoted to staff and student research projects and trials.