| On the farm |
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The 450 hectares (c.1111 acres) of Cannon Farm are spread over the wild uplands of the old county of Montgomeryshire, in mid Wales (see 'how to find us'), at an altitude of between 230m (759ft) to 450m (1485ft). The farm consists of 342 ha (845 acres) of grazing and 25ha (62 acres) of woodland. The grazing is divided into natural hill grazing (moorland), improved pasture and semi-improved hay meadows. A comprehensive programme of hedge planting, shelter belt establishment, dry stone walling and the maintenance of traditional farm buildings has been undertaken to improve the wildlife habitat and conserve a traditional hill farming landscape. A further 31 hectares (76 acres) of land is rented in the local village of Llanerfyl. All the land is registered organic and is in the Tir Gofal scheme. Cannon Farm is a partnership managed by Nigel Elgar who has lived and worked here since 1986.
Cannon Farm was one of the early pioneers of modern day organic farming, achieving full organic status in 1993. Put simply, organic food combines a minimum use of chemicals with the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental protection. Organic food is legally defined, and each stage of the process from farm gate to your dinner plate is vigorously inspected (for further information on organic farming contact the Soil Association). The farm participates in various schemes and has won a number of prestigious awards:
The stock on the farm consists of 500 Welsh Hill Speckled Face ewes, around 20 Welsh Black cows and a fold of 20 Highland cows.
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