Ad: North Farm Livestock’s pigs offer reliability and optimism in an ever-changing landscape

“We’ll be excited to see the pigs. I think without them, that field would have just been left fallow this year. Input costs are through the roof and, even when I was drilling something on there, I’d be worried it’s a loss maker already.”

This line, spoken by a landowner as we agreed to integrate free-range pigs into their rotation, has stuck with me long after our handshake. Sadly, this was not an anomalous conversation. The pressure for farming businesses to diversify income streams has been incrementally building for a number of years but, combined with 2026’s weather and geopolitics, this year ironically feels like a perfect storm.

I am sure many CLA members will have their heads in their hands when they read panicked predictions of food shortages and food inflation. Farmers who want to produce food for the nation are, understandably, turning instead towards long-term commitments such as solar to provide a secure future for their farm.

At North Farm Livestock, for many of our farming partners, our free-range pigs are a salve in a time of such rapid and unpredictable change. Our rental payments provide a consistent and reliable income stream, our pigs provide nutrients for the fields they’re on and muck to spread elsewhere on the farm, and our long-term contract within our supply chain allows for each to be factored into long-term planning. Importantly, our place in your rotation not only supports your wider enterprise but produces high-welfare, high-quality pork for British consumers too.

Last year, Waitrose made a commitment to transition all their own-label pork to a free-range supply chain by the end of 2027. Here at North Farm Livestock, we are growing our business to support with the delivery of this commitment and continue to establish new farms across the Eastern region and beyond. As you make your post-harvest plans, or even as you look ahead to 2027, now is a great time to speak to us to find out more about how we could work together.

Upon winning the Producer of the Year award at last year’s National Pig Awards, North Farm Livestock was described by the judging panel as “an outstanding pig business that exemplified so much that is positive about the British pig industry”. You can find out more about what we do, and read testimonials from landowners and farm managers, on our website below.

If you want to have a chat, email contact@northfarmlivestock.co.uk or call Todd on 07784 874770 or Matthew on 07747 422057 to talk about our pigs and your business.