Paying tribute to Julian Proctor of Long Sutton, who died aged 84
Farmer Stafford Proctor looks back fondly on the life of his father Julian in this latest Word on the Ground column...
The New Year marks the end of the calendar farming year. Growing crops in our fields are dormant, pests and diseases are not threatening, and all the farm team have a good break with their families.
October is the farmer’s month when one crop year finishes and a new one begins. We complete the harvest of all crops grown through the winter, spring, and summer.
Sugar beet has been processed into sugar, vining peas safely frozen, and all wheat, oilseed rape, apples and mustard are in our farm stores.
Harvest is home and all crops are safely gathered in.
The 2023 crop harvest has begun with the sowing of oilseed rape, mustard, and wheat.
Sadly, my father, Julian died this October, aged 84.
His life’s passions were his family, his farming, and his local community around Long Sutton.
He achieved so much in all spheres through his determination and drive and will be greatly missed by us all.
Julian has been integral to our farms at Long Sutton, Gedney, Sutton Bridge, Tydd and Leverington since he started farming in 1962 - for the last 60 years.
The farms seem empty without his presence.
We farm as if we will live forever, but farmers understand mother nature’s cycle of crop establishment, growth, fruition, and harvest.
The 2022 crop harvest has been extraordinary, we have not experienced a more generous harvest and a kinder autumn drilling campaign.
Julian has bowed out with a vintage year!