Beeswax Dyson Farming is a family owned agricultural company. They sustainably farm and manage the land and property they own, grow a diverse range of food products and power thousands of homes with renewable energy they produce. This year they won 3 Taste of the West Gold awards for their rib eye steak, sirloin steak and beef topside joint; in fact their beef topside joint became one of three finalists in the Champion Meat & Poultry category.
Beeswax Dyson Farming believe their meat is special, not only because it tastes great, but they also have an interesting story to tell. Their overall farming ethos is to create a long term, regenerative model that will leave a positive land legacy now and in 100 years’ time. Their farming practices have been designed to protect and improve animal wellbeing and to look after the environment.
They breed primarily for the welfare of the animals, raising animals with excellent health characteristics which are then passed on to their offspring, ensuring that during their life, common ailments are minimised along with the need for prophylactic medication. They believe that this leads to a much higher quality product with meat cuts that are tender and flavoursome.
Both their sheep and cattle graze parkland and pasture for most of the year helping to manage the floral diversity of these areas and returning valuable nutrients and bacteria to the soil. Once the weather turns cold and wet the cattle are then housed in a state-of-the-art facility and fed on crops grown on their farms. The sheep are only housed during the lambing season to ensure that they can provide optimum care during this period. Data is at the heart of what they do, it allows them to track the life history of every animal to ensure each individual receives tailored health care and they can reassure their customers that the meat they supply comes only from their farm.
Through environmental stewardship or voluntary initiatives all their cropped land has a programme in place to increase biodiversity and protect natural resources. As well as directly benefitting the local wildlife, these measures also contribute to carbon sequestration and play a significant role in supporting their business as they progress beyond a carbon neutral operating status.
The Taste of the West Product Awards are open to all food and drink producers in the South West. Entries are now open for 2021 with reduced early bird entry fees applicable to all entries received before 31 December 2020. You can find out more and enter online on Taste of the West’s website.
The Taste of the West Hospitality & Retail Awards 2020/2021 are also open for entries to all hospitality and retail establishments throughout the South West. If you are passionate about serving or selling local food and drink, find out more about entering your business here.