Minister visits Brays Farm to learn about nature-friendly farming

We were delighted to welcome Stephen Morgan, the new Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, to Brays Farm in Nutfield, Surrey, to see first-hand how nature-friendly farming can support both the environment and a viable farming business. 

During his first week in office, Mr Morgan visited CRT tenants Matt Elphick and Betsie Edge, who run Nutfield Dairy, accompanied by his private secretary Calum MacDonald and Paul McGuinness, Deputy Director for Environmental Land Management Schemes. 

The aim was for Mr Morgan to speak to farmers running a viable business in a nature-friendly way. 

Matt led a tour of the farm, showcasing the pasture and milking parlour before taking the group across the road to meet Betsie, who was selling farm produce directly to customers from the couple's converted milk float. The visitors enjoyed a milkshake and Mr Morgan purchased some Nutfield Dairy cheese. 

“We started with a walk to see the cows and I explained how we farm and graze the pasture, how we manage the rotations to regenerate the soils and how we use the cows to help achieve that,” said Matt. “I explained how we keep calves at foot and that we are working towards becoming 100 per cent pasture-fed.” 

Matt also discussed the importance of avoiding overgrazing, encouraging biodiversity and the farm's future plans. 

“We spoke about planting more hedgerows and exploring agroforestry to improve soil structure, provide shade for the cows and create additional habitat for wildlife,” he said. 

The conversation also covered some of the challenges facing farming. 

“We talked about the financial pressures farmers face. Although we are a small-scale operation, we still have many of the same energy costs as larger farms because we need to run the milking parlour and refrigeration systems full time.” 

Matt highlighted the impact of last year's prolonged drought and the importance of building resilience into farming systems. 

“I explained that buying in feed was very expensive, but we also talked about how regenerating soils helps create more resilient pasture with better biodiversity, stronger root systems and improved water retention.” 

The discussion also focused on agricultural policy and support schemes. 

“I stressed the importance of clarity and advance notice when policies change, so farmers can plan effectively. I also suggested that grant schemes should be simpler to apply for, as many farmers simply do not have spare hours to spend on lengthy applications. 

“Mr Morgan asked about future diversification plans, but I pointed out that while diversification is often presented as an easy way to increase income, starting a new business alongside farming is a significant undertaking when time is already in short supply,” Matt added.

The CRT’s Head of Estates Kerriann McLackland also attended the visit and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the wider challenges and opportunities facing farmers.

“Mr Morgan told us this was his first visit to a livestock farm since becoming Minister,” she said. “He asked a lot of questions about economic viability, agri-environment schemes and how farmers can be better supported. He seemed genuinely interested in understanding the realities of farming and our suggestions of how policy could be used to make that easier.

“We discussed the need for agri-environment policies that work for farmers as well as nature, and the importance of giving businesses the certainty they need to plan for the future, as well as the cost and challenges for small farms in gaining the right advice at the right time”

Stephen Morgan, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, said: "It was great to visit Brays Farm - my third farm visit in my first week as Farming Minister - to hear directly from Matt, Betsie and Kerriann about their work. Their passion for looking after the soil, managing the land with nature and building a resilient farm business is inspiring.

"The visit and the wider engagement I’m doing with the sector reinforced how important it is that this government supports sustainable food production and nature recovery alongside each other, to create a profitable future for farming."

The visit highlighted how farms, such as Brays Farm, demonstrate that productive agriculture and environmental enhancement can go hand in hand, while also providing valuable insights into the realities of farming in today's economic and environmental landscape. 

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Published: June, 2026.