Who we are
The group is currently made up of two arable farming businesses which employ a full time farm manager and an arable operative.
Martin Downes
Manager, Windmill Farming
Martin’s passion for farming was sparked at an early age, working alongside his Grandfather on a small mixed farm in Shropshire. This experience laid the foundation for his agricultural career. After leaving school, he joined a large agricultural contractor in North Shropshire, where he developed key skills in machinery operation and management. His farming expertise was further enriched by time spent in Australia during the late 1990s and early 2000s, working on large-scale farming enterprises across Western Australia and Victoria.
For over 20 years, Martin worked on various estates in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire before taking on the exciting challenge of Windmill Farming in Warwickshire. His broad experience, both in the UK and abroad, has given him a deep and diverse knowledge of modern farming, which he brings to the Windmill Farming operation.
Martin’s role in Windmill Farming is to unite like-minded farmers, encouraging collaboration and shared ideas to navigate the challenges of modern agriculture. He manages the group’s £2 million worth of machinery, overseeing all aspects of its operation, from logistics to maintenance. Martin also leads the workforce, managing day-to-day operations and ensuring efficiency during peak times. In addition, he handles input buying, crop sales, and oversees the implementation of a profitable environmental stewardship program across Windmill Farming’s acreage.
Will Weeks
Arable Operative, Windmill Farming
Will began his farming career at just 14, working on a local farm in his hometown of Chadlington. Since then, he has gained valuable experience as a Lead Arable Operator, working with various companies across Oxfordshire before joining Windmill Farming.
In his current role as Arable Operator, Will works closely with the farm manager to manage the day-to-day operations. His primary responsibilities include crop protection, spraying, fertilizing, and drilling the main cash crops, along with managing countryside stewardship areas. However, he is always ready to assist in any areas of the farm as needed. He is dedicated to continuous learning and professional development, being a registered member of NRoSO and recently completing his BASIS foundation course.
Current members
T.I.Evans & Son
Bishops Tachbrook, Warwickshire
T.I.Evans and Son is an arable farm which has been in existence since 1934. Now in it’s third generation the farming business has been involved with a range of mixed farming activities including poultry, dairy and arable over the years. Les Evans believes that the ‘Joint Venture has proven that you can continue to enjoy the feeling of running your own farming enterprise, with all the benefits associated with farming a larger block of land, without the pressure of having to run it all yourself.
C.H.Warhurst and Sons
Chesterton, Warwickshire
The family have farmed in Chesterton for over eighty years. Now purely arable, for many years we kept a prize winning Holstein Friesan herd, the grass keep is currently grazed by neighbouring farmers’ sheep.
We joined the JV ten years ago, and echo Les’ comments about enjoying farming our own block with the associated benefits of a larger unit, not least shared machinery costs. We have valued the opportunity to offload some aspects, and focus on maintaining an independent business, making our own input decisions. Of particular value has been the access to the expertise and energy of the farm manager and harvest team, and the other partners in the venture.
Collaborative decision making combined with meticulous record keeping results in wholly transparent invoicing. Management meetings ensure any concerns can be addressed and resolved, with decisions being made in the common interest.