Top 10 Best Farming Companies in Hyndburn

Farming in Hyndburn's Pennine Landscape

Hyndburn is often associated with its mill towns, but much of the borough is rural. The moorland and hill pastures surrounding Oswaldtwistle, Baxenden, Altham and Great Harwood support livestock farming, particularly sheep and beef cattle, alongside dairy herds on the lower ground. Dry stone walls, scattered farmsteads and grazing land frame the urban centres, and the farming community plays a vital role in land management, food production and the local economy.

Farming in East Lancashire is supported by a network of co-operatives, merchants, auction marts, processors and farm-to-table businesses. Here are ten of the most valuable farming companies serving Hyndburn's agricultural community.

1. Arla Foods

Arla Foods is a farmer-owned dairy co-operative and one of the largest buyers of milk in the UK. Many Lancashire dairy farmers supply Arla, benefiting from co-operative ownership and sustainability programmes. Arla's focus on animal welfare and carbon reduction helps member farms improve efficiency while meeting consumer expectations.

2. Carrs Billington

Carrs Billington is a leading agricultural merchant with a strong presence in Lancashire and the North. It supplies animal feed, fertiliser, seeds, fencing and farm hardware through its country stores. Its specialists advise on nutrition and grassland management, helping hill farmers maximise productivity on challenging Pennine ground.

3. Clitheroe Auction Mart

Clitheroe Auction Mart, located a short drive north of Hyndburn, is one of the key livestock markets for East Lancashire farmers. It holds regular sales of cattle and sheep and provides a vital marketplace that sets fair prices. The mart also serves as a community hub where farmers share knowledge and maintain long-standing relationships.

4. Gisburn Auction Mart

Gisburn Auction Mart is another important livestock market serving farmers across the Ribble Valley and Pennine Lancashire. Known for its prime and store sales, it attracts buyers from across the North. Hyndburn farmers often use Gisburn to reach a wider pool of buyers and achieve strong prices.

5. Dewlay Cheesemakers

Dewlay is a family-run Lancashire cheese producer based in Garstang that has been making traditional cheeses for generations. It sources milk from local farms and produces award-winning Creamy and Tasty Lancashire varieties. Dewlay's success demonstrates how regional dairying adds value to local milk.

6. Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese

Mrs Kirkham's is a renowned farmhouse cheesemaker producing traditional raw-milk Lancashire cheese from its own herd. Its handmade cheeses have won numerous awards and are celebrated by chefs and cheesemongers nationally. It showcases the quality and heritage of Lancashire's dairy farming tradition.

7. Lancashire Farm Dairies

Lancashire Farm Dairies produces yoghurts and dairy products using milk from Lancashire farms. Its natural and Greek-style yoghurts are widely stocked in supermarkets, helping to support regional dairy farmers. The brand reflects the growing consumer interest in local provenance.

8. Huntley's Country Stores

Huntley's is a popular farm shop, butcher and country store at Samlesbury, close to Hyndburn. It champions local produce, from beef and lamb to ice cream made with milk from local cows. Farm shops like Huntley's help local farmers reach consumers directly and capture more value for their produce.

9. Bashall Barn

Bashall Barn is a farm shop, restaurant and food destination in the Ribble Valley. It sells meat reared on its own farm alongside produce from local suppliers. Its success highlights the potential of agri-tourism and direct-to-consumer sales for East Lancashire farming businesses.

10. ForFarmers

ForFarmers is a major animal feed supplier serving dairy, beef, sheep, pig and poultry farms across the UK. Its nutritionists help farmers optimise rations, improve animal health and reduce environmental impact. For Hyndburn livestock farmers, precise feed formulation is key to profitability.

How Hyndburn Farmers Choose Partners

Farmers typically evaluate partners based on price, reliability and expertise. Feed and fertiliser merchants are judged on product quality and advice, while milk buyers and auction marts are assessed on the prices they deliver and the stability of their contracts. Co-operative membership can provide security and a share in profits, while direct-to-consumer channels such as farm shops offer higher margins.

Trends in Lancashire Agriculture

Environmental land management schemes are reshaping farm incomes, rewarding farmers for habitat restoration, peatland protection and water quality improvement on the moors. Diversification into farm shops, holiday lets and agri-tourism is growing. Technology such as electronic livestock tagging, grassland measurement tools and herd management software is improving productivity. Consumer demand for local, traceable food continues to benefit farmers who can tell their story.

Local Insight: The Farmer's Year in Hyndburn

The farming calendar in Hyndburn is shaped by the Pennine climate. Lambing in spring is the busiest and most demanding period for sheep farmers on the moorland edges above Oswaldtwistle and Baxenden. Early summer brings silage making, which depends on short windows of dry weather, and contractors are often in high demand. Autumn sees store lamb and cattle sales at regional auction marts, followed by the long winter housing period when feed and bedding costs dominate.

Because margins can be tight, many Hyndburn farms combine livestock with other income streams, such as contracting, equestrian livery, renewable energy and holiday accommodation. Advice from agricultural consultants, land agents and farming support organisations helps families plan succession, access grants and adapt to new environmental schemes. Collaboration between neighbouring farms, from sharing machinery to joint marketing, is also helping to strengthen the local agricultural economy.

Final Thoughts

Hyndburn's farming community is supported by an impressive network of co-operatives, merchants, markets and food businesses. Together, these companies help sustain the rural landscape that surrounds the borough's towns, produce high-quality Lancashire food and keep farming traditions alive for future generations.