Farmer Focus – The Gent Family

By Thomas Gent, Edward Gent & Tony Gent

Featured in Direct Driller Magazine (https://directdriller.com/farmer-focus-the-gent-family/)

Introduction: Three generations, thinking together

The Gent family has been farming in South Lincolnshire for four generations, but while the mission of growing food remains the same, the world around has changed beyond recognition.

The Gents have been practising no-till farming on their 800-hectare family farm since 2008. Today they operate under the Gentle Farming brand, born out of a desire to bridge the gap between regenerative practices on the ground and the opportunities this brings in the wider world. By focusing on soil health, carbon sequestration and nature, the aim is to turn environmental stewardship into tangible value.

This is slightly different to other Farmer Focus articles as Tony Gent, Edward Gent and Thomas Gent have each written a section that together illustrate the family’s total vision.

Tony Gent

Section 1: The transition to no-till farming

By Tony Gent

We are now entering our 18th year since moving away from intensive cultivation. Previously, our system relied on a heavy fleet of equipment ploughs, discs, subsoilers, power harrows and heavy presses, all supported by three Caterpillar Challengers totalling nearly 1,000hp. Within the first two years of our transition, we disposed of this entire fleet. This move immediately slashed running costs, ended the cycle of constant reinvestment in wear and tear and stopped the unnecessary movement of soil.

We replaced that entire inventory with a single John Deere 750A, utilising an existing 200hp tractor. Later, we upgraded to a Weaving GD drill for its even lower soil disturbance and superior slot-closing technology. The overhead cost savings alone provide a compelling argument for the no-till approach.

The early years were not without challenges. In wet autumns and late springs, our silt-based 30% clay soil, which had been degraded by years of intensive cultivation, proved difficult, particularly in low-lying areas. At the time, there was very little local expertise on managing no-till in heavy, wet soils within a maritime climate. We had to learn as we went.

We soon discovered that leaving heavy amounts of chopped straw on the surface wasn’t working for us. We needed to assist soil drainage by introducing air, but it was vital to do so without inverting the soil or compromising the emerging biological recovery. To solve this, we devised very low-disturbance shallow loosening tines and vertical wavy turbo discs. These tools allowed us to aerate the soil with absolute minimum surface disruption. The results were transformative: a massive increase in worm counts and microbial activity, which quickly led to robust yields that matched our previous cultivated averages.

One of the most significant shifts has been in how our land handles water. In a no-till system, the soil develops a firm, “honeycomb” structure. This allows water to pass through efficiently without being retained; the soil remains firm rather than becoming “globular” or saturated.

In contrast, cultivation creates a “sponging” effect. The water isn’t draining; it is simply filling the artificial air pockets created by machinery, turning the soil into a structureless bog, often sitting on an impervious “pan” created by the tools themselves. With no-till, clean surface water can now follow natural gradients to lower areas, where it can be managed with targeted, gravel-to-the-surface drainage in specific spots.

Recently, we have observed much better hairy root development closer to the surface. We believe this is due to a buildup of nutrients that are no longer being diluted by deep mixing. Because the nutrition is concentrated where the plant naturally explores, the crop doesn’t have to expend energy searching for what it needs.

Even in drought conditions, we’ve seen excellent establishment and record yields. The improved capillary action of undisturbed soil keeps the profile damp, ensuring that access to water is rarely an issue.

The benefits of no-till are clear: significantly lower costs, consistently improved yields in weather extremes and a farming system that is truly sustainable. With nearly two decades of experience in soil loosening, cover cropping and nutrient management, we now know this transition doesn’t have to take 18 years. We now are in a position to help other farmers navigate this change much faster than we did.

Edward Gent

Section 2: Drainage and collaboration

By Edward Gent

In the Fens, drainage isn’t just a part of land management; it is the fundamental requirement for everything we do. Our unique geography means that water management is a constant, uphill battle. Following a recent succession of exceedingly wet winters, this winter so far being an exception, it became painfully obvious that our existing infrastructure was struggling. We recognised an urgent need to repair, modernise and extend our network of field drains.

Historically, we have always relied on external contractors for this type of work. Like many farms, we simply lacked the specialised machinery and the spare manpower to handle drainage ourselves. However, we began to encounter a recurring problem: the nature of our drainage needs was often fragmented. While contractors are well-suited for large-scale field installations, it is increasingly difficult to get them to site for small jobs addressing isolated low areas, fixing wet headlands or installing short, strategic runs. These small but critical tasks are often low priority for large-scale operators and led to a never-ending list of small puddles that hampered our yields.

We decided to invest in a comprehensive drainage suite, including a tractor-mounted chain trencher, a laser level for precision grading and a stone cart for efficient back filling. Because the capital investment and labour requirements were significant, we took the plunge in partnership with a neighbour. This partnership allowed us to share the financial burden of high-spec machinery and support each other with manpower.

I believe this type of collaboration between farmers is becoming essential. As the costs of machinery and inputs continue to soar, the go-it-alone mentality is becoming less sustainable. We must be strategic about where we invest our capital, and sharing high-value assets is a logical way to access modern technology without over-leveraging the business. This venture has been a resounding success for both of us. It has given us the autonomy to react quickly to drainage issues as they arise, ensuring our land remains in peak condition and our crops have the best possible environment to thrive.

Thomas Gent

Section 3: The new frontier – Why farmers must become marketers

By Thomas Gent

For decades, the “perfect” farmer was the one who kept their head down, their rows straight and their sheds full. We were taught to be masters of production, not masters of the market. But as we navigate a post-subsidy landscape and volatile input prices, being a good grower is no longer enough. Now, more than ever, it is essential for farmers and estates to embrace marketing not as a “fluff” exercise, but as a core business strategy.

In the current global supply chain, the value isn’t held by the person who grows the crop, it is held by the person who owns the brand. The disparity is staggering. For example, in a standard £1.20 supermarket loaf, the farmer’s share for the wheat is often less than a few pence. In the coffee industry, the gap is even wider: a farmer might receive just 1p to 5p for the beans in a £4.50 latte.

As farmers, we have historically been price-takers, but there is a path to becoming price-makers. The real big win isn’t just doing one thing: it’s the combination of working together with local farms to slash costs while simultaneously pooling our marketing abilities to find premiums. If we collaborate on farming activities, sharing machinery, labour or input buying to drive our cost of production down, and then layer a collective marketing budget on top to promote our farming brands, we change the game entirely. We move from being a faceless commodity at the bottom of the chain to an indispensable brand that the market actually demands.

I’m incredibly optimistic about this. In fact, some of the work we did in 2025 proved this model to me. We achieved premiums for crops that I honestly didn’t think were possible, simply by having a strong, recognisable brand and the data to back it up. It showed me that when you stop selling commodities and start selling a solution, the market responds.

I truly believe the next few years hold enormous potential for those of us willing to collaborate. I would love to hear from other farmers who think the same.

Conclusion

The Gent family’s journey highlights a powerful truth: the future of agriculture lies at the intersection of hard-won experience and bold innovation. By integrating the perspectives of three generations, Gentle Farming creates a total vision that balances foundational soil health with the practicalities of modern land-management and the strategic necessity of branding. This multi generational approach transforms the farm from a traditional producer into a resilient, market-ready business where history informs the future.

However, as this article makes clear, the vision must extend beyond the family gate. In an era of rising costs and volatile markets, the go-it-alone mentality is no longer a viable path to success. The proven success of shared drainage projects and collaborative marketing efforts show that working with neighbours is not just a logistical convenience, but a core strategy for survival.

By pooling resources, labour and brand power, farmers can shift from being passive price-takers to empowered price-makers. Moving forward, this spirit of collaboration, both within the family and across the wider farming community, will be the defining factor in building a sustainable, profitable and meaningful legacy for the generations to come.

The Gent Family