Farmer Focus: Clover reseed needed after winter soaking
James Kimber © Kathy Horniblow Maize drilling has just finished as I write. Seed was wrestled into the ground.
To say we started from a seed-bed that was “wet” is an understatement. It’s a bit late, but this is not a year to be farming by the textbook.
We still have 6ha (15 acres) of grass seed to get in, but the contractors are rather busy with the small windows of suitable weather to get it done.
See also: How red clover and ryegrass save £1 a day on bull diet
About the author
The clover in our mixed leys didn’t survive well sitting in water through the winter.
As there were too many thistles again, we have sprayed a herbicide to clean up. We then plan to go in after silage with 5kg/ha of clover seed.
Unfortunately, we had been relying on the nitrogen from clover, so had to buy 6t of fertiliser for the silage ground.
Even with a small tractor and only two bags in the spinner, I still managed to find three wet spots on 8 May.
Lambs outside have had their first vaccines and nematodirus wormer.
Two bunches had to have a second dose for coccidiosis as the fields were wet and muddy, causing teat contamination.
Everything is fly sprayed. The insects are already getting troublesome, and I hate seeing maggots.
I have shorn the rams and plan to get the dry hoggs and dry ewes done now, but the Easter lambers are way off.
One bunch of December calvers are out with strong calves. Sadly, they have done a lot of damage to one field.
The earlier calving cows are weaned and will be turned out dry.
These big calves will stay in to get to know us and be halter-trained ready for next year’s bull sales.
I think one of farming’s challenges is trying to plan for next year or five years’ time while our customers are selling tomorrow or next week.
Writing this before the Downing Street Farm to Fork summit, I predict more platitudes from short-termist electioneering politicians. Agriculture must be taken seriously.
Soundbites are no good when you are wading through mud and rain, or delivering another wonky lamb or calf, or looking at an entire field of failed wheat.
Even if you farm 10,000ha of arable, you’re a tiny business compared with the multinational behemoths.