Dominic Naylor: A newcomer to my wish list

After watching a recent episode of Countryfile I’ve had to demote the Swales to fourth place. I now want the Countryfile weather forecast to appear at the start of the programme so I can turn over after the weather and not have to endure any more ‘Craven’s Report’.

Don’t get me wrong, the rest of the programme is good. Adam does a good job for farming’s image, and Julia causes me to break a Commandment. But the anti-farming drivel Craven comes out with has caused me to start shouting at the telly and that tells me I’m getting older.

Another reminder of the onset of middle age came at our Summer ball. My dinner suit trousers, which I’ve had since my own college days, were once so baggy I required braces.

Now, the braces have gone and buttoning the waist reminds me of packing that last fleece into the wool sack. The students that are leaving will be missed. They arrived five foot tall with cherub faces but leave as hairy six footers.

The past month has been a busy one. We finished clipping the ewes, the highlight of which was watching first year NDA student Seth Blakey who’s 17, clipping. He’ll be one to watch.

The ewes’ condition score was pleasing and reflects the recent good grazing conditions, despite the lack of rain. The lucerne didn’t miss the rain either and we’ve taken second cut, which this time was very high dry matter.

It’s the first year of no ryegrass and I’m trying to hold my nerve with the yields, which can be a third that of ryegrass. I started buckraking and got the ramp just right only to be told we were in the last field and only to expect four more loads.

Maize continues to romp away with all but one field showing good weed control. We had to split the plastic in the poor field but the spray seems tobe on top of thistles and volunteer spuds.

I realised I never report on the environmental side of the farm. We have an abundance of Skylarks and Peewits and I’m delighted to report the arrival of a pair of Oyster Catchers.

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