John Davies: Weather extends silage season, but crops do well

It looked as if we would finish silaging in August, but the weather has lengthened the season.

We have done some spring barley as wholecrop at home. It yielded a good crop and was undersown with grass and red clover. It looks like that has suffered from us having to wait to do the barley. We should have done it earlier and settled for less starch.

We have crimped our winter wheat as my patience ran out. The straw was on the ground for 10 days before we had a few days sunshine, which allowed us to ted and bale it up reasonably.

We still have some spring barley and pea mix left to do. It has grown well, but is still above 25 per cent moisture content.

For the third year running, it has been possible to grow good crops, but harvesting is more challenging. With the rising value of grain and straw, though, it looks like being well worthwhile this year.

The YFC-organised ‘Cofio’r Epynt’ walk proved successful, with more than 350 people enjoying the one-day walk on the Epynt military range, followed by the evening singing festival.

Walking around the farms/ school and community, it was enjoyable listening to the recollections of people who were moved 70 years ago. It was the same weekend the range had to be cleared for the first compulsory scab treatment, so it was a hectic.

We dipped the ewes and have shorn the ewe lambs we intend keeping as replacements.

We sold some yearling Mules at Brecon Market, which averaged £130, and some ewe lambs for £80 and £75. Some of the ewe lambs’ brothers made £75 at market a couple of weeks earlier, so perhaps they could have made a bit more.

Breconshire is the host county for the Royal Welsh Show in 2012, so we are kicking off our fundraising activities with a concert headed by local man and X Factor runner-up, Rhydian Roberts.We have sold nearly a thousand tickets, so it should be a good night.

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name