Rodney Down: Please do something about the starlings

A visit from a Promar consultant to discuss our management accounts, which we do each year as part of our Tesco milk contract, re-affirmed our suspicions on the profitability of our beef - or lack of it. Compare it to cereals and it really makes you think.

A clear TB test has taken us one step further towards once again selling beef calves and stores on the open market. One more clear test to go.

The cows did their usual trick of increasing their milk output in January, only to fall over in February, with winter acidosis and winter dysentery brought on, we think, by the starlings.

Can the NFU please do something and lobby to get them off the protected list. It is costing us money and is a health issue to both man and beast. It is also costing a lot to feed them with all this expensive concentrate.

A reminder of the spring workload is often thrust upon us with the usual calls from the maize seed salesman.

We have come to the conclusion that the profit margin in these seeds is so great, they are keen to sell as early as Christmas.

You are offered the next best variety, which is sure to sell out, and if you don’t get in quick, your business will surely suffer if you don’t buy now.

Oh, and your neighbour’s growing some and you wouldn’t want him to have better maize than you, would you? I am being stubborn and have bought nothing yet.

Staff changes are also going to happen here, due to the resignation of Danny our herdsman.

He is leaving to utilise his HGV licence and will be missed in that he is never in a bad mood and never gets stressed.

If anybody would like to move to sunny Somerset and have a go at managing our herd, then please get in touch.

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