We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Steve Heard: Following Fashion as my seed list is drawn up
It’s been a busy month in the lull before harvest. Time spent contemplating a tan has made me realise that farming heavy clay soils is not always a bad thing.
Any patches of our lighter ground, while perhaps looking good from the road, have given up any hope of refreshment and head all too fast towards an early harvest.
Going around the country to different events, it would appear to be widespread and our plight is far less serious than in some areas.
Judging by the recent wheat market movements, I’m not the only person to have noticed.
My thanks to Farmacy for a thoroughly well-presented variety site tour, and armed with advice from several sources I have now formulated a shopping list of new seed we shall evaluate on farm next year.
For the first time, I will be a follower of Fashion as we try this conventional OSR variety alongside some hybrid W21. While the future for us growing large areas of oats is in question, I’m keen to trial some Balado.
Wheat seed crops will include comparing some Sandiego and Beluga alongside our existing varieties.
My examiner considered my JCB operation to be safe and competent but he did comment I should stick to driving a combine
Steve Heard
Twice this month we have been back in the classroom. Firstly, to confirm our competence to handle and apply slug pellets (I do hope as an industry we can rise to the huge metaldehyde challenge, the thought of farming without slug pellets fills me with fear), and secondly, to gain a license to dig.
My examiner considered my JCB operation to be ‘safe and competent’. But he did comment maybe I should stick to driving a combine than apply for a job on a building site.
Our ELS renewal application has been done online and I think now accepted. For our part, in support of the CFE campaign, we have made a special effort to increase our points tally using infield options.
Leaving land uncropped becomes a very painless option when you consider field corners or awkward areas that are anyway impossible to grow crops profitably.
Many congratulations to Andrew Rees, family and friends for their great efforts hosting a local Open Farm Sunday.
The day was a huge success, attracting many of our target suburban audience.
