Hi there, this is yet again another critical period from a farming point of view. I’m writing this on the 1st of September the first day of autumn so the weather man is telling me, but I’m (like a lot of others involved in agriculture) still wanting it to stay as summer for a while longer yet.
The feeling is like being stranded at the station whilst simultaneously watching your last train leave the platform with out you, your desperately wanting a bit more time to finish up the last of the traditionaly summer jobs whilst the better conditions prevail.
The main of the harvest is completed generally, but due to the inclement weather earlier in the year I’m hearing the yields are not record breaking, so especially here in west Dorset on the hills it is vital to harvest the remaining corn before the conditions deteriorate too drastically. I’m hoping to get the last of my haylage baled and wrapped today at the farm, an operation carried out by my contractor mates Mark, Tom, and Jack, there reliability is the key factor in the quality of the product I’m trying to produce.
My day will be mainly taken up with spraying off old tired pastures for a couple of customers who are obviously wanting to renew their grass crops now that they have become less productive and hence more susceptible to weed contamination, as well as keeping one eye on the operations back at my farm.
Ideally I wish I could spend more time at the farm, especially at times like this, but the contract work does provide the bulk of my income so it is a tough juggling act at times to separate my heart from my head!! As I’ve said there is plenty to be getting on with on the land all over the country whilst the weather holds, but I’ve just been informed the first seasonal remnants of a hurricane is now making its way over the Atlantic, I have customers ringing up wanting hedges cut, fields ploughed, grass seeds drilled, before it gets too wet…….quick stop that train!!!!
Thanks for your time.
Cheers.
1st September 2016
