So realistically we are not going to be grazing growing grass until late September at the earliest, which presents massive challenges. Our rolling twelve month rainfall records still show that we are at almost 700mm. A meaningless statistic of course, because that rain fell last winter and the moisture has all gone now. In 2015 we had 412mm, in 2016 we had 541mm, in 2017 we had 461mm and in 2018, which I remember as a dry year, we had 600mm. All drier years, but the rain was distributed evenly through the year. It is the inconsistency, and this year the excessive heat, that has really caused the problems over the past couple of years. Even despite all the positive action we have taken to make ourselves climate resilient, it feels like it’s not enough.
The Thomas Edison quote, speaks of not giving up. I think alongside making plans early that is really important. We took advantage of some decent prices and sold some store cattle back in the early spring. Coming out of winter our forage stocks were low and I was worried we would have another slow spring and put ourselves under pressure.
“ Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” - Thomas Edison
I pulled out all our older ewes and sold them in late June, when things were starting to look a bit tricky and I also sold some store lambs (to go on to other farms) earlier than usual too. All early decisions designed to take the pressure off focus on our breeding stock. You will see that we have been grazing stockpiled forage with cows and calves and supplementing their diet with willow. The cattle go mad for it and it grows back, but I have coppiced most of the trees I can now, so that amazing resource has reduced too.
As of now, mid August we have housed some more cattle to feed them inside and are grazing the last of the grass we have left. It’s not much, but for the group of young heifers that are eating it, it will be fine, supplemented with hay.
The pressure of drought is very real, and we also have the added worry of Bluetongue disease. It has been kicking around for a few years now, but until this year has been confined to the south east and last year only at a low level in the south west. I have heard some absolute horror stories coming out of farms affected in Devon and Cornwall. Stock needing to be checked twice a day and caught to
be treated. Sheep are affected more acutely, with death being a real concern. The disease is less obvious in cattle, or at last they seem to cope with it better, but it can have a negative impact on fertility. We are on the list for vaccine and should be able to treat our breeding livestock before the end of the month. Another job and another cost.
Disease, drought and famine. It really does feel like a stressful time to be involved in agriculture, but I do not want you to think I am moaning. There are many people in worse situations than us and it is important that we take time to check on our neighbours and friends. We have had two fires in the village over the past few weeks. Both due to vehicle malfunctions I think, and while an area of wheat was burned and some hedge line lost, no one was hurt. We can replant the hedge and replace the machinery.
It will rain, autumn will come and we will beat the threat of the Bluetongue disease with vaccine and animal resilience. Tomorrow is as they say, another day.
So, what next? Well, my livestock feed budget does rely on rain in September and a decent autumn, so I may well need to update it in the next couple of weeks. And I think we need more willow trees. The area to the right of the cattle eating willow in the photo is about half an acre. I think we can plant around 700 stems in there for a grazing block.
I hope I will be able to get an organisation to work with me to provide the trees. Willow, poplar and a hedge around the outside. There is no doubt in my mind that if weather extremes are to be come the norm, then more trees are going to be a part of the answer. So, if you have a tree sapling you have grown in a pot and you don’t need it in your garden, find a local farmer and put it in a hedgerow somewhere. Failing that, I’ll have it and will plant it here, together with the two oaks I was given by a lady in the village last week. It really is a time to pull together.
rich@risburycourt.com
87
Regenerative Farming
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
BUSINESS ON THE FARM
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