Farm Catch up

After the wet weather of the summer the frosty conditions are what we are all craving, allowing field work to begin in fairly good conditions. Derek has been been ploughing up on the hill in preparation for spring malting barley, grown on contract to Coors brewery in Burton. Derek will move onto the Vale land when and if the lower fields continue to dry up. The frost is great for breaking down the clods of earth forming smaller and smaller lumps which are great for planting spring seeds into, hopefully in January or February. As we didn't plant any Oilseed Rape on the hill this year, it was too wet and then too late, the area of spring barley has increased 5 fold this year. There will also be some winter barley grown around park farm, the first time for over 15 years! Lets hope we an keep it standing for the combine next July!

One of the knock on effects of the wet summer, and we will be feeling these for several years to come, is the fact that we haven't got any stubble turnips of note established to feed the ewes or the lambs this year. We have therefore concocted a ration made of our home grown crops to feed to the lambs indoors instead. The mix consists of woolly wheat (see 6-10-08 blog) oats and beans. The mill mix company are supplying some molasses, to sweeten the mix and make it more palatable and some extra energy in the form of fat.

Harvesting a Nightmare

Firstly apologies for it being nearly 2 months since I last sat down to write a blog, actually it feels like two months since I last sat down!! We have had a really hard time harvesting this year, not another moaning farmer story but one of an expensive, morale breaking, grinding, painful and traumatic time. This was one of the last fields cut on Bredon Hill, the wheat battered down by heavy rain and winds all through August. You all can remember August? We only had 10 dry days in the month with no rain. The crops would dry a little and just as we were about to cut it, rain would be upon us. We only managed to harvest half of this field, the crops on the ground looked like this.... We started on the 25th July and finally wrapped the job up on the 21st of September. In a normal year we would like to be completed by the 1st week in September ready to start drilling the wheat crops. The knock of effect will be felt this year and well into the coming years. We only managed to plant 2/5ths of the Oilseed Rape, and 1/2 of that has succumb to water logging and bird damage.

Carrant Clearout

In the lull before harvest, which will be late this year, due to the cool weather, Derek and Gordon set to to remove a couple of willow trees that had taken root in the Carrent Brook. The trees were trimmed earlier in the year by the electric board, as they were growing towards their cables, but left the hard job of removing the stumps to the experts! The digger freed the roots whilst the tractor applied about 200hp of pressure and eventually the trees gave up, luckily before the digger slid into the brook!

Turning The Taps On

After a few hot days the potatoes need a drink! We are putting between 15-20mm on these crops which will last them about 1 week if it doesn't rain in the mean time. the forecast looks dry and the small tubers are starting to form (hooking up) and need to be kept wet for the next 6 weeks to avoid any problems with scab. This disease causes little blisters on the skin of the potato. It makes no difference to the taste or quality of that potato but when packed under plastic and on a supermarket shelf, looks a little dirty. Tonnes of potato's are rejected each year because of scab, either powdery or common, (there are two kinds). The run in this field will last 11 hrs and the rain gun will travel 370m each of the 3 times it will take to cover the field at a snails pace of 33.6m/hr

The Real 'Bee Movie'

I'm at a loss as the living object that I found on the farm the other day. Actually it was Ted and George who pointed it out to me. We know what it is, do you? If you do know could you tell me what they are, what they are doing and why?

Those of you who walk Bredon Hill will know the gate and heaver by Whiteways. We have at last done away with the heaver and replaced the gate with a new Oak gate. Please do not let it slam closed after you have been through it, as it cost a lot of money and I don't want to have to replace in the next 30 years. Gordon has been up to give it a coat of 'creosote' (alternative) which will help prolong it's life.

Big Thank You 2 You

Well done to every-one who attended and those who helped make our Open farm Sunday event at Overbury on the 1st June the best yet. We estimate that over 220 people enjoyed the detailed farm tour with many others taking in the displays in the field. The John Deere, Autotrac 8530 proved a major success with people standing in awe as it performed a twisty route around the trees, with Trevor Bolton (Chris Tallis Farm Machinery- Service Manager) sitting in but not steering the tractor. We were also supported by The Farm Crisis Network, James Meadows (Meadows Farm Shop), Kevin Minchew (Cider), James and Harry Philips, with their ducks and chickens and the NFU. For those not wishing to miss out next year Open Farm Sunday will be on June 7th! Nationally over 400 farms were open on the same day doing all kinds of activities and events, a real credit to those farmers who support LEAF and are prepared to get the message across about British farming and food production to the general public.

3 Weeks To Go Before.....

Open Farm Sunday is only 3 weeks away as I found out after looking through the diary this morning, Help! We have put out the signs and are releasing a press statement tomorrow detailing the events of the day. For you, avid bloggers and readers a sneak preview of what you can expect to experience on your visit to Overbury Farms. There will be tractor and trailer rides around Bredon Hill, these have been lapped up by previous visitors, booking is required so if you want to come along for that ride then contact the Estate Office (01386 725110), and speak to Suzie. They will book fast and it's a first come, first serve basis! Whilst the tractors are off around the Estate, Chris Tallis Farm Machinery http://www.christallis.co.uk/will be demonstrating 'hands free' tractor driving! There will also be sheep, cows, pigs, chickens and other animals to learn about. There will be some refreshments in the cricket club, where the bar will be open to quench dusty throats after lots of talking (mine). A short nature walk, collection fun and games should also be in place to amuse little ones. Rumour has it that there will be some ice-cream to buy as well! Don't forget that the whole day is organised 'free of charge', although ice-creams and beer will of course need to paid for. Why not try and visit a few farms in the area, there are 5 registered within a 20Km radius of us at Overbury and 18 in 50km radius and make a proper day out. Click the link http://www.farmsunday.org, find a farm, and add your post code to explore the marvels of the farming world.