Polly's Farm Diary- The Farmers Daughter Who Hates Mud!
Catch up with Polly's Farm Diary to find out whats going on down on the Farm. |
4th July 2010 |
The last two cows calved this week, their calves have been tagged, dehorned and put out in the fields. Also, Mum and Dad scanned the heifers this week and only five were not in calf. After Monday the 5th the yards will be empty for the first time this summer!
However, there has been no big rainfalls since the last time I made an update and the fields have taken a noticeable change, they are alot less green. If it doesn't rain soon the grass will not grow enough and some cattle will have to be brought back in. Luckily, we have some maize left over from last year which will used to feed them if they have to come back in.
We have one field of barley that is ready to harvest however, they rest is at least a fortnight away. Unfortuantly, having spent so many hours getting the combine ready a while ago, dad was not pleased to find a motor and switch on the engine had broken. He has managed to order and the replacement parts and they should arrive on Monday. So hopefuly he will then be able to get going!!
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10th June 2010 |
The maize has been planted and is growing very well. However, as you can see the crop from the motorway lots of people can see it including other farmers and the agromonist! This has its good points as they have all been advising mum and dad they need spraying. Steve has been on holiday but is now back and has sprayed it all for weeds. Also, the rain has arrived at last so we are hoping for a good crop.
The other day we made the first cut to the grass with the help of Trever and and Fred who bailed and rapped it. Unfortuantly, the yield was lower than we were expecting due to the dry spring and rabbits!
Luckly there are only five cows left to calve and the last 20 cows which calved had girls! Which is quite and rarity.Also they were all pedigree which pleases mum and dad.
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20th April 2010 |
The cows are still calving very slowly, they are about one a day. As I write this mum has just gone to the lodge because when she was last down there one had just started calving, so she is going to check all is well .
Our old stockbull that we put with the pedigree south devons had become rather lazy, so he had a check up with the vet and still passed with flying colours.Fortunatly we swapped the bulls over last summer; this should hopefuly mean they will start cavling in the next 10 days.
Steve has now got the job of cleaning out all the yards now the cattle have gone out. We will have to work out which fields will benefit the most from the nutrients this will provide them with. Steve has also been very busy spaying the crops and applying fertiliser as well as getting the seed beds ready to drill the maize. The fields nearest the river are moist and the maize will grow quickly if the temperatures warm up as this is vitial for their growth. However, one field needs the rain and warmth more than others as it is slightly further from the river and is less moist.
Moreover, last time Harry was nervous about the tractor test, but he has to worry no more as he passed with flying colours and is now looking forward to the summer even more! |
21st March 2010
Steve has been very busy putting all the fertiliser on the oil seed rape, wheat and grass this week. Also he has sprayed our neighbours oats. He has since spead farm yard manure on all of the fields where the maize is going to be planted. This weather has also helped him get ploughing and this will help create a seedbed ready for drilling.
The calving has seemed to slow up but is going well. Dad is now claiming he has hurt his back planting his new Christmas trees, which arrived about a week ago. Mum has been out checking all the fencing in the grass fields, ready for the cattle to go out as soon as possible. Unfortunately I sense this will not stop them getting out and making us run around trying to get them back !! Harry is looking forward to his birthday on the 24th however, I think he is looking forward to his tractor test on the 30th more! Hopefuly he will pass first time, unlike me with me with my car test. He will then come in very helpful in the summer carting the straw and grain.
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16th Febuary 2010 |
All the Willow bat and Walnut trees have been planted and are looking great however, Dad isn't happy with that. He decided we should plant two types Christmas trees between the Walnuts. One of the varieties will be ready in four to five years and the other will be ready in six to seven years.He has since ordered 125! I don't think we will ever be short of Christmas trees again!!
Currently we have lots of sheep on our land but luckly there not ours! One the farmers near us grazes his sheep on stubble turnips we plant during the time the maze plant ins't there. Soon it will be time to plant the maze again so they will have to go back to their grass.
As the weather slowly improves and the fields dry out the fence maintenance looms closer. Mum loves this job as it means she can be out in the sun all day, and she knows it won't be long till everyone can see the cattle grazing the grass again.Also, she won't have to spend so long everyday preparing feed and feeding all the cattle in the sheds.
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25th January 2010
The heifers have started calving - so some early mornings and late evenings are in store - keeping an eye on the first time mothers!
We are going to plant some willow bat trees along the river banks. These should be ready to harvest in about fifteen years time. They are being grown on contract for a firm based in Essex; they have been involved in growing these trees and making top quality cricket bats for over four generations!
We are also going to plant an orchard of walnut trees; and some walnut trees that will be grown for timber. These take fifty years to reach maturity.
Steve is busy in the workshop servicing machinery. The seed drill is having a major refit of wearing parts. |
11th January 2010
First heifer has calved. We put 20 hefiers to the bull that will calve at two years of age, these all took to the bull quite quickly, so we are expecting some more calves very soon!
The cold weather meant that we have spent longer looking after the animals; as some of the drinking troughs froze over , it took several kettles of hot water to de-ice some of the pipes. Hense these have been insulated much more effectively resantly!!
Eight finished stears went to morrisons last week however, they did not enter the lorry in the normal fashion due to the weather. As the lorry could not get down our drive and in the yard safely, we had to take the animals in our trailer behind the tractor to the road. Where we trasferred them into the lorry.
The cattle dont seem to mind the cold and they are eating more - and lets hope they are growing faster. They act like they prefere the cold and dry much more than the damp warm weather. |
22nd December 2009
After a long gap in the farm diary, and after many requests to keep it updated here we go;
As with every year on the farm nothing will be quite the same and we have suffered from an unpredicted amount of crop failures. The weather conditions when we planted the oilseed rape was far from ideal. This lead to us planting more forage maize than normal, and therefore we had to build a new clamp that will store more than 2000 tonnes.
Having lost some buildings in Brington we have made more housing for the winter months available at Clakes Lodge by putting up another building, so fair this is working very well.
All the cows are now inside and looking well. The first time mothers (heifers) are due to start calving at the begining of Febuary - so thats something to look forward to!
We have past the shortest day of the year as of yesterday, so we have lighter mornings, lighter evenings and longer days awaiting us!!
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23rd May 2008
Ok, so I know I have a lot of explaining to do as I haven't posted a bulletin for a while, but I've been a bit snowed down with revision and exams. Yes, my GCSE's have finally started and I can't wait until they're over!
Recently, 45 acres of maize has been planted by the Burbages, Steve has finished the flag leaf spray on 350 acres, killing off and preventing diseases. Also, we have nearly finished calving, with only 18 left to go, and 140 already done and out in the fields. Harry has invested in some pigs and the are now six piglets running around. They are quite sweet I suppose but annoying when they bite at your shoes and rub on your trousers.
The markets are going OK for mum, and as it's my birthday tomorrow, she is taking my Aunt (her twin sister) to the farmers market (Birmingham) instead of me.
Also, mum and dad have sold the last of last years wheat (200 tonnes) and it has been delivered to Long Buckby.
Mum has now got some chickens as she thought she'd have a go at making money like Harry did. Not all of them have started laying as they haven't been here for long, but they should start soon, or at least I hope so!
So, with me there's nothing much going on, just revision, revision and then an exam. But... it is my birthday tomorrow which is VERY exciting :). |
17th March 2008
Since last week I have completed my French oral and my English mock which means a little less stress. At the weekend I did what I do best, partying! It was my friends birthday party and because it's not fair she has a pool. So Saturday consisted of, getting up at a good time, doing some French revision and then eatting (from the chocolate fountain!!!) and swimming at my friends house. Sunday was a day of revision which wasn't too exciting but lets hope it all plays off! Not too much mud and farm stuff has been thrown my way recently which is great. However I have got one thing to discuss, something which I was meant to mention a while ago, but oh well late is better than never!
Whilst in Austria, my aunt was determined to point out a veal hut. She said, in Austria there are lots and lots of veal huts, however we only ever saw one! Anyway, I expect you all know what veal is, but I am going to tell you anyway because it makes me feel a bit better about my knowledge in the agriculture department. Veal is basically calf, but they are kept in small huts so weight is easily gained due to lack of exercise and access to plenty of food. Some may say that keeping the calves in huts is cruel because they do not get to live their full (short) lives in freedom. However some don't really care and just like the taste. I haven't quite decided my view because I haven't tasted much veal so I have yet to come to a decision.
Since last week, a total of 60 cows have calved, and dad still gets excited about each and everyone. Steve is mucking out the sheds to ensure straw and waste doesn't get too high and messy, yuck! Unfortunately the maize was flooded over the weekend due to the down pours of rain meaning the soils nutrients would have been washed away. Also, compost is being carted into the fields in preparation for spreading in the fields after the harvest. Finally, the ear tags have been checked and replaced just before the cows were turned out.
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12th March 2008
Sorry about the delay of the blog, I have been a bit busy with science and Spanish revision. However I have had those exams and now I've just got French to tackle. Anyway, enough about exams! The weather recently has been a bit cruel, especially the wind when I'm walking to the bus stop in the mornings! It messed my hair up for the rest of the day!
So, the farm? Well, calving has started well and 50 cows have now calved. Dad has spent the majority of his time feeding the cows/calves, tagging the calves and dealing with all the gruesome paper work in the office. Mum has been fencing (no, not the sport) in preparation for when the cows and calves go out into the fields.
Steve has finished putting fertiliser on all 250 acres of the oil seed rape in order to stimulate spring growth. He has also been ploughing at the lodge ready for the maize and has one field to go out of the 45 acres in total.
Until next time, bye! |
26th Febuary 2008
So, since the last blog, I have been skiing with my aunt, uncle and cousin (whilst my parents slaved away at home, working) and it was amazing. The weather was great and I didn't fall over too many times!
Also, I have been doing lots of revision in preparation for my French mock oral, my Spanish exam and science test, so not all has been calmed and relaxed recently. Having returned from skiing, dad has informed me on all the events on the farm:
So far, eighteen cows have calved to dads delight. Also, in the fields the grass has been killed off, ploughed and sprayed with farmyard manure. Furthermore, some fields are going to be sprayed with nitrogen shortly ready for the maize.
Last week was Birmingham's market which was abnormally quiet. Harry went instead of me and wasn't kept interested by all the on-goings of market attenders. |
12th Febuary 2008
Since last week the first calf has been born which dad got very excited about and enjoyed telling me how he helped it feed. Steve has been grading the compost which means all the large lumps which are in it are re-shredded. Also fencing has started ready for the turn out of the cattle, hopefully that'll mean no cattle escaping, but I doubt all the cows will stay where they're meant to stay.
Me? Well I'm looking forward to Saturday as I am going skiing with my cousin, aunt and uncle which should be REALLY fun! Last week was the norm. At the weekend, my dad, my brother and me all ventured out into the city, London! It was great. I often found Dad wondering around as if he was confused and I found it incredibly annoying when he walked the pace of a snail, because as you know, everybody in London walks immensely fast. We visited Trafalgar Square which was interesting as the was a man dancing whilst listening to his Ipod. We also went to convent gardens, however, it my annoyance, we didn't go in a single shop!!! So I have arranged to go again with mum so I can spend lots of money, but I've just got to earn it first. London was very exciting and I can't wait to step foot into another remotely busy area as Harpole seems slightly dull now!
Next week there will be no blog as I am skiing in Austria with my aunt, uncle and cousin! I will try to come back in one piece! |
5th Febuary 2008
Well, the school week was full of the usual. Lessons, lessons and more lessons. I had parents evening this week which went well (thank goodness) although it was a bit chaotic. We had appointments with each teacher, but they seemed to go out of the window and it turned out to be quite a chaotic night!
Sorry for not publishing this weeks diary yesterday, however I had an interview at Clifton in Bristol. Yes, where public transport is everywhere you go, and yes, where shops are in walking distance! I hope the interview went well and I am looking forward to hearing from them.
Tomorrow I've got mufti day (when students are allowed to wear their own clothes) at school which should be fun and we are raising money for the local air ambulance.
Steve's continuing to muck out the yards at the lodge and we now have a big pile of muck which will be spread and ploughed in where the maize will be planted.
Rugby farmers market was canceled because health and safety said it was too windy, so mum was running around like a headless chicken trying to sell lots of beef.
The farms mechanic, Gary Jeff's has finally put some new seals in the wheels of the material handler which has stopped some small oil leaks. Dad is very pleased about this.
This weekend I didn't get my lunch time lie in which was slightly annoying, however I did get an extra lie in on Monday as I was awaiting my interview later in the day!
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28th January 2008
On the farm: everyone has been cleaning out the sheds/barns which the cattle are is so that straw and muck doesn't get too high and too unpleasant! Also Birmingham market was a successful (great start to the farmer market year), although I can't be congratulated on that matter considering I sat in the car for the majority of it reading my book, it was too windy and cold. However Grand-ma is to blame for this as she sent me a book (Anne Frank's Diary) and I haven't been able to stop reading it ever since. Due to the restart of farmers markets, dad had to get up bright and early (5am) this Tuesday and last Tuesday to deliver the latest animal at the butchers. Thankfully I was stilled wrapped up in bed for another two hours!
Me: well I have been very busy this weekend with reading, sleeping, skiing, homework and eatting! The weekend started on Saturday when I had to get up bright and early to go to Birmingham farmers market with mum. Once we got there and had set up I had to retreat to the car due to the colour of my hands (blue!) and read my book, as I've already said. I got out the car every now and again to perform half an hour shifts on the stall, however the car and my book kept beckoning me back. Once I got home from the market I had a few hours to do a bit of coursework (boring!) and get ready for skiing.
Skiing was very fun although I kept falling over. Harry fell off the ski lift which was very amusing considering he was convinced I was going to fall off it. After skiing Mum, Lou, Harry, Sarah and I all returned to Kislingbury at my uncle and aunt's (Roger and Lou's) house to have a good meal of chille-con-carne!
Sunday was full of sleeping, eatting and homework which was an alright day I suppose. Nothing much else has been going on lately which is a bit boring!! |
21st January 2008
Mum and Dad have returned from their travels so life is pretty much back to normal, for now! Last week was full of the usual: school! I have had my mock results back, most of them I was very pleased with, just 2 which weren't so impressive! Grand-ma and Grand-pa left for the lovely city life in Bristol on Thursday, sadly I was not allowed to join them as school is still in operation! May be next time?!
At the weekend I helped my Aunt Lou at Micheal Orton Jones shoot meal with my cousin. It was all good as we got paid, and it was quite fun too. I had to deal out potatoes and do jobs like wash up and make coffee. On Sunday, I was feeling slightly faint having not done any shopping recently, so Sarah and I ventured into town and did some! I brought only the necessary: a diary, and a small gift to myself, but I truly deserved it!
Anyway, here's the farming side of the blog. Mum and dad have got the cows in from the River Meadows and put them under shelter as it is very wet! 3 of them escaped onto the cricket pitch which apparently caused a bit of mayhem and chaos! There are 39 cows left outside which are going to be moved inside tomorrow!
Birmingham market is coming up this Saturday which mum is very much so looking forward to and can't wait to sell the first bit of beef, off the stall in 2008!
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12th January 2008
Mum and Dad have now been away for nearly a week and due back on Wednesday evening. Whilst they have been gone, Grand-pa and Harry have been in charge of Glassthorpe and Steve has been looking after the rest of the farm. Every evening, after school Harry and Grand-pa have been feeding the cattle on the tractor whilst I either collaspe on my bed after a ridiculously stressful day at school or watch a bit of telly! Mum's looking forward to the first farmers markets of the year and can't wait to chat to her farming friends behind the other stalls and her regular and new customers.
The rain this week has been 'monsoon' like, (quoted from Grand-pa). He was extremely shocked at the size of one of the puddles along Glassthorpe Lane, which looked like great fun to drive into but in reality just got the car extremely dirty!
Since the last blog I have been slaving away at school. Grand-ma who has taken Dad's role in the morning and afternoon school run has so far not forgotten either Harry or me, which to be honest I didn't expect her to.
Yesterday was great. I didn't get up till about 11.30, just in time for lunch and a perfect start to the day. I then had time to mooch around, do a bit of homework and do some washing (one of my many talents, not). Finally, here's the best bit, my uncle and cousin picked me and Harry up and we went to Milton Keynes to do some skiing in the snowdome. It's ok, I arrived home in one piece and only fell over once on the slopes. I had my final lesson which means I am allowed to go on the recreational slopes whenever I like (providing I pay, unfortunately)! Harry skied too, but on the recreational slopes and Sarah and Roger spent their time laughing at my attempts to do parallel. When my lesson was over, my teacher seemed to forget about me and left me on the slopes unintentionally. Sarah and Roger tried to beckon me off the slope but by that point I had given up trying to understand what they were saying to me. So overall I got about an extra 20 minutes on the slope! Not bad!
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7th January 2008
Whilst trying to complete my maths homework this week, I was rudely disrupted by Charlie the dog's constant barking! Mum and Dad had shut him in the wood room so he didn't scare the cows and chase them all in different directions. Charlie however thinks he is the top sheep dog of all time, and can probably round a herd of cattle into a trailer in minutes and therefore has to bark to remind Mum and Dad he's there. This is not the case, in reality he is a podgy black labrador who can do nothing but bark when it comes to any form of farmyard animal. Anyway, back to the point, Mum and Dad were moving the cows to Westlodge for the Winter period from Glassthorpe. There Dad supplied them with plently of silage and straw to keep them going, to be honest I think I'd prefer a nice Terry's Chocolate Orange, but I suppose everybody has a different preference, even if it is a cow.
On Friday Dad, Mum and I set off for Bristol, with our sat-nav to see which way it took us. On the way we picked up Harry from Althorp who was beating at a shoot, he was very muddy, wet and cold so before he got in the car I ordered from to take off anything which could be contaminated (wellies). Then we allowed the sat-nav to guide us the right way, it was quite successful when Dad decided he was actually going to do as it said.
At about 7.30pm, we reached Bristol. Finally I was surronded by shops, people and public transport instead of mud, cows and the odd tractor. Over the weekend we went on walks which I didn't really mind as I could look in shop windows, see lots of different types of people and the scenery in general was a lot more interesting. I mean a 10 minute walk from my Grand-ma's house and I was at Jack Wills (coolest shop ever, well one of them)! On Saturday we went to Brown's for lunch, and went to see Mumma Mia at the theatre which was GREAT! On the walk back to my Grand Parents house I came across about 30 shops, whereas at my house, there's one village shop and one shoe shop for people with monstrous feet.
Also, whilst at Bristol I showed my Mum around the premises of Clifton College, the school I hope to attend to do my A-Levels. Although there I will not be able to update you on the farm, I'm sure I can find other things to talk about? Shopping? Clothes? Friends? I'm sure they'll be something farm based for me to talk about whilst there, e.g where meat is sourced from, where the local farms are, and Dad will be as keen as ever to send me short updates by email. I may seem totally oblivious to farming, but once you've lived on one for fifteen years, the are just somethings you can't stop your parents from talking about.
If you have any suggestions for my farm diary on how I can improve it, or anything really, please do email me on: pollyfromant@aol.com
Thanks |
1st January 2008
At this time of year it is traditional to look back at some of the major events of the last year and to try to guess what might happen next year.
Last year certainly came with some unexpected events. Three major notifiable disease outbreaks (foot and mouth, blue tongue and avian flu) all helped cause serious disruption and hardship to many livestock farmers. We were relatively lucky in that we no longer have any sheep and that we were not aiming to move stock when the movement standstills were in effect.
Some extreme weather conditions meant that we had flooding in June, when we had fields of maize and what under two feet of water. When the water decreased we had some wheels disappear down the river, which were found under a bridge! As harvest started the fields were very wet and we very nearly get the combine stuck on several occasions. The weather stayed dry for harvest and beyond into the time when the next crop was being planted; this has led to some very uneven establishment of some crops especially the oilseed rape.
The other major event that will have a huge effect on livestock farming is the doubling in the value of cereals, (an event that even the experts didn't predict). Cereals are used as feed for livestock, pigs and poultry in particular will be more so effected as approximately 80% of the costs involved are due to feed. However like in feed costs will have an impact on sheep and beef farming as well.
Fertiliser and fuel costs are on the up. Fertiliser has already doubled in price; so the cost of forage production will rise. The supermarkets have got to pay the British farmer more for their produce, or except that they will have to source more food from abroad; as the livestock farmers will not be able to absorb the increase cost levels.
Looking forward to 2008 is the difficult thing. What will the weather do, what will the bank of England do with interest rates? Will the consumer want to or be in position to pay a little more for locally produced food with all the advantages of traceability reduced food miles, and animals looked after in a welfare friendly system second to none?
I don't think animal feed prices will come down, as arable farmers are encouraged to grow more renewable fuel crops; thus reducing land available to grow cereals. At the same time world population is growing and countries like China are becoming wealthier and import more food from around the world.
Fertiliser is now produced by only one company in the UK; so why will the price fall? It will not.
Fuel, I cannot see the price decreasing! Which is annoying!
So as ever the livestock industry will be under huge pressure to remain viable. It is, I think only the wild optimism of livestock farmers that keep the industry going, whether that optimism is misplaced or not will largely depend on the purchasing decisions of the food buying public!
In case you did not realise, my dad did write this 'report' as he felt the first entry of the year should be one filled with facts and opinions, and when it comes to farming, facts and opinions aren't hugely my thing. However I do think I have learnt a lot about what people like my dad worry and think about when it comes to their livelihoods! I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas, I'm just glad all the over eatting has finally come to an end.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND READERS!
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