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Letters from Transylvania!

Hay and straw

Again, what a contrast to back home. Started the second hay cut last week. Not expecting a lot on the buffalo farm as the reseeding has not been going as one would wish. Hope for better next year. Given the the farm was unused for many years it takes time. Our large arable unit had land in need of a 'rest' so that carries a lot of leys and they provide the bulk of the forage whilst also putting the soil back in better order. Our risk now is no rain so we are baling all our straw and anything else we are offered. The next two weeks will prove to be very busy with the combine returning at the weekend, hay-making and straw to move. After that August looks quiet. If we get some rains in the next 10 days we will even be looking at a third hay cut by then! If not we will need everything for grazing. Thankfully the young buffalo can get by okay on straw and grain, although the grains will not be cheap this year if we have to buy in after a disappointing cereal harvest. At least we are not up to our necks in mud and our animals are not starving through lack of forage and grazing. Even hearing reports that in places in Romania they also are without water. A serious crisis looming I am afraid and especially for those people with a handful of cows and no money.

Comments

 

2575713 said:

Hi Stuart, Interesting reading - such a contrast to here in the UK. I was in Ukraine three weeks ago and the crops there were looking good - see www.fwi.co.uk/ukraine for details. Mind you western Ukraine has some pretty impressive soils and good rainfall. Little wonder it was once the breadbasket of the Soviet Union. A big issue for the farming business I visited was sourcing fuel, fertiliser and agchems. They could get them, but often logistics were tricky, such as fertiliser in 50kg sacks - unpalletised. Similarly diesel arriving in a tanker, but only hand pumping to unload it! How is input supply for you?

July 27, 2007 10:30 AM
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About Stuart Meikle

Scots origin. Families farmed in Suffolk and Scottish borders. Wye College graduate and academic staff (ag business). A few years as an international consultant. Now setting up and managing a buffalo milk production and processing operation in Transylvania and HM Honorary Consul!
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