Farmer Focus: Big crop of first-cut silage

The silage is in, and the great news is that it was a decent crop. The problem this year was figuring out when to cut the grass.

The weather forecast seemed to be all over the place, so in the end I just decided to go for it. Of course there is always a difference of opinion in the family, but with good luck on my side it was the right decision. We ended up filling our first- and second-cut pits. I had to seek help from my emergency assistants – my brother-in-law Tricky Weatherald and friend and farmer Gary Simpson. With all hands on deck we managed to get all the grass mowed and dashed out before the Arkengarthdale gang of WC Stones and Son arrived.

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All the grassland work we have been doing has paid off, and for those of you on severely disadvantaged grassland, let me tell you, it works. It is well worth the hard work and effort to get the improvements. This has included overseeding old grassland, completely reseeding old leys and getting the slurry on at the right time of the year, with the help of our neighbour’s slurry store. (Thank you, Mr Mudd.)

We are now applying fertiliser at 100k/acre and slurry at 1,500 gallons/acre. We may even look into making some hay. I am sure a senior member of the family will be able to advise on this. The one good thing about hay is that it doesn’t need wrapping.

I usually have some obsession on the go and currently I am landscaping our garden. The old version has been described by my brother Rob as an airport runway. Well, they say an Englishman’s home is his castle, so it’s time the outside was brought into shape. I am currently using my building skills and building myself a “mad shed”. I must be getting old.

Adrian Harrison farms 81ha in partnership with his father Maurice in Wensleydale, Yorkshire. He runs 130 pedigree Jersey cows with 70 followers. Milk is used to make Wensleydale cheese.