Farmer Focus: Spot-on forecast sees silage safely clamped
Colin Murdoch © Jeff Holmes There’s nothing like the sound and sight of your neighbours mowing grass to get you phoning the contractor.
We still share a set of double mowers, even though we gave up working the trailed JF forager a number of years ago because of lack of staff and increasing acres, so I did know his plan.
See also: Wholecrop barley silage solves key challenges on dairy farm
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The weather was settled for a few days, which enabled us both to get everything safely clamped.
As it turned out, the forecast had been spot on for once, as it was showery for the next two weeks.
I’d rather be a few days early with silage for the Jerseys, as they don’t respond to overly mature grass.
Everything was covered with slurry at 5,000 gallons/ha within three days of chopping – there’s also nothing like a bit of healthy competition between contractors.
Once again, my thanks go out to them for the long hours, and I promise to pick a better fish and chip shop for the field tea at second cut.
Along with slurry, all fields to be cut again for silage received 75kg/ha of nitrogen.
Let’s hope I’ve got the settings correct this time. I certainly don’t want to be reminded any more of Celtic’s title win with more green stripes.
Having the cows in all year means we can utilise slurry at this time of year, with enough for every field that has been cut.
Grass is really motoring now with moisture and heat, and I’m into really nice covers with the zero grazer.
Last week, we took out 4ha (10 acres) that were getting too strong and made some really dry haylage bales.
Not that we need them, as there’s still plenty left over from last year, but up here you never know when the winter will start.
Spring crops, after quite a hot and dry start, are doing well.
These will be destined for wholecrop, assuming we have the clamp floor concreted in time. Winter barley has significantly improved in the past few weeks.
I was really concerned for it, but the increased temperatures came at the right time.
I’m pleased with the winter wheat, though, and hopefully we’ll get a weather window soon to allow T2 sprays, as it’s been too hot, then too windy, and now too showery.