FARMERFOCUS

25 January 2002




FARMERFOCUS

John Best

John Best farms 320ha

(791 acres) from Acton

House Farm, Pointspass,

Co Down. Wheat,

conservation-grade oats

and potatoes are the

main crops on his 220ha

(544 acres) of clay

loam arable land

CROPS have never looked better and the mild dry weather has suited the wheat we drilled at 125kg/ha (1 cwt/acre). While well established, it is not too proud and the only disease present is a little mildew in the Claire.

However, it is disconcerting to hear warnings about water shortages and reports that some nearby reservoirs are already down to 50% of capacity.

The last of our oats went to Speedicook this week. Although the total is down on previous years, the quality was reasonable considering the high seed rates used to establish the crops last January and February, which resulted in rather high tiller counts.

That said, I was a little concerned when the weight tickets for the first two trailers showed bushel weights of 51kg/hl. Not only did that mean a hard-to-swallow £6/t deduction, but it was also perilously close to rejection. Fortunately, subsequent loads averaged the required specification of 54.5kg/hl.

With wheat prices static and no real optimism for the next few months, wheat will be the next to go. One of my regular outlets bought forward to April at harvest, so I am looking for alternative homes, one of which will be bull beef.

The cheaper grain, lower prices for calves and availability of Beef Special Premium payments has tempted me to get out the calf-feeders and start mixing milk again. The first batch of Holstein calves went in at the beginning of January and to be profitable they must be away by next January at over 260kg deadweight.

I applied to join the Countryside Management Scheme last July with the intention of beginning work this winter. But we have not been able to make a start because my application, having been processed by the Department of Agriculture, became buried at the Environment and Heritage Service which had to comment on two sites of historic significance on the farm.

A "polite" phone call produced a site inspection two days later and my application is back in the system. &#42

Jim Bullock

Jim Bullock farms 283ha

(700 acres) in partnership

with his parents and

brother at Mill Farm,

Guarlford, Malvern, Worcs.

Two-thirds is rented or

contract farmed, the rest

owned. Cropping is winter

wheat, winter oilseed rape

and winter beans

THE non-appearance of our IACS cheque has furthered my determination that we simply have to be able to farm without government aid. If it doesnt stand up financially without subsidies – dont do it.

For that reason, there is no way I will enter some of these stewardship schemes. They will promote further bureaucracy and could even be a form of land nationalisation through the back door.

Before Christmas I was honoured to address the Fondation National pour une Agriculture de Conservation des Sols at Montagris, south of Paris. This farmer-only group is set up to investigate lo-till and conservation agriculture. They hope to employ an agronomist to investigate various systems without the influence of machinery and/or chemical companies whose interest may be biased.

Over 500 farmers attended an extremely useful day discussing conservation tillage and the future of agriculture. The average age of the audience was about 35 – in the UK it would be 60 – and the attitude was very positive. Most of the audience have accepted the present economic situation and are restructuring and reorganising their businesses accordingly.

Rather than chase extra land most are trying to cut costs and, more importantly, time spent running their farms, so enabling them to pursue other enterprises. I left feeling totally elated.

As a family we have decided to relocate our farmstead. Built in 1720, it now lies in what can only be described as the centre of a housing estate.

However, the reaction from local residents and councillors to our planned move half a mile down the road has been unbelievable. Their ignorance of agriculture beggars belief and, with a dollop of jealousy, it adds up to a recipe to "have a go at the Bullocks".

Reading what one or two have said about us it is obvious we are no longer wanted in the area, but having farmed here for nearly 500 years we are not about to leave. What they dont realise is they may find the alternative to a farm even less palatable. &#42

Ian Pigott farms 690ha

(1700 acres) of owned,

rented, share-farmed and

contract-farmed land in

partnership with his father

from Thrales End,

Harpenden, Herts. Wheat,

oilseed rape, spring barley,

beans and peas are the

main crops on the flinty,

medium clay soils

LOSING our livery yard manager and wishing to make sure we employ the most suitable replacement has meant I have taken on the role of assistant stable lad for the past month.

Fortunately, during this time, the farm has been quiet except for the gas gun. Too many pigeons fattening themselves on our oilseed rape are becoming deaf to its retort and we will have to be very vigilant over the next month or so if they are not going to decimate yield.

The Oxford Farming Confer-ence has been and gone with Margaret Beckett softening her rather stiff stance on UK farming just enough to prevent too much heckling from the audience.

Meanwhile, the Rural Pay-ments Agency has achieved a first for UK agriculture – it is the most inefficient payer in Europe with 10-15% of farmers still awaiting IACS cheques at the time of writing.

Returning from our monthly county NFU meeting, where national vice-president Tim Bennett gave an excellent speech, I decided to have a look on the internet to assess farmer sentiment around the globe. Where better to start than at www.USDA.com? In design and content, the US Department of Agriculture web-site is the antithesis of www.defra.gov.uk.

When visiting the US site I was able to listen to American secretary for agriculture Ann Veneman addressing the National Association of Wheat Growers.

She hopes the soon to be passed Farm Bill will enable US farmers to become "the most competitive and most innovative in the world" and for the USDA to ensure US farmers "compete on a level playing field".

It would seem Mrs Beckett and the Labour government are doing their best to see the reverse is the case for their UK farmers.

Looking on the bright side, mucking out horses makes me realise the variety there is in farming. I am looking forward to longer days and an opportunity to get back on the land. &#42

John Jeffrey

John Jeffrey runs two

tenanted farms in

partnership with his father

from Kersknowe, near

Kelso in the Scottish

Borders. Two-thirds of the

730ha (1800 acres) is

arable, growing seed

potatoes, oilseed rape,

wheat and winter and

spring barley

FOR the second year running we were caught out by the big freeze over the festive period, so my New Years resolution is the Scouts motto "Be Prepared".

All the water pipes to the cattle closes were frozen and the spare hoses, when eventually found, did not fit the tap.

That, along with everyone being on holiday, flat batteries on tractors, the space heater literally flying to pieces and New Year size hangovers led to some very long and trying days.

The cattle also happened to break out a couple of times and much to my neighbours amusement we were seen wading through the snowdrifts trying to round them up.

However, the festive period did bring some good cheer with the arrival of my IACS cheque. The first payment for my new combine was due on the same day and in a "robbing Peter to pay Paul" scenario the money did not stay long enough in my account to accrue even one days interest.

In the New Year I was approached to grow a trial crop of genetically modified oilseed rape. The figures look very attractive and morally I have no qualms about growing GM material.

But the downside is your farm and grid reference are posted on the DEFRA web-site leaving you open to abuse from all sorts of campaigners. Damage to the crop I could handle but "unwanton" vandalism to the rest of my property would be hard to take.

This years turnip crop is again giving cause for great debate.

It is covered in fat hen and as a friend said to me, as he was helping himself to my sloe gin: "We only have your word that there are turnips in there."

It does provide excellent game cover, but needless to say the shepherd is none too chuffed.

Next years turnips are pencilled in for the farm on which I do not have the shooting, so Ill make more of an effort to grow a decent crop. &#42

John Jeffrey runs two

tenanted farms in

partnership with his father

from Kersknowe, near

Kelso in the Scottish

Borders. Two-thirds of the

730ha (1800 acres) is

arable, growing seed

potatoes, oilseed rape,

wheat and winter and

spring barley

FOR the second year running we were caught out by the big freeze over the festive period, so my New Years resolution is the Scouts motto "Be Prepared".

All the water pipes to the cattle closes were frozen and the spare hoses, when eventually found, did not fit the tap.

That, along with everyone being on holiday, flat batteries on tractors, the space heater literally flying to pieces and New Year size hangovers led to some very long and trying days.

The cattle also happened to break out a couple of times and much to my neighbours amusement we were seen wading through the snowdrifts trying to round them up.

However, the festive period did bring some good cheer with the arrival of my IACS cheque. The first payment for my new combine was due on the same day and in a "robbing Peter to pay Paul" scenario the money did not stay long enough in my account to accrue even one days interest.

In the New Year I was approached to grow a trial crop of genetically modified oilseed rape. The figures look very attractive and morally I have no qualms about growing GM material.

But the downside is your farm and grid reference are posted on the DEFRA web-site leaving you open to abuse from all sorts of campaigners. Damage to the crop I could handle but "unwanton" vandalism to the rest of my property would be hard to take.

This years turnip crop is again giving cause for great debate.

It is covered in fat hen and as a friend said to me, as he was helping himself to my sloe gin: "We only have your word that there are turnips in there."

It does provide excellent game cover, but needless to say the shepherd is none too chuffed.

Next years turnips are pencilled in for the farm on which I do not have the shooting, so Ill make more of an effort to grow a decent crop. &#42


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