FARMERFOCUS
FARMERFOCUS
Peter Delbridge
Peter Delbridge farms
162ha(400 acres) in the
Exmoor National Park, near
South Molton, Devon. The
farm is mostly permanent
grass, classed as less
favoured and environmentally
sensitive, and all above
300m (1000ft). It is
stocked with 800 ewes,
replacement ewe lambs, 60
spring calving sucklers and
their followers
THERE was a time in spring when I thought we were in for a drought this year – in the words of Captain Mainwaring – stupid boy. Since then it has done little else but rain.
The 24ha (60 acres) of clamp silage, despite using a self-propelled harvester that can clear about 3ha (8 acres) of our heavy first cut grass/hour, took three days to complete.
But at least it cleared the way for hay making when some suitable weather eventually came along in mid-July. Due to heavy crops of grass and a carry over of silage, we have made twice as much hay as normal – 16ha (40 acres).
Even with good drying, it did not bale any better than expected. There must have been moisture in the ground and hay drew damp overnight. Not really surprising, considering the previous week, when rainwater was running out of fields after several heavy downpours.
With harvest completed, a day off at the Royal Welsh Show was well deserved. This is by far the best show for a livestock producer to attend, despite the two-hour queue to get in.
Walking around, one felt that Welsh agriculture has picked itself up and is dusting itself off. A mood of realistic optimism was in the air. I am particularly envious that Welsh producers have a national flag they can put on their produce.
Calving, normally over by now, continues at a slow pace due to only using one bull last year. The old bull went and because of foot-and-mouth, I felt uncomfortable about purchasing a replacement.
On a positive note, the fall in ewe numbers has helped the lamb price with our first lambs going off at 230p/kg; better than recent late July levels. As well as some heavy lambs, all Swaledale ram lambs have gone for the light lamb trade.
There were few of these, as I did not buy a pure ram from the north last year, again due to F&M. Instead I used some locally produced Blue Faced Leicester tups. Therefore, I have some extra mule gimmer lambs, which I hope somebody will want. *