John Davies
John Davies
John Davies runs an upland
stock farm in mid-Wales.
The main holding at Pentre
comprises 145ha (360
acres) of grass, with some
short-term grass lets being
taken, and hill rights
extending to 97ha (240
acres). The farm carries 101
suckler cows, 975 ewes,
230 Beulah speckled face
ewe lambs and 35 Welsh
Mule ewes.
MY YEAR began with a trip to the excellent Oxford Farming Conference; it was my first visit there and quite an experience.
On my return home Dave had more or less completed the central alley in the sheep shed. Next job was a trip to Pembroke to scan the ewes on tack. They have scanned at about 150%. Lambs are going to market like many others with a one-way ticket; the price seems to be dropping every week.
The wet weather meant slurry stores were getting full, and with the ground being too wet for the guzzler we had to call an umbilical system. Its wide wheels and less weight meant there was little mess.
We scanned the ewes at home, kept the twins indoors and the singles went back up the range for a couple more weeks.
Quite busy with the wood business (Coed Epynt). Orders for floorboards still rolling in. This is highly labour intensive and quality control is vital. It does not help when some plonker (me) tests the moisture wrongly, which is noticed halfway through machining that batch of wood. It all had to be re-packed and put back in the kiln. Not the sort of job that needs to be done twice as partners (Rob and Gary) pointed out on a number of occasions.
Had the honour of speaking on behalf of Young Farmers at the NFU Keep Britain Farming Rally. It was a long journey, towing behind a Land Rover, what I think we can safely say was the biggest banner on display. Quite a few people gave toots of their car horns of support, at least that is how Emrys our driver interpreted them. In the hall you could feel the desperate desire and determination to Keep Britain Farming and by that, keep rural areas thriving. It was a day I will never forget.
The drier weather has allowed us to spread slurry with a guzzler. But, after feeding some round bale hay unchopped, we had some problems with blockages, which I had to clear by hand. It is not a good feeling sat in a meeting wondering whether somebody else has been spreading slurry or whether I have made a bad job of scrubbing my hands.
This years sheep cake will be supplied by Wynnstay Farmers. Thank goodness it is significantly cheaper and I have managed to secure a little longer credit terms. I have also made a move and ordered the fertiliser. Lets hope Nitram comes out less than £100/t.
Sold 10 heifers in Brecon to average 85p/kg. This was not good, but bills have to be paid. Some lambs were sold in Builth just a couple of days later at the same dismal price. Like many other farmers in every other sector, I believe we produce a quality product. All we ask for is a fair price. *
Slurry spreading has been on John Daviess busy agenda this month.