John Yeomans
John Yeomans
John Yeomans farms 89ha
(220 acres) of mixed hill
and upland near Newtown in
mid-Wales. The farm is split
between hill and upland,
with the hill land in two
blocks running up to 426m
(1400ft). It is stocked
with 70 suckler cows,
including some Limousins
and 540 breeding sheep,
mostly Beulahs
WHAT a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago wed started our five-month stint on a Form D notice with all the problems it entailed.
Twelve months on, lambing has probably seen the best weather for many years. Mind you, theres a major hail storm outside at the moment.
Apart from a few prolapses, lambing has gone pretty well and is over apart from a few ewe lambs due to a romantic visiting ram. We decided not to rush ewes back to the hill after lambing to allow grass to build there. This means we will aim for an early/mid-July silage cut.
We have applied 120kg/ha (50kg/acre) of urea to hill ground along with Fibrophos, Timac and 0:24:24 on three trial pieces which weve brought from 0 to +1 for P and K since 2000. This application should bring them to our target of +2.
Last year, despite restrictions, production from hill ground improved by 12%. Im sure Chris and Charlie from IGER are looking forward to their regular trips to the hill to cut the grass cages this year. Sadly, on Chriss first visit, there wasnt enough grass to cut.
Silage ground has had 308kg/ha (125kg/acre) of 34.5% N and grazing fields, 120kg/ha (50kg/acre).
Calving has gone well apart from a few annoying bits of bad luck. Due to last year, aside from too many barrens, a number of cows have slipped back into May calving.
On a positive note – unusual for me as I gained the college prize for moaning – weve bulled over half the cows and heifers to calve next year. We plan to leave bulls in slightly longer this year and sell later calvers.
Weve had another ministry check following our cattle check in February – this time on sheep. Mysteriously, these checks seem to come just after Ive had a pop at government or DEFRA in farmers weekly.
I am, of course, assured we were picked completely at random. Ive never had this kind of luck at the Lottery or Premium Bonds. The check went well with everything in order and, more importantly, I didnt have to open any gates on the way to dry ewe lambs on the hill. *
Are DEFRA inspections random, wonders John Yeomans after a recent ministry sheep check.