Lagging milk needs tweak
Lagging milk needs tweak
The silage pits are being
extended and dairy rations
altered at Washfold.
Simon Wragg reports
DAVID Metcalfes wife, Janet, has just set off for the parents evening at the local school as he walks into the farm office. It is time to do some revision of his own. Silage cuts have been heavier and wetter this season and that is beginning to affect milk production.
"Yield will be down a litre or two a cow a day. Were not looking at a major change to rations, but they need tweaking to lift output," he says. It is a situation facing many of the Metcalfes neighbours and customers who feel it could exacerbate the national fall in milk production which is now just over four days behind profile.
"Now we are on a flat milk price we either look to increase the straights element of the ration to lift the yield or accept a fall in income. There are a number of farms already buffer feeding cows after the combination of poor weather and wet first cut silage."
But options will have to be costed carefully, says Davids brother, Philip. With milk prices down to 15.7p/litre, compared with just over 20p 15 months ago, theres not the money to throw into feed. "I get the impression most producers are milking off grass and putting very little cake in front of cows," he adds.
There is hope that milk values will improve with spot markets at about 24p/litre and commodity prices strengthening. "There will be some serious questions asked if they dont before the autumn – all the signs are there."
One compensation has been the easing of the quota price. The annual leasing bill of £90,000 is being cut substantially with another 100,000 litres being bought at 16.7p/litre. The hope is to reduce leasing costs to under £30,000 for the 2000/01 milk year. More purchases could follow if the price falls further, but the Metcalfes are committed to spreading the risk by buying in stages.
Capital has also been used to extend the earth-banked silage pits at Washfold, including a new wholecrop cereal store measuring 10m x 40m (35ft x 120ft).
Over 24ha (60 acres) of wholecrop wheat is being grown for use at home; a smaller area will be sold to a neighbour. Wheats, including those on the flood-prone lower ground at Galebank Farm, are looking well and have been treated with an earwash spray of Folicur (tebuconazole). It will be cut a fortnight early to achieve a dry matter of roughly 60-70% and treated with an additive.
"The contracted wholecrop cereals area has doubled this year to about 800 acres with more producers looking for two forages in a ration to lift output. It looks like its here to stay. The new specialist header bought this season and the purchase a year ago of the Claas wholecrop mill has created a lot of interest. It should justify the capital," says David.
On the sheep front, the Mule flock has been clipped and dipped, reports Brian Metcalfe. "We will wait to see what the wool makes, but our shearers charged 75p/ewe."
Lamb sales will start over the next few weeks, but prices have not been encouraging. The Metcalfes were at least hoping to achieve last years trade, but that looks unlikely. "The job seems to be firming after the recent cold and rain. Lets hope it continues."
Most produce has gone down in value since the family joined the Management Matters team just over 15 months ago. Milk is worth 4.3p/litre less, feed wheat is back £10/t and lamb prospects are questionable. Costs have also risen, particularly fuel and fertiliser. "The only consolation has been that quota is cheaper," says David.
For this last report from Washfold, David has considered future prospects for the business. The family remains flexible on adapting to change, he adds. "The sheep enterprise cant really expand but it makes good use of the rented MoD land, we could keep more cows and still want to move the contracting business into more arable acres.
"Like others we have to be very careful about questioning and costing investment, but the unit is big enough to be efficient and provides a reasonable standard of living for effort and capital involved.
"It seems each time weve been in FARMERSWEEKLY weve reported a fall in prices paid for produce while the costs keep going up. It would have been nice to have seen it the other way around. Perhaps the milk price will buck the trend."
Food for thought…having extended the silage pits attention is turning to silage quality. Dairy rations must be tweaked, says David Metcalfe.
FARMFACTS
• Metcalfe Farms, near Leyburn, North Yorks; 632ha (1560 acres) over four farms run in partnership by parents and three sons.
• Land mainly medium loam over limestone. Farming from 400-1000ft.
• About 263ha (650 acres) of land rented from MoD for 900-ewe Mule flock.
• Recently expanded dairy herd. Now 350 cows averaging 9500 litres.
• Arable area of 223ha (550 acres) wheat, maize and set-aside.
• Contracting business covering 4050ha (10,000 acres) of grass, maize and whole-crop cereals.