Peter Walters
Peter Walters
Peter Walters manages
163ha (402 acres) at
Hatherleigh, Devon, which
is in organic conversion.
The farm is stocked with
100 pedigree Poll Dorsets,
90 Dorset X and 50 Mules.
It also supports 68 suckler
cows including 18 pedigree
Red Devons.
IN EARLY May I wrote about my worry over grass growth, but after the May deluge all concerns have gone. I have even managed to shut an extra 6.5ha (16 acres) up for silage, which I hope to cut soon.
Dorset ewes, put with rams on Jun 1, have been slow going to the tup, with only 12 tupped by Jun 18. This was mainly due to bad weather early in the month, but as I write, the weather has improved and so has the number of coloured backs.
I have cultivated 4.85ha (12 acres) of ground and sown a crop called Winifred – kale x stubble turnip. I was attracted to this variety because of its late sowing date and fast establishment. As I cannot use chemicals, the late sowing time should hopefully miss flea beetles and fast establishment allows it to compete better with weeds.
We are still waiting for the Organic Farming Scheme subsidy. Our application was received by DEFRA on Dec 17 last year. From Mar 17 I have phoned every other week and we have just had the agreement through which has been signed and returned.
We now have to wait for a claim form to be sent, then, I have been informed, payment should be within two months. Why does it take so long? If the government wants to encourage producers into organic or stewardship schemes, it must do something to speed up applications and payments. This also applies to livestock subsidies it still holds, on which I assume president Blair is making interest.
On a happier note, I entered one of our woods – which we have intensively improved – for the Devon County Show, forestry and farm woodland competition, winning first prize. This wood was also awarded the Forestry Authority perpetual challenge trophy.
I also entered our hedges for the Devon hedge competition, organised by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and Devon Hedge Group. We came first in the best newly restored Devon hedgebank category and third in the best whole farm management section of the competition.
These competitions are worthwhile, as they help show the public the conservation work and management producers do for the countryside and its wildlife. *
Peter Walters is pleased with recent successes in farm conservation competitions.