Hi Chris here.
The last few months have been very tractor heavy when the conditions have allowed. We managed to get a good first cut of silage last week. The fields have just about dried out enough to get the heavy machinery into the fields although there were a few wet spots. The grass yielded well so should provide some good quality feed for winter. Its always a good feeling to get the silage clamps filed back up especially with the weather extremes we have been experiencing. Hopefully we should be able to get some farm yard manure spread back onto the silage fields this week to get some nutrients back into the soil and get them growing again. I have also been aerating some paddocks after the cows have grazed them. This is an implement that goes on the back of the tractor with spikes on that leave a slot in the soil. I do this for a number of reasons. Firstly, it allows more air into the soil which promotes more growth and encourages the clover to get growing. Secondly it helps alieve any top soil compaction that has occurred. After such a wet winter and spring, the fields are in desperate need of some tlc.
The milking cows are coming to the end of there second round of grazing around the farm and are performing well. They are much happier when we have some sunny dry weather. Breeding season has started; the bulls have been in with the cows for a few weeks. I have two groups of bulls which are rotated each week in and out of the cows. So, you may see some in the barn having a rest when you come to the shed.
The small group of summer calving cows are making the most of some grazing down by the river where it was flooded for most of the winter. There are a lot of docks but I’m spinning some grass seed on and using the cows to trample the docks and seed in. Hopefully this this improve the grazing for the rest of the year...until it floods next time.
In vending machine news we now have bacon from Padfield porkies in the machine. Also butter from our cooperative Organic herd. We have also added some extra seating and umbrellas so you can sit and enjoy your milkshake or coffee. We have some spaces left on our farm tours in July and August so if your interested head to our website.
If you have any questions please email moosonthames@gmail.com
When you have the time and I imagine that this time of year isn't that time....it would be interesting to get your views on the differences between silage clamps and silage bales. Maybe one for a blog later in the year when you are utilising the silage.
Also, do you have silage or hay left over this year, after such a long period when the livestock had to be off the fields? What do you do with that material, especially the silage?