Michael and Kathy Fordham are tenant farmers working about 700 acres at Little Horsted in East Sussex. It is a mixed farm, with around 500 acres of cereal crops and a beef suckler herd. The Fordham family has farmed in Little Horsted since Michael's grandfather started there in 1916...
Well, the silly season begins.
As we are off to France for a week, the question of ‘shall we or shan’t we start harvest?’ rears its head. A quick drive around the fields on Monday reveals that some wheat is ready and the oats could be worth a try.
As we have made the decision to use a contractor for the first time, a call was duly made. Actually, he could come this week, as he wants to try out his new combine and the next day would suit - but he was surprised to find it was to be wheat.
Anyway, the sun continued to shine in Sussex, although the rest of the country was wet, the combine rolled and the jungle drums sounded as various neighbours soon called to ask if we were really cutting wheat!
Of course, it is selective cutting - between the tramlines it was 15% moisture and in the tramlines it was 20% because of the greener grains - so a pattern was cut out, as over half the field did not need drying and the other half did.
Michael attempted to take some pictures so that he can wind up the farmers in East Anglia, although some of them indicate a certain lack of proficiency with the camera!
Everything worked well and eventually a neighbour turned up to bale the straw.
Yield was pleasing and the grains were bold so perhaps it will bode well. Having tried the oats, but found them to be at 16% moisture with rain forecast, no more combining will take place until after our return from holiday - unless of course the mobile phone works and we can direct operations from afar.
As we mentioned last month, this highlights some interesting weather-related ripening and growing conditions this year.
This early wheat was drilled in the first week of September, along with some others of the same variety. The same spray regime was used for fungicides, but Moddus growth regulator was used on the other wheats, as they were the more forward fields at the time, and Chlormequat was used on this one.
This spray seems to have had a dramatic effect this year, as because of the early cold and very dry weather, plant growth was non-existent and consequently harvest is now two weeks away and the crop does not look as good.
We expect the scientists will give us reasons.
The wheats that have not had any growth regulator at all look very good - so here’s hoping they stay standing!
Booking a contractor to do the harvest is a first for us and it marks the end of an era, as for generations we have had our own combine. Father and I often talked about doing this a few years ago, but he was not convinced. Sadly, on the day I sold the John Deere 1188 combine in March, Father died and a little bit of his farming career died with him. However, we still have our trusty 1971 Ransomes Cavalier as a back up and also the Albion binder!
Southover Contractors were chosen, as we have used them for other jobs on the farm for many years and as they have three combines including a new one we hope they can give us the flexibility we desire - no pressure, although we know somebody will be looking down from upon high!
On the livestock front, we are very short of grazing grass and although we were pleased with our first cut yields, second cut regrowth is painfully slow. We cannot move the cattle onto any of this ground, as a lot of it is unfenced and next to the golf course, so we will just have to juggle the few fields of grazing - nitrogen was applied to all of it last week when the rains came but only time will tell how well it responds.
Also for the first time, we have tried treating the cows and calves with Spot On for fly control. This has made such a difference to them. They are not nearly so agitated and flies are almost non existent on them, whereas all the yearlings which we have not treated, are covered in flies. We will try to do them too, but rounding them up would be quite a task!
In the past we have always pooh-poohed this method, but we might just have to reconsider for the future.
Plans for moving the shop have caused a storm in the village, as those for and against battle it out. Customers from within think it a good idea and those who are not customers do not. A very lively parish meeting was held and in the end it was a narrow no objection from the parish council rather than full support. Now it will be down to the Wealden planners to make the final decision.
Kathy went off to the South of England showground this week to help with Connect with the Countryside. This is a day where primary schools from all over Sussex bring children to learn about farming and the countryside. A huge range of activities are provided and many animals are shown.
It is all very hands on and the children love to touch real animals, sample real food and try their hand at country crafts and jobs. They seem to learn a great deal, as do their teachers, and the farming community turns out in force to steward and exhibit and ensure that the schools hear the real story!
Kathy always enjoys herself, although the day started with a rather nervous teacher getting off the bus, anxiously waving something and saying, ‘I’ve got a bag of sick?’
Having dealt with this, all went well and her school had a great day.
Oh well, the holiday beckons and some lovely mountain air will calm us down before the full fray of the August harvest rush begins - but at least we have started…
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