I am in a state of apprehension at the moment due to the fact that, at long last, we have had some steady and measurable rain over the last few days.
The reason for my apprehension is because it is now a month since we finished planting and I would estimate that only about 60% of the seed has germinated solely because it has been so dry, so now we wait and see if the remainder follows suit, or at least enough to give us a decent plant. The soil is still warm and this rain will be enough to penetrate down to the seed so the next 7 to 10 days should reveal all.
I have done some spraying but the timing is an issue especially where Black grass is concerned and taking into account the irregular growth. If I get it right then I will heap praise on myself and if it’s wrong then I will blame Justin, my agronomist. Credit where credit is due.
Lesley and I got away for a couple of nights when we headed down to Cornwall and a hotel at Carlyon Bay. Absolutely wonderful, to be able to play golf in shirt sleeves in the middle of October while admiring the fantastic views along the cliff edge, and then to cap it all I beat Lesley, it was one of those moments to savour. To round that off with fine food and full English it was like being back at home.
Now back at work and it is time to do some thinking and planning, short and long term while the normal pressures of work are not so intense. We have had the use of a hedge cutter for a week or two so I have been able to get around all the hedges before the weather closes in, always a plus, while Phil has been preparing the ewes for the rams.
Lamb sales continue with 20 to 30 going to Worcester Livestock market most weeks, but numbers are dwindling so that regularity will soon stop. Prices are holding around the £75 net which is pleasing.
All grain sold pre harvest has been collected but the rest of the wheat will sit in the store until the New Year when we will take another look at the markets. The only thing left to move is 29t of milling oats in December. At £190t I had to sell even though most of our oats are used in our feed rations.
Meanwhile November looks like being a hammer and spanner month, in other words I need to tackle those maintenance jobs.
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