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Richard Curnock - silage, hay-making and a wedding

05 Jul 2010

Richard Curnock is making a fresh start running a family farm in Worcestershire and enjoys the lighter side of life.

Richard CurnockYou know how it is, there is something in the back of your mind which is happening this weekend and you have been told to keep it clear from work but you can’t remember why. It’s an age thing, but nevermind, someone will remind me I am sure.

It’s has been a steady month of silage, haylage and hay-making along with harvest preparation. The hay we made was excellent but quality-mowing grass is short. It seemed to head early, failing to bulk out.

We have shut some up again but the amount of rain we get will dictate the success. With the round and small bale carting the JD tele-handler has been put through its paces and I am very pleased so far. You have to get used to its blind spots but I swapped the bar on the flat eight grab from right to left - the first time in twenty-odd years – and it was problem solved. Its turning circle is amazing and towing is fine.

We have now sold about 75 lambs through Worcester market but the price is tumbling having started at 208p per kilo now down to 165p for 39kg lambs. The ship needs to steady or better still re-float itself.

Attended a UAP variety site open day up on the Cotswolds this week, which I always find of interest for many reasons - not least because of the change of scenery from the Vale of Evesham to the Cotswolds. Both have a beauty of their own. They seem to have space, we have depth of soil. Anyway, I came away content in what wheats we are growing and what we intend to grow. Cordial is performing well and our small acreage of group 4 Grafton looks full of promise for a few seasons to come, famous last words.

Lesley has just been in and reminded me what’s happening on Saturday, apparently we are getting married, so it seems I will have to take the morning off as well as the afternoon, and I bet there is a suit involved. Joking apart we are really looking forward to the day, which has come around so quickly, so after all the planning the party awaits.

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