Derbyshire show season
It has been great to meet many members at both Ashover and Ashbourne shows.
Ashover was hot, thus cold drinks were the preferred choice, served by staff from the Chesterfield NFU Mutual office.
We hosted local MP, Louise Sandher-Jones on the stand, who heard first hand how the drought was affecting farming and the need for food security to be recognised by government. As parliamentary under-secretary of state for the armed forces, she recognises the importance food plays in national security.
The conversation turned to wildfires and how moorland is managed determines fuel load and, thus, the ability to fight a wildfire. That was also pertinent, due to the amount of MOD land that is moorland or heath.
At Ashbourne, the NFU stand was hosted by Rob Davies, NFU Midlands Dairy Board chair and vice-chair of the national NFU Dairy Board. He was impressed by the cattle lines and through conversations with members and some agricultural trade stands he was left in no doubt about the impact of the disparity of the huge variation in milk prices paid between different processors. Thank you to the Ashbourne NFU Mutual office staff for their hospitality on the stand.
We look forward next to Brailsford Ploughing Match on Wednesday, 7 October, at Sapperton Manor, Church Broughton, by kind invitation of Robert Prince and family.
The NFU Mutual Uttoxeter office will lead the stand there and have the NFU Mutual trailer for member hospitality. Whilst Ellie and I, with the help of Derbyshire NFU officeholders, will give short talks to the groups of primary and junior school children the Ploughing Match subsidises to attend about the role of agriculture.
DANGER: slurry and silage gases
Please, please stop and think when stirring slurries, get as much ventilation as possible into a building if the slurry store is under slates; even if outside set the stirrer going and walk away and leave for at least 30 minutes. Repeat that procedure if you move the stirrer to a new location.
If somebody or something drops into a lagoon or slurry store, do not enter yourself. Call 999 if it is a person. If it’s an item of equipment, leave it. More details online.
Due to the dry conditions, high levels of nitrogen are being found in silage, especially maize silage this year.
This can lead to dangerously high levels of nitrogen dioxide. Make sure slurry clamps are well ventilated and, just as for slurry stores, do not enter any silage effluent tanks.
Nitrogen dioxide is heavier than air and collects in low places. Inhalation of small amounts can cause permanent lung damage. More details online.
Health and safety event
We are planning one, in the southern half of the county, on Wednesday, 28 October, late morning. Look out for further details.
Top tip: Look on NFU Online for health and safety guidance and especially for rules on age and licence requirements for younger people driving agricultural machinery on the roads.