James Powell: 'Grass growth here is off the scale and will need to be gathered soon'
It is hard to believe we are already halfway through the year and, yet again, Del Boy’s predictions of this year seeing us become millionaires seem doubtful, unless we strike it rich this back end.
We are, however, making some progress, with 100 tonnes of calcium lime spread this month and all lambs marked, vaccinated and fly-strike protected. Even the dry hoggs are shorn.
The weather this week has turned to a damp spell each day that is preventing us starting the harvest. An extra urgency is felt this year as we are the new hosts (on a harvest field) of our local community show on Saturday, June 15.
If you can please call in and bring along some friends, you will be more than welcome. Grass growth here is off the scale for this week’s rainfall, as there has been little moisture in the soil and
some crops are already suffering.
The issue is we have not found the time so far to sow crops or rejuvenate any leys. The cows have been turned out alongside their newly registered calves, which is a step forward.
I sold some hogg and lamb couples this week for a fair sum, especially seeing as the lambs were still very young, but given the good prices on all sheep meat trades at the moment, it is reassuring there is faith somewhere in the sector.
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The political scene in the UK is yet again thrown wide open, with little leadership or responsibility displayed.
It is frustrating that while those MPs are scrambling to replace the outgoing Prime Minister, whole industries are under threat of a complete upheaval, such as agriculture if Michael Gove gets into 10 Downing Street.
Where would that leave the newly thought-out Agriculture Bill and the last two years’ work?
Gove is thorough, we have to give him that, and a far stronger candidate for the top job than Boris Johnson. Number 10 has this week already suffered one awkward arrival – a certain Donald Trump.
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