Farmers team up to control looming winter feed shortages

“What it has done is meant there is another 600-hectares which can now be baled instead of chopped.”

Speaking about what he called a ‘pretty tough year’, Mr Bradshaw also called on farmers to speak up and talk about their long-term worries.

“I think there is a lot of people who think things are very bad at the moment, but there is still an opportunity to do something over the next few weeks,” he said.

‘Bale where possible’

“What I am trying to say is do not suffer in silence, instead speak up and tell people what you need.”

It came on the back of livestock farmers pleading with their arable counterparts to bale straw following what they branded a ‘double whammy of a wet spring and drought’.

Rumenation nutritional consultant Hefin Richards said he wanted to encourage arable farmers to take advantage of the positive baling conditions – for the right price – and ‘bale where possible’.

He said: “It is one of those situations where once it is chopped there is no going back.

A little request to #clubhectare - Livestock farmers are having the double whammy of spring & drought - as grain or via by products eg @vivergofuels /Trafford they buy your produce - now they just need you to #balethatstraw ! It will be worth your while. Please 👌🐄 #teamdairy RT pic.twitter.com/tE4CNsEdxu

— Hefin Richards (@HefinR)

A little request to #clubhectare - Livestock farmers are having the double whammy of spring & drought - as grain or via by products eg @vivergofuels /Trafford they buy your produce - now they just need you to #balethatstraw ! It will be worth your while. Please \uD83D\uDC4C\uD83D\uDC04 #teamdairy RT pic.twitter.com/tE4CNsEdxu

— Hefin Richards (@HefinR) July 11, 2018

“They have had an exceptional season so far and it would be great if we could get that baled and in the system.

“Because the forage situation is dire. It is not about being charitable; it is about seeing that opportunity and working together for more of a win-win situation.”