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Ours went in today. What was the rationale for drilling so early?

Pay down the highest interest debt

Probably sensible? Especially when compared to other more "human" factors for which solar is thrown out by planning, e.g. spoiling the view.

Block calving. Make use of grazed grass. Simple.

Fonejacker, anyone?

Interesting to hear your thoughts! We have some sappy first cut, will be tedding behind mower.

Well done. And thanks for the feedback.

What are the individual farm-level benefits, that you are aware of? I agree that these are important, but my diesel and (more importantly) artificial fert bills would suggest there is some room for improvement. We have made big gains in recent years, mainly through better management. If a...

Agreed. But it's the most carbon heavy activity you can do, and is often a choice rather than necessity, so it gets a lot of wrap. And a lot of green wash, to protect its economic importance. Well, maybe flying a rocket would be worse.

It's a rough proxy. A factor of consumption and digestibility of dry matter, i.e. highly lignified material requires more chewing the cud to break down. I broadly agree with @delilah that enteric methane emissions from cattle are a non-issue, especially compared with all the other pollutants...

Do you recognise any benefits of grazing cattle, beyond the economic argument for individual businesses?

Not quite like-for-like, but a US example: - Pre-1800's bison population (typical weight 800+kg) was c. 60 million. - Current US cattle population c. 40 million. So, in terms of ruminant live weight, it has probably reduced with time, so direct methane emissions from the stock reduced...

Certainly helped feed a growing population. But, we are living with, and arguably don't yet fully understand the impacts of significant fertiliser and pesticide use. A healthy degree of scepticism is a prudent tool, especially when there are obvious market forces at work (i.e. do I really need...

Thank you @delilah for raising this. More info here: https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/defra-consultation-on-methane-suppressing-feed-products/ I am reluctant to believe the rumen additives are a sensible development with no fathomable draw-backs. Us humans seem to always...

Beware carbon tunnel vision; there's more to sustainable farming than a notional number. In 10 years' time we will probably think of current carbon calculations as extremely crude and one-dimensional.

All our beds are against a wall... And I hate it. If I built new, lunge space would be a big priority.

Relax, not July yet.

One of the best things about the job, checking the grass with the dog in the evening sun.

32 million litres/year, av. profit c. 4ppl. 2200 hectare (owned?) estate with diversification and arable; not sure if that profit includes subsidies and diversification e.g. property. So, is that strong performance? Noting the extreme highs and lows of prices recently?

Check it's hot enough. I despise the bills associated with "hard fence".