Dontknowanything blog: Day 56 – Clovers, chaff carts & airports

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Day 56 – Clovers, chaff carts & airports
by David Walston
The last day in Australia, and technically I don't need to do any more travelling for Nuffield. They stipulate a minimum of 8 weeks travel, and last time I checked, that's 56 days. Don't tell my wife.

I've spent the last couple of nights with the Barrett-Lennards who live just north of Gingin. It's their fault, through great hospitality, that I got behind on the blogs and have had to write three this afternoon. I'm knackered now so will have to make do with a slide show instead of a proper blog.




Phil Barrett-Lennard's herd of 126 Red Angus cows & calves




Phil's neighbour thinks he is mad. This is high quality oat & clover hay, but it is being left on the ground like this, where the cattle will graze it in situ. They apparently clean up every last bit, and it saves the cost of baling and muck spreading




This is a field of Triticale, Italian Ryegrass, and multiple clovers. Phil is very interested in different legumes from around the world, and keeps on telling me I should be trying new types of clover, like Balansa or Arrow Leaf




On the way back to the airport I stopped off quickly to see another farmer, Damien Leeson. He uses a chaff cart, which collects all the chaff from the combine and dumps it in a big pile. In the autumn this can then be burnt, or fed to sheep - both of which reduce the amount of ryegrass seed by 85%




The next leg, starting in 20 minutes

@dontknowanything blogs on www.ooofarmer.wordpress.com