East england dairy farming

[cattow]

Blackgrass is the East Midlands dairy farmers friend
I rent land for maize and have just started 2 year leys on arable ground

 

[O'Reilly]

Blackgrass is the East Midlands dairy farmers friend
I rent land for maize and have just started 2 year leys on arable ground

You get enough rain for grass leys? We've given up, get one good cut and a couple of expensive lawn trimmings.

 

[Jdunn55]

You get enough rain for grass leys? We've given up, get one good cut and a couple of expensive lawn trimmings.

What kind of leys? Stick some deep rooting herbs and sh*t (as dad likes to call them) in and you might have more luck!

 

[crashbox]

You get enough rain for grass leys? We've given up, get one good cut and a couple of expensive lawn trimmings.

I'm dry here on the South and agree that Italian Ryegrass is a joke in Summer. Trying festulolium now. Results TBC.
Also herbal leys with chicory and plantain for grazing but no idea how they persist and ensile under a cutting regime.

 

[Hesstondriver]

I think there are 4 dairy farms in Cambridgeshire. I know one beef farmer who would like to make to dairy and basically the buyers laughed down the phone at him

 

[Andrew]

I think there are 4 dairy farms in Cambridgeshire. I know one beef farmer who would like to make to dairy and basically the buyers laughed down the phone at him

Must be more than that? Think there's 3 my side of the A1?

 

[Bongodog]

Must be more than that? Think there's 3 my side of the A1?

Only one anywhere near Cambridge is the University Farm, so that might be the 4 in total

 

[kiwi pom]

Perhaps a group of farmers should get together and build a processing plant over there? Plenty of arable land and straw, might be able to get the COP cheaper than the west coasters .Is there plenty of big ring fenced farms over there?

 

[Jdunn55]

Perhaps a group of farmers should get together and build a processing plant over there? Plenty of arable land and straw, might be able to get the COP cheaper than the west coasters .Is there plenty of big ring fenced farms over there?

As west coast farmer dont suggest that please

In all seriousness, there's a reason its not a milk field, land is expensive to start with and there's little rainfall in the summer which makes summer milk difficult, which is the time of year everyone wants milk!

 

[harrysmith]

our annaul rainfall average is around 20 inch , that dont grow a lot of summer grass

 

[sjt01]

Only one anywhere near Cambridge is the University Farm, so that might be the 4 in total

Redgates at Guyhirn, which has been expanding recently.

 

[Hesstondriver]

Redgates at Guyhirn, which has been expanding recently.

i think that might be number 5 then !

thats just increased Cambridgeshire dairy by 25%

 

[Tim G]

i think that might be number 5 then !

thats just increased Cambridgeshire dairy by 25%

On a par with Essex then.

 

[Bongodog]

Perhaps a group of farmers should get together and build a processing plant over there? Plenty of arable land and straw, might be able to get the COP cheaper than the west coasters .Is there plenty of big ring fenced farms over there?

Until about 10 years ago we did have a big dairy site in the middle of Cambridgeshire, but the herds were all gone even then. Someone mentioned annual rainfall of 20 inches, thats optimistic for central Cambridgeshire.

 

[dinderleat]

What are the rules/restrictions of expanding your Arla milk contract? If you wanted to partner with someone on a new site

You need to own the cows and a tenancy/ control of the farm.

 

[kiwi pom]

Until about 10 years ago we did have a big dairy site in the middle of Cambridgeshire, but the herds were all gone even then. Someone mentioned annual rainfall of 20 inches, thats optimistic for central Cambridgeshire.

Just looked it up 500-600mm a year?
About the same as this area and there's very few dairy units round here without irrigation. Explains why there isn't any dairy farms then.
Would you need winter housing though?

 

[sjt01]

Just looked it up 500-600mm a year?
About the same as this area and there's very few dairy units round here without irrigation. Explains why there isn't any dairy farms then.
Would you need winter housing though?

We are on 600 mm + irrigation in summer, cows are in Nov - Feb/March depending on ground conditions. We had heifers out till mid-December, but then it was too wet to even keep them out. Mind you, we have had several months with 50-100% more rain than average.

 

[teslacoils]

550mm here. Seem to grow grass just fine. Right soil for it. Certainly no outwintering. It's not the dry that limits as much as the time it takes to warm up in spring.

 

[harrysmith]

bloody cold today , anything frozen and me milking in Dunlop wellies , I bet those Le Chameau"s have not been through the door

 

[crashbox]

We are on 600 mm + irrigation in summer, cows are in Nov - Feb/March depending on ground conditions. We had heifers out till mid-December, but then it was too wet to even keep them out. Mind you, we have had several months with 50-100% more rain than average.

What do you irrigate, and what forage do you find grows best?
Trying festulolium and cocksfoot here (south coast sandy soil) to get deeper roots. Ryegrass not well suited...