Whitewalker
Member
On that note out of curiosity does others have many dung beetles about ? You will see round holes in the top of the pats ?
Northern Ireland Milk Price Tracker
- Thread starter it's not over
- Start date
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
I find that if not topped, switch grass can take over the sward. I notice this more at the end of a paddock where it's only got one grazing as opposed to the first part of a paddock that could get clipped 3 or 4 times to the cows move on.
Sometimes in dairy farming you can be that far behind you're actually in front
Sometimes in dairy farming you can be that far behind you're actually in front
Limefield
Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Not just the same as you Whitewalker but I find that in farming a “less is more” attitude seems to be true for me anyway. I like to try and keep things as simple as possible. I like a reasonable fertile utility type Friesian cow, don’t chase too many litres or numbers, and enjoy what I do and keep all the best I can. I’ve been down what I call the headless chicken route once before many years ago and all I seemed to find was I was wrecking myself, turning bigger n7mbers but really making marginally little more money and things NOT being kept to the standard I like.
Whitewalker
Member
We’re trying to get a more even graze over the fields . I haven’t seen any issue dropping the topper this year so far . If you imagine driving over it so much every graze it’s causing compaction to clip a few grass seeds off . Like I said process of observations
Whitewalker
Member
Yes we’re bf here and I totally agree whatever you see fit for your farm and family. I was the same with my old man years ago . Never drew breath . Torture
- Location
- Northern Ireland
The main reason I top is Dock heads. 
mixed farm
Member
What if your mrs. wanted to farm with you? Or what would you decide to do if one of your children chose to go farming full time? Different circumstances mean the cutting back can't always be done.
Whitewalker
Member
Totally yea , horses for courses . I always thought diversity of income was Important for risk . Although my wife farmed with me during the baby years lifting a wage but not doing any farm work. The day she started bringing new money into the house was a massive weight off the shoulders. If any our kids farm it will be part time and I hope they do but we’re not big enough to roll another generation. They are all mid teens and have their own ideas
Bogeyman
Member
- Location
- North Antrim
I have been the same with fertiliser this summer,wasn’t sure if it was just the great April and May weather had warmed the soil up earlier than usual, also I have an aerator which got lots of use this year as ground conditions were so favourable,but then fields were cracking in places anyway, just some thoughts...
Whitewalker
Member
Been a great grass year thus far pity about the weather now
Very well said do what you want to and be happy .We don't milk and probably never will as I have no heed in it would rather have the sucklers but a neighbour said a very wise thing about agri businesses he used the analargy of the dog running after the car .Dog catches the car for a while however once onto the open road the car is gone .all that's left is the dog maybe feeling energic chasing his tail .suppose best way to say can keep up to the curve for a while but eventually the curve moves on and if you don't your left behind .What you have is older farmers like my father and many others working away getting very little for there work but cant stop cause know no different
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
Isn't the weather atrocious. Anyone stopped sowing fertiliser yet
Ballygreenan
Member
- Location
- Tyrone NI
3 bags in the shed, looks like we will have carry over stock for next year! Cows in at night and 'free range' during the day usually don't have to go out for them before evening milking!
A tad damp, we were going to be cutting 3rd next week so unless there is some dramatic turn around that won't be possible!
Whitewalker
Member
Next week looks patchy to say the least
- Location
- Co. Antrim
Sowed a bag to the acre on Tuesday there over the grazing platform that’s us for the year
Cows will be doing well to stay out until the end of the month, dry cows will be in tomorrow. Plenty of silage made but 20 acre of 3rd cut to bale yet.
Still time for the weather to play ball but it could be a long winter. Not really an August summer day today. On the plus side, schools are going back next week so the weather's bound to improve.
Still time for the weather to play ball but it could be a long winter. Not really an August summer day today. On the plus side, schools are going back next week so the weather's bound to improve.
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
Only silver lining to the rain will be the rreseeding.I reseeded over 30 acres last week so should see it peeking through by monday. It was either reseed or make 3rd rate third cut bales
- Location
- Northern Ireland
I've got 19 acres of undersown barley going down. The joys.
Still toying whether to sow another tickle over the farm. Might go with half a bag/acre of chalk. Should be three months of grazing yet, eh Z? This is the glorious profit time of the year as you would say.
Still toying whether to sow another tickle over the farm. Might go with half a bag/acre of chalk. Should be three months of grazing yet, eh Z? This is the glorious profit time of the year as you would say.
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
According to my handbook"how ot be a profitable dairy farmer" it is but I think it need to be heavily caveated