A NICE drop of rain to freshen things up is very welcome. We have plenty of moisture in our clay soils at Crouchlands, but warmer weather which arrived last week, and a small amount of rain certainly helps.
I have at last heard the cuckoo, this is a relief for a farmer, as we would otherwise be held responsible with our modern methods of farming, for its demise.
The skylarks, woodpeckers, kestrels, sparrowhawks and buzzards, are all fit and well afte
r the winter, as are the hedgerow birds (despite some of the above!) and the magpies, crows and woodpigeons seem to have positively thrived.
The grass is beginning to move at last, but the first cut of silage will be lighter this year.
All cows are still in at night due to the shortage of grass and low temperatures, but the mid and late lactation cows are enjoying their days out grazing with sun on their backs.
All the in-calf heifers are back home; they look very well, and have now settled down to graze after the initial gadding around the field.
We still have some youngsters to turn out once the grass really gets going. Maize drilling should be finished by the time you read this, with 900 acres in the ground; the Tillington maize, which was drilled first, is up and away, with the rows clearly visible.
We have had a troublesome time with our new trailer.
This is a very large twin axle silage trailer with 'active steering', ABS brake system and all the technology in the world.
It was the first to be built with rear-steer, and in order to make room for the very large flotation tyres (to steer), the chassis is narrower than the standard trailers built by the company, and the body also rides slightly higher.
This seems to be putting greater stress on the suspension, and it is once again off the road for further modifications.
It has already had a suspension overhaul with heavier duty springs fitted, but that did not solve all the problems. It seems that we are part of an on-going research and development programme!
n I was privileged to visit Easton College in Norfolk last week for the launch of the 'Centre for Contemporary Agriculture' and to witness the opening of the new £15m 'Jubilee Learning Centre'.
Technicians and technologists of the future will be trained in this state of the art, low carbon building; tackling the challenges of future food security and sustainable agriculture.
The inaugural lecture was given by Professor Ian Crute CBE, first chief scientist of the Agricultural Horticultural Development Board. Professor Crute highlighted the scale of the challenges ahead, and impressing on the audience the importance of science, technology and training, in meeting that challenge.
