Christophers Comment

Posted by Christopher on 21 December 2014 | 0 Comments

CHRISTOPHER'S COMMENT DECEMBER 2014

I am embarrassed the other day when an overseas friend e-mailed (yes, thats you Chris Addison)

and said they had wanted to look up something in my Comment and saw that it was out of date.

So here is a brief summary of 2014.

The drought finally broke in mid-April but that wasnt really when it ended. We struggled throughout the winter to feed our stock and had to purchase a further 244 bales of baleage at high prices to feed our dairy grazers. We had already fed out 200 of our own bales during the drought. In spite of all this the ewe flock still managed to scan 181% though once again,because of the drought, we were unable to mate our ewe hoggets. Lambing actually went very well and a contributing factor to our more than acceptable lambing percentage of 160% was our very low death rate in the ewes over the lambing period. Lowest ever I believe.

The spring started quite promisingly and once again we rotated our ewes and lambs. The cattle finally started to move forward in time for the arrival of the bulls in October so things were looking good. Unfortunately November was a cold and windy month and although we were OK for grass the lambs just dont thrive in those conditions. Consequently at our first draft in early December we were nearly 200 lambs less than last year and one kilogram lighter. Since then, we have weaned, shorn and drenched the lambs and with some welcome sunny weather they are doing much better.

Last year by mid-November we had shut up and cut 200 bales of baleage. This year we have only just completed making 150 bales; the difference a good spring can make.

Hugh, our Farm Manager, has once again made a major contribution to the smooth running of the farm. This has enabled me to continue to do a lot of the landscaping work at the villa in town at 46 Thornton Road, Cambridge. This is a work in progress. Landscaping almost seems as hard and as time consuming as building the house but luckily we have a very helpful and obliging builder who still seems happy to help out the semi-skilled farmer when necessary. We are hopeful that this autumn will see the majority of the work done. I still dont consider myself a townie although many of my friends love putting that label on me. There are plenty of positives about living in town and the fact that I still have the farm close by (less than nine kilometers) and good health makes me feel very lucky. Janet loves living in town and loves the villa; so many interesting things to do and see and all in such close proximity. A garden to develop, a white one no less and friends in and out all the time; very social.

Finally, a sad note to finish on. Eric Onyon, our neighbour for many many years passed away in November after a two year battle with cancer. Eric was not only a neighbour. He was our main shearer for many years and there was no-one better at organising shearers, shed hands and farmers to get the job done. This was his forte and one that he cherished as others will testify. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

I will endeavour in the New Year to be better at keeping this Comment up to date. Luckily we will be seeing Chris and Caroline in January and we can catch up properly.

Thats going to be one of my New Year's Resolutions.

A very Happy Christmas and the best of good health and happiness for 2015 from both of us.