What’s Been Happening Recently

Jul 30, 2026

The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy.

 

We have been making hay in the fields, but then it all needs leading back to the farm and stacking in the barns ready for winter.  Thankfully this is all done now.

Our fencing contractors have been getting on with dividing our fields into smaller grazing pastures.  Often this has proved more difficult than anticipated.  Trying to work out how to divide the fields, without cutting across a footpath, and how to keep the fields practical when tractor work has to be done.  However, we are getting there.  The cattle are respecting the fence line well, unlike the sheep that have no respect for walls or gaps under gates.  For now, that’s tomorrows issue!

We have been making hay in the fields, but then it all needs leading back to the farm and stacking in the barns ready for winter.  Thankfully this is all done now.

Our fencing contractors have been getting on with dividing our fields into smaller grazing pastures.  Often this has proved more difficult than anticipated.  Trying to work out how to divide the fields, without cutting across a footpath, and how to keep the fields practical when tractor work has to be done.  However, we are getting there.  The cattle are respecting the fence line well, unlike the sheep that have no respect for walls or gaps under gates.  For now, that’s tomorrows issue!

I’ve also been busy trying to collate all the picture evidence of fencing and water work that’s been done on the farm in the last three years.  Once I have all this collected and before the Government deadline, I will be able to submit a claim for part of the cost of improving the infrastructure.  Once the claim is submitted, it will be time to look at a new claim so that the work can be fully completed.  I am fully expecting that the sheep will then have no choice bu to respect the boundaries and stay in the field where I put them!

Ste has been busy working hard trying to fix my tractor, Madge.  Throughout hay time she decided to show a new fault of the handbrake constantly beeping.  Thankfully yesterday he succeeded.  Unfortunately the faults don’t stop there, she is getting on in age and needs a lot of TLC.  But for now, she’ll be a pleasure to drive again.

Our next job is to round the cattle up to weigh them so we know which ones to take to slaughter

Not everything that we have done this summer has worked as well as liked.  We made the decision to combine our herd of cattle with the flock of sheep, I call them a flerd!  The cattle were great and once the sheep stopped making them jump, they settled well together.  Except once the sheep realised that the stone walls were mostly fenced with electric fencing to stop the cows rubbing on them and knocking them down, the sheep claimed a new found freedom.  The sheep can sneak under the fence climb over the wall and go and graze wherever they wished!  Not great for my grazing plan and certainly not great for the plants.  We made the decision to separate them from the cattle again in to the pastures that the sheep can’t escape from.  Additionally, we have had to change our fencing plans.  Instead of electric fencing on the walls we are having to use stock net instead.  We are just waiting to see if we have been successful in our funding application to protect and preserve the walls, which in turn will contain the sheep.

One thing that has worked way better than expected was splitting our larger fields in to smaller grazing pastures.  Each pasture is a days grazing for the cattle.  We split the fields using electric wire and the cattle are so well behaved they stay where we put them till the following day.   Splitting the fields like this has given us so much more control of the grazing and has increased the amount of rest each pasture gets between grazing.  It will be interesting to see how much more resilient to droughts our fields and grass will be over the next few years.

Our next upcoming task is to determine which animals will be ready to go to slaughter.  I know how so many of you are waiting for our next lot of meat to be ready.  As soon as I know, I’ll be sure to let you know so you can get your orders placed.  Thank you for your patience on this.