John waiting to be loaded with FYM

On the 6th March the favourable ground conditions meant we could finally get onto the arable fields and start preparing for spring drilling. Our first task was to spread 400 tonnes of FYM (farm yard manure) onto some over wintered stubble prior to ploughing.

Over the last 4 years we have grown to appreciate the importance of organic matter and the huge role it has on increasing crop yield, quality and soil structure. We are drilling spring barley this year using a variety called Tipple, which we hope will make malting spec.  Whilst it’s straw will be baled into small bales using our Arcusin B14 and sold to our equine customers.

Merlo loading muckspreader with FYM

Galliant – enjoying the hay and straw with the others Angus

Last month we acquired a new addition to our Aberdeen Angus herd in the name of Aynho Proud Galliant, an 18 month old bull to complement our existing pedigree bull ‘Charlie’ in increasing our suckler herd to greater heights.  Galliant will be serving our young heifers in the spring in order to calf in March/April 2016.  We have had continued success in supplying Farndon Fields Farm Shop near Market Harborough with our home grown meat and are looking forward to 2015 and some newborn calves at the beginning of the year.  Our cattle are enjoying the hay and haylage that we’ve produced this season and are proving a great asset in mopping up any broken bales.