Jun 5
Filthy Mess
Posted in Farming Techniques , The Weather by David Wilson
When I see a forecast for heavy rain my heart sinks. It affects us hugely because it dictates what we can and can't do on the farm. The main problem is the ground becomes waterlogged and tends to slow growth down. Given all the rain we've been keeping busy doing dry jobs around the farm like clearing up the vegetable line in the shed where we do all the grading.
The cattle tend to poach the land, treading it up with their hooves. Heavy rain can make them very restless and during periods of intense rain they walk or run up and down hedge lines making a filthy mess! They then bunch together in the corner of a field, covered in mud and steaming. The pigs go out, eat their food and then go back to bed in their little pig arcs to lie on the straw till the rain stops. Like us, they like a comfy life. The sheep slow up and stand there looking rather miserable.
I have to keep positive. This could turn out to be the driest summer we’ve ever had. It can just change. Ping. Who knows?
