An eventful time at Greenwell Farm
Having now finished lambing I am a spent force! Spring on the farm is a long, tiring journey and although it’s always amazing to see so much new life, I am glad to see the back of it in equal measure! Once all the young life and their mums are processed and in their summer pastures on the moor and in summer grazing fields, the farm turns quiet and we literally relax for five minutes waiting for the grass to grow! The ewes and lambs, cows and calves are busy feeding on all the fresh grass, while the harvesting fields grow the next crop of silage and hay for winter.
Normally we would apply artificial fertiliser and cow muck to the fields used for winter feed. The artificial fertiliser contains mainly Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P) and Potassium(K) which are essential for plant growth and exist naturally in all living things. The cows and sheep harvest the grass and so these three elements get depleted because we remove the animals from the land and sell them, essentially removing the N, P and K from the natural cycle. Humans consume the N, P and K in food, whether that be plant or meat based, but our waste does not return the nutrients to the land, as it is flushed away. Nature does help to replenish the three elements but over time the farm would become less productive, so we use artificial fertiliser - sorry for science lesson!
Due to the volatile energy market and war in Ukraine, our costs have rocketed. Fertiliser has risen in price from £300/ton to £1,000/ton and in addition to fuel and energy price rises, this makes our industry very vulnerable. Our prices have increased, but nowhere near in line with our costs. So we have decided not to buy artificial fertiliser this spring, and have spread as much cow and sheep muck as we can find. We risk depleting the farm of production potential, and our harvest will be lighter this summer as a result, but we think it would be a bigger risk to spend tens of thousands of pounds on fertiliser. We have some of last winter’s feed left and we also purchased extra feed at the end of the winter. We will monitor our reserves and hope to get through but we may have to either sell some cows or buy extra feed for next winter.
On a lighter note, Dave my right hand on the farm is getting married and I wish him and Kerry all the best for the future. I got invited on his stag do - not the one involving nights away, but the ‘local’ one for lesser drinkers and old people! Gem collected me from the pub by 9.30pm, leaving the youngsters to their shenanigans! I thought I was doing well but then Gem mentioned we had to check a drain in our field as she’d heard a lamb bleating. Our boys were very excited to be going on a major rescue mission! Poking my head up the storm drain I could see the lamb’s eyes. I fashioned a crude poking device from gaffer tape, a fleece and a length of pipe, but on the first attempt it pushed past the lamb. As I was modifying my design with my pocket knife, I stabbed my left hand between my thumb and forefinger! There was blood everywhere, and poor Billy as a witness. Fortunately, we have very good neighbours and Chris took me to A&E at 11pm on a Friday night. Four hours later, after some glue, bandages and antibiotics I was packed off home. There was no real damage fortunately, and once again I have to thank the amazing NHS. The lamb was rescued safe and sound by my brother Neil, and Angus who turned up to take the glory!
Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm