Completing the harvest.
Photograph: Graham Roberts
Richard Fonge writes:
Now the harvesting of the crops is complete, it is time to reflect on what has been an exceptionally difficult season to grow them. The lack of spring rain stunted growth, and a hot June with no rain to swell the grain has resulted in a poor harvest, with output at least 25% down in this area. It takes a look at the blackberries which are a month early to appreciate how the dry summer has impacted on their size.
The combine after threshing the corn out leaves the straw in a neat row. This too has become much more valuable this year not only for bedding of livestock in winter but as a feed. Barley straw in particular has a feed value and if molasses is added (by product of the sugar industry) it is more palatable. In areas where there is no demand for the straw, the combine can chop it up as it leaves the machine, and it is then incorporated back into the soil as organic matter.
The wild flower fields mentioned last month are still busy with bees. Buck wheat is now evident and a type of pea. I’ve picked the odd pod walking through. Tasty!
Also of interest to note is that the area sown to grass and sheep grazed a few years back, the wild white clover has returned.
A reader asked about sheep farming , so here is a brief synopsis. The majority of our breeding stock is reared on our northern mountains and moorland. The mule ewe. They are vital to the economy and the landscape of these areas. The yearling females are sold south for breeding to be crossed with a pure bred downland or continental breed, to produce a good butchers’ lamb. You have the hybrid vigour of the female and the confirmation of the terminal sire. There are many pure bred breeds also, but in the commercial world the mule ewe is often the first choice.
This time of year sees the movement of combines, tractors and balers and large loads of straw through our villages, causing problems at times. The size of agricultural machinery has increased hugely over the years but the lanes and byways haven’t. Please be tolerant, we live in a rural village surrounded by farmland where the business of farming is carried out, so this activity is all part of rural life.
Finally. Bees. A man ran out of petrol. A Queen Bee arrived, told him to open his petrol cap. Swarm of bees went in and the car started. He asked the Queen how? Reply: Filled with B.P.
Richard Fonge.