Farming in February 2012
The mild weather so far this winter is nothing like as pretty as the frozen landscape of last year but has made work on the farm much easier. We've spent quite a lot of time moving the proper sheep (not the hobby Herdwicks) from field to field as the grass continues to grow.
When my cousin Tom, also from a farming family, was at school his teacher decided to make the explanation of "taking away" more relevant to him. "Tom, if you had 5 sheep in a field and 1 escaped how many would you have left?". "None" said Tom. The teacher looked puzzled and so Tom elaborated "If one gets out, they all get out". Although only 5 at the time Tom was quite right. If there's a tiny gap in the hedge the sheep will find it, queue in an orderly fashion and squeeze one by one into a field that, more often that not, offers no food. Show them an open gate leading to a new field of yummy fresh grass, not a chance. They look at you as if to say "You want us to go through there? Are you mad?"
This is where a good sheepdog is invaluable. Sheepdogs are a little bit of a sensitive subject at Hopes Ash. For many years Fred reigned supreme, a very talented and capable dog. About 5 years ago the MD (my Dad) suggested we (that's the royal we, meaning me) should get another dog as Fred was slowing up. We had Fred plus our terrier, Lottie, and I’ve always felt 2 dogs (much like children) is more than ample, so I ignored him. The MD took matters into his own hands and decided to buy himself a dog. Enter Holly, lovely dog but disinterested in rounding anything up. By this time Fred was 14 still willing but communication was proving a problem as he was completely deaf. Admitting defeat I bought another dog. The children have a book about a sheepdog called Floss so when I went to look at litter of pups and one was called Floss I thought it was meant to be. Meant to be it might have been, a success it isn't. Floss is frightened of her own shadow let alone scary sheep and lacks the focus of a good dog. Its not exactly one man and his dog around here!
Lely, the manufacturers of our milking robots, are celebrating the installation of their 12500th robot. To mark the event they have offered a prize of €12500 to the farmer producing the best film clip extolling the virtues of robotic milking. Thought it was worth a stab, just to say I'd tried. Making the film certainly gave me an appreciation how skilled TV presenters are and how easy they make it look. Due to my lack of technical know-how with regards editing we had to do it in one take. The end result is more Blair Witch Project than Countryfile. The clip is on You Tube (ref u1XkAGfB2QA) should anyone want to take a look. I don't think Adam Henson has too much to fear.
Robert Davies
Hopes Ash Farms
Date for the diary: Open Farm Sunday 2012 is on 17th June. Hopes Ash Farm along with farms countrywide will be opening their gates to the public.