Print this page using your browser menu option, then click here to return

Farming in July 2009

Come December 2009 the MD (My Dad) will have been Farming Year at Hopes Ash for 50 years. During this time there have been huge changes and leaps forward in Farming Year methods and production. It therefore seems quite fitting that in our anniversary year we will be making one of the biggest changes we have ever made. We are installing robotic milking machines to supersede the manned milking parlour. Disappointingly the robots look nothing like CP30 or R2D2 but they will free-up labour for other tasks and improve cow care. Due on-line by September I’ll keep you updated with the highs and the lows of our new toys.

It’s a good job we’re not afraid of "ploughing our own furrow" as milk price continues to plummet and we are going against the tide by investing heavily in the dairy industry. 15,000 dairy farmers have ceased production since 1997, the equivalent to 26 a week for the past 11 years. We may be being naively optimistic but we strongly believe that a mixed farm of livestock and crops is environmentally sound. Many parts of our farm are totally unsuitable for arable rotation. Without livestock these areas would go to waste or be forced into unsuitable cropping. Many parts of South Herefordshire suffer the consequences of such cropping.

It's surprising the lengths one will go to to feel needed and in a moment of weakness I allowed myself to become "adopted" by two local primary schools. The "Adopt a Farmer" campaign was dreamt up to encourage links between schools and farms to facilitate a greater understanding of Farming Year and food production. In the last 12 months we have had over 200 children on farm to see for themselves what we do. Despite being told by one of our most recent visitors that real farmers don’t wear shorts the visits are very rewarding and the children’s enthusiasm infectious.

Lambing at Hopes Ash is over, only 3 months behind any self-respecting sheep farmer. Our lambing percentage was not great; the sum total of 1 lamb (called Buttercup) from 4 ewes is pathetic at best. Those of you saving a space in your freezers for a bit of Hopes Ash Herdwick may have to wait a while yet! I don’t think we’ll be taking up sheep Farming Year professionally.

Robert Davies
Hopes Ash Farms

Farming Fact: Without mineral fertilisers, UK farmers would have to plough up extra land the size of Wales if they were to grow the same amount of food as we do now.