Marchweeke Farm,

Each month we provide an update on the activities and events that have taken place at Marchweeke Farm as we develop our own beef, lamb, pork and poultry enterprises.

Since writing last month our two pairs of swallows have become three pairs; the latest couple having selected Morris’ stable to construct their nest. Last year a pair of swallows started to build in the stable but the cat poked his head down through the gaps in the rotten planking just inches from the nest; having a yellow-eyed feline face staring intently while she tried to lay an egg obviously perturbed the swallow and they abandoned the idea. During a wet spell last winter Richard and I repaired the rotten floor joists and replaced the flooring. The new couple must feel more secure without the feline supervision and nest building is progressing swiftly.

The reseeded grass in Quayle has grown well and we planned to open the gate and let the cattle enjoy the fresh pasture but with farming today life isn’t quite that simple. As far as Defra are concerned Westcott is a separate farm and recent legislation requires that before cattle are moved on to another holding they must be tested for TB (tuberculosis). This is in addition to the existing annual compulsory test. We could apply for derogation from this rule if we secure a Sole Occupancy Licence issued by our local veterinary surgeon. The dilemma is therefore; apply for the licence not knowing how long it might take or submit and pay for the additional TB test? Meanwhile the cattle will just have to admire the lush pasture through the bars of the gate until such time as the legal niceties have been addressed and the gate can be opened!

The increase in the incidence of TB in cattle herds is closely correlated with the increased badger population. Since the introduction of legislation protecting badgers, their numbers are reckoned to have increased by 70%. Although badgers are known to carry TB the government have been reluctant to instigate culling diseased badgers for fear of alienating urban voters; as a consequence the politicians have prevaricated with numerous trapping and sampling surveys; many of which have been disrupted by protestors! Over the last ten years the number of TB infected herds in the UK has risen from 1,657 to 7,276 and the annual cost to the taxpayer has now reached £99 million! We are proud of our badger sets and would hate to see them harmed but there is always a fine balance in nature between the predator and the prey. One of the repercussions of the increase in the badger population is the negative impact on their quarry. As badger populations have increased so numbers of hedgehogs and bumblebees have declined. A neighbouring farmer told me he had seen three bumblebee nests dug out and consumed by badgers over the last winter.

The recent rain has been most welcome, providing a much needed soaking for the pastures. With three days fine weather forecast we took the opportunity to cut ten acres of grass for haylage. After turning the grass to assist drying we baled the crop into large round bales. Because some of the fields are quite steep it is necessary to turn the baler across the slope before releasing the round bale out the back of the baler! All seemed to be going smoothly until young Richard misjudged the angle of release; the bale teetered momentarily; rolled slightly, slowly gathered speed and then set off in earnest down the slope. By the time it reached the lower end of the field it was doing a passable impression of a Barnes Wallace Bouncing Bomb; spinning and bouncing until it stopped with a splash in the river. Extracting the bale from the river proved quite a challenge. The bale having absorbed a quantity of water was now twice the weight. With plenty of revs and black smoke, the foreloader on our old Ford 4000 finally managed to lift the bale out of the water but with no rear wheel traction we had to use the giant Case tractor to tow the Ford backwards away from the river bank! The bale is now wrapped and stacked with its mates but is more akin to soup than haylage! When we unwrap and feed the bale next winter we will recall our fishing trip!

Have a great month. Julie, Simon and Rebecca