Farm Diary

MY goodness me we are busy. Spring is here and we are hauling muck, muck-spreading, sub-soiling, ploughing, fertilizing, spreading dirty water '“ you name it! Is it too early? Well it's dry on our clay at Plaistow and you have to go when you can because it could be wet again very soon, and for a very long time too.

The birds and the bees (very active this weekend) are telling me that its time to get on with it, and Lorayne has cut the lawn, so it must be spring. The days are getting longer, and in three weeks we will turn the clocks forward (yes!), and the temperature is certainly spring-like at the moment.

We are well under way with preparing maize ground, which is just as well since we are renting more ground for maize this year. I want it all ready for drilling by the middle of April, so that we can choose the optimal time for drilling each site.

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More thought has gone into choosing maize seed varieties, and we are drilling some early varieties this year for the first time. I am also giving even more attention to every aspect of growing the crop following last year's disappointing yields.

I know that weather has a big part to play, but I feel we can do a better job, and since the costs of growing a 12 tonne per acre crop are the same as a 18 tonne per acre crop, it is vital that the 50% difference in costs per tonne are addressed.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette March 4