Farm Diary July 15 2009

The maize has also benefited from the rain, and as there is a complete canopy, every precious drop will be conserved.

We are still spreading dirty water, although the new pump has been disappointing.

It seems that the 'sticky' nature of dirty water prevents irrigation pumps from performing at full potential, and we are now having a different pump out on trial from the manufacturer. No need to pump this weekend, as the rain is doing it for us.

We have freeze-branded the heifers this week in preparation for calving later this autumn, and they will be brought in to learn how to live in cubicles and be introduced to the milking parlour soon.

They will also be put on the dry cow diet so that they are fully attuned to life post calving in good time.

We fitted a sprinkler system for the cows in the collecting yard to cope with the hot weather.

It produces a fine mist which cools the cows down nicely before they come into the parlour, helping them cope with the high temperatures of late. Cows give off a lot of heat, and struggle to cope with high temperatures, they eat less and the milk drops; as usual by looking after the cows '“ they look after us.

Our two workers from the Philippines have both won awards from the employment agency, Pat for 'best tractor driver' and Rick 'most improved worker'.

Both are well deserved, and we certainly appreciate their commitment and hard work. Rick is a keen gardener and the grass and vegetable garden around the cottage is immaculate. Keenan the forage wagon manufacturer who give us nutritional advice for the cows, have commented that Pat is one of the best at feeding cows accurately and consistently, showing a real interest and keeping troughs fresh and clean at all times.

Pat checks the troughs and the milk ticket every morning before he starts, adjusting the amounts accordingly.

I visited the 160th and last Royal Show briefly last week. Not many people turned up, and I'm afraid that most farmers, who have given up on the Royal Show a long time ago, could not bring themselves to come back for the swansong.

I remember in the 1980s in its heyday, the show attracted 250,000 people over four days with traffic chaos all around, now it costs the RASE 250,000 in losses over four days.

Times changed and the organisers failed to move with the times; a root and branch review was needed ten years ago. Sadly, this did not take place and with massive accumulated losses, the show is no more.

At the show Hilary Benn announced that he has listened to the farming community and decided against compulsory set-aside as demanded by Natural England and the RSPB among others.

Farmers do enormous amounts to improve the environment, both through stewardship schemes and privately.

We have planted trees, hedges, and reconstructed ponds on this farm, not as part of any scheme (although we are in a stewardship scheme), but as part of what we do as farmers, improving and enhancing our environment both for our benefit and the wildlife.

Commonsense has also prevailed in the courts, as Defra won its appeal against Georgina Downs over pesticide spraying.

This does mean that the farming community will need to address the concerns of the general public over pesticides and the environment in general; the onus is on us to do better.

A worrying development recently has been the successful claim brought against a dairy farmer by a walker and her dog, who sustained serious injury when crossing a field with cows and calves.

Many similar incidences have been in the media lately and they all have a common catalyst; the dog.

Cows recognise dogs as descendants of wolves, who historically have attacked them and their calves. Their instinctive reaction is to round up on the dog and chase it away, and if an owner gets in the way; too bad.

Of course this is not acceptable, but there has to be some responsibility on the part of the walkers too, so many have dogs these days, many not on leads, even fewer under control.

West Sussex County Council sends letters out to landowners pointing out rickety or slippery stiles, overhanging branches, or gates that don't open easily.

I saw one this weekend which pointed out to a landowner that rabbits were burying under the footpath, causing a hazardous surface which endangered walkers!

He is advised to control the rabbits and put right the footpath, in case someone injures themselves.

Here we are with the first quarter figures showing cattle TB to be heading towards the destruction of 50,000 cattle this year, with no chance of tackling the wildlife source in badgers, but a rabbit digging up the footpath is to be dispatched without question. This is a mad world we live in.

A total of 12,500 cows killed to the end of March 2009 (10,000 in 2008), 200 new herds infected, a huge increase in the number of cattle tested and still this disease (bovine TB) continues to spread.

Hilary Benn and the badger protection group's stand alone, the public are on side when given the full facts, and the first fact is that we cannot cattle test and restrict ourselves out of this disease.

Out of all the pre-movement testing, only 0.112 per cent of the cattle have tested positive.

If the public want to have a countryside that has grazing cattle, we need to start tackling this disease.

The culling policy has worked in many countries, and is working well in Ireland at the moment.

Good effective management of the cull in selected areas is crucial, but if we do not move to protect healthy badgers and healthy cows soon, it will be too late.

Nick Herbert (shadow Environment Minister) and his party can see this, so can Lord Rooker, Jane Kennedy, the Treasury and many others including Defra officials. It will happen, so why wait any longer?