February 2012
February on the farm is largely taken up with routine tasks. The cattle are nearly all inside and consequently most of the day is taken up with feeding, bedding and tending to their needs. It makes us feel like chamber persons and waiters at a posh hotel.
However sometime is spent muck spreading while the ground is frozen dry and hard. As organic farmers the application and incorporating of organic matter to build up fertility before sowing spring barley is very important. The muck is produced by the cows that ate the grass last year mixed with straw grown for malting barley, composted and then put back into the soil – the ultimate recycling scheme.
On the subject of organics – Did you see Countryfile on T.V. Recently? Research by Newcastle University has shown that organic milk really is better for us – the fat contains much higher levels of vitamins and minerals, plus extra Omega 3 therefore by my reckoning organic Jersey milk with its even higher fat and protein content must really be a “Super Food”- So Jersey girls get busy and producing more for that nice Mr. Bowles at Ivy House Farm.
As mentioned last month we have renewed our vows to continue with various environmental projects here at Neston in addition to just been organic farmers. There is at the moment a great deal of debate going on regarding E.U. funding for agriculture. The proposals being put forward are that the taxpayer will expect any funding to farmers to include a “greening element” possibly by insisting that farmers actually remove up to 7% of their land from production on to put into the environmental schemes to qualify for payment. However, it has been recognised that organic farming already contributes to much to the environment with our crop rotations recycling of nutrients, bio diversity for wildlife etc that we may not be expected to do more in return for support.
The moral of this story is that organic farming really can deliver benefits which are now been recognised, not just for providing chemical free food but by showing others that by adopting some of our methods we really can make a difference. By purchasing organic food you are supporting the efforts of organic farmers, who have to rely mostly on their own initiatives rather than having large multinational companies to lobby on their behalf.
So organic food really is good value for the taxpayer as well as good for the consumer, the cows and the environment.
Our next farm newsletter will be available from the 1st March 2012
Sandy Macfarlane (Farm Manager)