Lambing was a real pleasure this year and it seems like we can finally put the nightmare of 2018 behind us.
Although we are short of lambs due to a poor scan, to see good strong lambs thriving, ewes finally back in good condition, and grass ahead of stock is a real joy. 2018 took its toll on the stock, the bottom line, and the fettle of those of us trying to keep the farm business pointing in the right direction. This year has been a well-needed reminder of why we do this job.
We have had a really busy spell since lambing finished with a monitor farm meeting, a young farmers walk and our first attempt at hosting an Open Farm Sunday event.
More importantly, the programme gives them a valuable taster of some of the many career options out there
We are used to hosting visitors on farm, whether it is farmers, or pupils from our local school. My wife Aileen is a teacher at a secondary school and runs the Rural Skills programme which sees pupils learning about careers in the rural sector.
More importantly, the programme gives them a valuable taster of some of the many career options out there. The highlight is a farm to fork experience where the pupils follow lambs from the farm, through the auction mart and abattoir, culminating in them preparing a meal in the school kitchen using this produce. It lets the pupils see the huge number of jobs throughout the food chain.
Fake news
We all know the increased pressure we as farmers are being put under by extreme organisations and famous influencers, and the huge media coverage this fake news is getting.
In my mind there is no point in trying to fight battles with these people, as often there is no reasoning with them. The best thing we can do is to be open and transparent and start raising the profile of the amazing job farmers do producing high-quality food, as well as the host of other benefits we bring to the landscape and our local communities.
Hosting Open Farm Sunday is a huge undertaking
This led us to thinking Open Farm Sunday could be a great chance to get families out to the farm and showcase our industry while giving them a positive and fun experience.
Hosting Open Farm Sunday is a huge undertaking, and the organisation that needs to go in to ensure a successful day is really important. It did involve a mass tidy up and a lot of hours tied to the pressure washer, however it was all worth it.
Activities
Aileen organised various activities for the day and roped in lots of willing helpers from tractor drivers to science teachers to car park attendants. We aimed our event as a free fun day out for families that gave them the chance to get up close to cattle, sheep and deer. There were also tractor rides, a nature walk, and activities led by science teachers, vets and farmers.
We need to make the most of this and start shouting about the great job farmers are doing under increasingly challenging conditions
We made it as interactive and fun as possible and made sure people felt welcome and had a chance to ask questions.
We were amazed that over 370 people turned up. I think it shows there is an appetite from the general public to get out into the countryside. We need to make the most of this and start shouting about the great job farmers are doing under increasingly challenging conditions.
I know we can’t all hold events such as Open Farm Sunday but my challenge to all of you is to ask yourself what you can do to help turn the tide and educate people about what really goes into producing our food.
Read more
Farmer Writes: finding breeds suited to low-input system
Farmer Writes: learning from a bad sheep scanning result
Lambing was a real pleasure this year and it seems like we can finally put the nightmare of 2018 behind us.
Although we are short of lambs due to a poor scan, to see good strong lambs thriving, ewes finally back in good condition, and grass ahead of stock is a real joy. 2018 took its toll on the stock, the bottom line, and the fettle of those of us trying to keep the farm business pointing in the right direction. This year has been a well-needed reminder of why we do this job.
We have had a really busy spell since lambing finished with a monitor farm meeting, a young farmers walk and our first attempt at hosting an Open Farm Sunday event.
More importantly, the programme gives them a valuable taster of some of the many career options out there
We are used to hosting visitors on farm, whether it is farmers, or pupils from our local school. My wife Aileen is a teacher at a secondary school and runs the Rural Skills programme which sees pupils learning about careers in the rural sector.
More importantly, the programme gives them a valuable taster of some of the many career options out there. The highlight is a farm to fork experience where the pupils follow lambs from the farm, through the auction mart and abattoir, culminating in them preparing a meal in the school kitchen using this produce. It lets the pupils see the huge number of jobs throughout the food chain.
Fake news
We all know the increased pressure we as farmers are being put under by extreme organisations and famous influencers, and the huge media coverage this fake news is getting.
In my mind there is no point in trying to fight battles with these people, as often there is no reasoning with them. The best thing we can do is to be open and transparent and start raising the profile of the amazing job farmers do producing high-quality food, as well as the host of other benefits we bring to the landscape and our local communities.
Hosting Open Farm Sunday is a huge undertaking
This led us to thinking Open Farm Sunday could be a great chance to get families out to the farm and showcase our industry while giving them a positive and fun experience.
Hosting Open Farm Sunday is a huge undertaking, and the organisation that needs to go in to ensure a successful day is really important. It did involve a mass tidy up and a lot of hours tied to the pressure washer, however it was all worth it.
Activities
Aileen organised various activities for the day and roped in lots of willing helpers from tractor drivers to science teachers to car park attendants. We aimed our event as a free fun day out for families that gave them the chance to get up close to cattle, sheep and deer. There were also tractor rides, a nature walk, and activities led by science teachers, vets and farmers.
We need to make the most of this and start shouting about the great job farmers are doing under increasingly challenging conditions
We made it as interactive and fun as possible and made sure people felt welcome and had a chance to ask questions.
We were amazed that over 370 people turned up. I think it shows there is an appetite from the general public to get out into the countryside. We need to make the most of this and start shouting about the great job farmers are doing under increasingly challenging conditions.
I know we can’t all hold events such as Open Farm Sunday but my challenge to all of you is to ask yourself what you can do to help turn the tide and educate people about what really goes into producing our food.
Read more
Farmer Writes: finding breeds suited to low-input system
Farmer Writes: learning from a bad sheep scanning result
SHARING OPTIONS