For the first time, as a farmer I am questioning what the beef market will be like if the UK crashes out of the EU at the end of March – so far, I have had no guidance.

On the ground, it’s hard to believe the slurry season opens up next week in our part of the country.

But farming always throws up new questions and this year, it’s to decide are we willing to spread the slurry on the quite exceptional growth of grass that we have.

The continuous mild weather and high soil temperatures have meant that grass growth is pretty well continuous and even on the paddocks lightly grazed until 1 December, there are 2in to 3in of vivid green growth.

It sounds messy but in the past, we tried it and it is surprising how quickly they adapt

We have come to the conclusion that with the excellent ground conditions, we will take a grazing with the lightest weanlings and then hopefully follow up with a lightish application of slurry. In previous years, we have taken light grazings in February but never in January.

The intention is that we will let a pen of roughly 30 young cattle into a paddock till they have it nicely but not excessively cleaned out and then bring them back into the shed for the evening. It sounds messy but in the past, we tried it and it is surprising how quickly they adapt.

My hope is that with the biological additive we have added to the slurry this year there will be less agitation required and that the ammonia in the slurry will have been converted into a much less harsh microbial nitrogen and so will do much less damage to the earthworms and soil flora.

Nobody seems quite sure of the science but I have followed the company’s research in this area and I am willing to give it a go – at a cost, but not at an enormous expense.

Glyphosate

On the tillage side, we now need a dry, calm day to apply the glyphosate to the mass of vegetation that has built up on the land I have earmarked for the beans – the only spring crop on the place. Last year, as I mentioned, we didn’t get to sow until late April.

This year I still aim for the normal first fortnight in March but a lot of water has to flow under the bridge between this and then.

Read more

Silage season kicks off in January

Farmers gear up for slurry spreading