A switch to some fine settled weather wouldn’t go astray now as the spring barley is just ready for harvesting.

The majority of the crop is ripe but due to the dry conditions earlier in the summer, there is secondary growth in the field, which is delaying the harvest. Hopefully we will get a few sunny days in the coming fortnight to help the remainder of the crop to turn. It would be an added bonus for Drew and Mia to see the combine on the farm before the children return to school. I’m not sure which event will excite them more.

Like the last few years, I plan on planting a mix of redstart and stubble turnips into the field once the straw has been removed from it. This is a great crop to keep ewes out of the shed until later in the year or even the new year if it is mild enough and a good crop is established. I am also going to start spreading the last round of fertiliser on the farm to help build up covers of grass for the coming autumn.

I will also get the remainder of the dung spread on some of the silage fields in an effort to return some of the nutrients that have been removed from them.

Blowfly

The humid weather lately has brought on a number of cases of blowfly strike just as we have started to shear the ewes. Needless to say, the lack of a viable price for the wool is an issue but from an animal welfare point of view it is essential to complete. I will dip the ewes in a few weeks’ time once they have got a bit of wool cover back. This will help to keep the flystrike away during the coming months as well as controlling any external parasites that may be affecting them.

I will also be able to go through the mature ewes to assess how their body condition scores are progressing a lot easier after the shearing has been completed.

As I’ve mentioned before, I find doing it at this time of the year gives me more options later on. Mostly, it allows me a little extra space when ewes are housed yet they also have enough of a wool cover to be able to be outwintered if there is sufficient grazing forage available.

I find it also helps with keeping a close eye on the ewe condition scores as we move closer to the breeding season.

Lamb thrive

Lamb thrive is going well here at the moment and drafting is taking place every couple of weeks. The ram lambs are separate from any ewe lambs now, which will avoid setbacks as we move towards the autumn and the ram lambs realise what they are supposed to be doing. The rams have been moved to the far end of the farm and are getting good grass in order to build up their condition before the mating season. The distance between them and the ewes will help to increase the success of the ram effect prior to breeding.

For anyone looking for rams for the upcoming breeding season, the annual Sheep Ireland €uro-Star multi-breed ram sale takes place on Saturday 22 August in Kilkenny Mart, a change from Tullamore due to COVID-19 restrictions. It presents a good opportunity to see a number of different breeds available for sale on the one day in one location.