Sorry there was no Farming Matters last month, but I was rather busy.
Phil was quite right with his comments about holding up traffic behind silage trailers. Although we have as much right as anyone else to use the roads, we should not hold up traffic unnecessarily. Having said that, everyone will be checking to make sure I am not holding up traffic when I am on a tractor. I do of course hold up traffic twice a day when I get the cows in.
In the milk sector there now appears to be a glimmer of hope of a small increase in the milk price, which will be too late for some, but very welcome for those of us that are struggling to continue in milk production. The difficult weather conditions in May and June made silage making very difficult for many, and together with poor grass growing weather for the grazing fields has lead to a shortage of milk nationally. The large numbers of people going out of milk has also partly caused this shortage. It would be nice to think that this shortage will help to increase the milk price.
At home we have been very fortunate in making both our first and second cuts silage in excellent weather conditions. We have now started calving and are now strip grazing stubble turnips and the cows are milking very well.
A bit short this month but I'll try and write more next time.