Grass Roots - December 2001 | | Anton Coaker is a Devon hill farmer whose stock was culled as contiguous to an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth.
Ten years ago he diversified into the sawmill and timber business, he also retails beef and lamb reared on the farm.
Each month he takes a look at the state of farming, from grass roots level: |
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What’s afoot in
the peasant farmer’s world? |
To test my tolerance of non-domesticated creatures, the local rat population has decided to over-winter in my oat silage bales.
Non-peasants should understand, silage bales have to be kept airtight, in their shrink-wrap, or they turn to compost. Rat invasions do not assist this airtight state.
 | Unwelcome visitor. "Roland" finds
the crop yummy |
I was advised by some of the wrinkled experts in my peer group, that rodents love oat silage just as much as cows do. So I see!
Let me give you a brief explanation of the outbreak of high tech methods in peasant land. During last winters monsoon a group of out wintered, and now late, Galloway cows had managed to three-quarter plough a nice flat field.
Trying, as ever, to turn adversity to advantage, this spring I cadged a few bags of oats from a colleague (read fellow peasant) and sprinkled them into the mud with some grass seed, rolled the field flat, and tiptoed away.
To my amazement, 3 months later, we were able to bale the resultant crop of grass and oats (with loads of yarrow which is abundant here). The resultant stuff is, according to the cows and "Roland", very yummy.
Speaking of cows, this morning there was a big event as the first calf was born on Sherberton since…. well, just "since".
One of the South Devon heifers that my good friend Nigel had harboured during the bleak spring had come home heavily in calf to the little belted Galloway bull.
She came down to feed this morning with a fine "beltie" heifer calf at foot, which was skipping along, with a full belly and a dry coat.
This will call for a brief ceremony later, involving some very fine old "water of life" saved for such occasions.
It must be my turn for some luck with the cattle. Of the group of South Devon heifers who arrived home safe from their winter lodgings, six have given me live calves so far and five of them have been Galloway cross heifers – exactly what I would seek.
The last pre-Christmas consignment of beef has gone out; hopefully all our regulars have enough for the festive season. I am now into the "gap" in production, as the calves from the cows we saved will not be ready for a year or more yet.
Alison and I have taken the executive decision to source some finished cattle from local colleagues. Our own beef round is growing, based on traceable local produce, and several neighbours have cattle reared in similar conditions.
It is sense to put these matters together to everyone’s benefit.
 | Taking a well earned rest: The sawmill
is frantically busy |
Just to keep me on my toes, the sawmill is frantically busy, with several orders of complete frames and roofs, in oak, waiting to be done. There are also several DIY-ers wanting material, for projects promised to their nearest and dearest "by Christmas", which, of course, reminds me of my own responsibilities, with a growing family (our eldest is in her first nativity play, a big moment in any parent’s life).
Must sign off now, the serious ceremony of celebrating the new calf’s arrival beckons.
Festive greetings and see you next year. Anton
You can comment on Anton's Diary on our Farmers' Forum and there'll be more "Grass Roots" next month. |
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