New year plans

There’s a lot of planning involved in farming. Farmers that have been working their land for years know exactly what needs to be done when. With my new farm, I’m learning as I go along. I also have a lot of work to do to get the land and the farm infrastructure to the place it needs to be.

The fields here on the farm are not well-drained. As this is a typical wet winter in Lancashire, I’m having to keep a close eye on my pregnant ewes to keep them away from water-logged areas. Now more than ever it’s important to keep them healthy and safe, ahead of scanning in a few weeks time.

While all my boundary fencing is stockproof, the internal fences are not. The previous tenant had cattle so small gaps in the fencing didn’t matter. With my sheep it’s quite a different story so my plans for this year include a lot of fencing. This will mean I can fully utilise all the fields, rotating grazing and growing crops of straw and hay for use later in the year.

Getting Around the Farm

I’m also looking around at what machinery is required. The right equipment is in an investment that will save time and money in the longer term. As I utilise more of my acreage, it’s important that I can access all areas with the right equipment. I also need vehicles that are swift enough to get through gates more quickly than the animals that are following me!

Posted: January 12, 2022