THE weather over the last two weeks has been interesting, beginning with thunderstorms. This was followed by occasional storms giving at least some rain to parched soil. Then the sun heated us all up once again and as I look out of the window at the rain falling it is hard to believe that the intense heatwave of the last two months ever happened. Our barograph however is now showing some definite rise and fall in air pressure, so we will have to wait and see what happens next.

On Kevin's farm all the winter wheat has now been harvested. The earlier planted fields have produced an adequate crop, but the later drilled ones were not good. However most of the grain achieved the required bushel weight .The wheat has all been sold for feed and taken to a local store from where it will be collected. There was an average yield of straw, as the crop grew well until the ears were forming. It was at this point the hot dry weather arrived, which affected the formation of grain in the ears.

Kevin has also harvested his crop of peas. Peas and beans have been hugely affected by the lack of rain, with the peas yielding about half of what would be expected. Harvesting of spring barley followed but Kevin was prevented from gathering the last few acres as there was a heavy storm, but again the yield was low. Since then the weather has been damp or rather wet, so unfortunately the straw is still lying on the ground, which will not improve its quality. This is a shame as the straw was a lovely golden colour and the yield was good.

During the last two weeks the sheep have all been treated with a fly repellent and those due have been wormed. Francis and Elaine, Kevin's parents, tour Corsham Park every morning to check all the sheep grazing there for any signs of ill health. They also check all the gates and fences, just to make sure none can escape.

Here on Manor Farm there has been more muck spreading and cultivating of stubble fields following harvest. Kevin has direct drilled one barley stubble field with forage rape following some rain. This quick growing crop will hopefully provide extra food, as we are currently feeding silage to all our cattle. However the recent rainfall has begun to green up the brown fields of grass. Forage rape can be ready to graze 10 to 12 weeks after sowing and makes a good feed for dairy cows and finishing lambs. If we do not need to feed the rape it can be ploughed back in as green manure.

We have recently produced a cropping plan for next season, with the help of our agronomist. We have decided not to have any oilseed rape growing on the farm next year, but are going to plant more grass as a break instead.

During the last two weeks we have welcomed the arrival of two calves. These first two calves of the season, Aberdeen Angus crosses, are actually two very late calving cows from last season. It will not be long before our first dairy calves begin to arrive as we have been drying off the first cows due to calve for some time. Dairy cows milk for about 305 days a year, which is called a lactation. At this time their yield of milk has fallen considerably, so this is when the cows are dried off and not milked again until they give birth. Towards the end of the week we brought the dry cows and heifers back to the farm for sorting, as those close to calving needed to be separated and given a more nutrient rich diet .

Annabel and Natasha have recently joined the Holstein Young Breeders - Holstein UK. They were invited along to take part in the Field to Foto weekend on two separate farms near Loughborough, stock judging at one on the Saturday and competing at a team event on the other, on the Sunday. More detail next time.