Farmer Focus: Rain interrupts work after ploughing match

We were pleased to host our local ploughing match at Spains Hall on 21 September, which was a very well organised and attended event.

The last time it was at the farm was 63 years ago, so I think our turn in hosting was definitely due.

Rain joined us the day after, and the wet conditions haven’t left us since. At time of writing, we have had 110mm in three weeks.

This means we aren’t quite as far through the drilling as we would like to be, but we are pleased to have finished slurry applications.

See also: Photo of the Week – winter ploughing in the frost

About the author

Jack Bosworth

Livestock Farmer Focus writer Essex pig farmer Jack Bosworth farms 263ha of arable and a 540-sow farrow-to-finish operation in partnership with his family. About 60% of pigs are finished at home and 150 are sent to a farm in Norfolk to finish on a bed and breakfast contract.

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We have also got nearly 90% of the winter cereal land sprayed off and got the Sumo Trio through all the land where we had the ploughing match. Not a job that was particularly comfortable, I must say.

We attended the Farmers Weekly Awards earlier in October, having been a finalist for the Mixed Farmer of the Year category.

While we didn’t win the award, we were delighted to have been nominated and subsequently make the final three, which is down to the hard work of all those working with the business.

Those of us who went had a fantastic evening. We also managed to meet some great people during the process who we hope to keep in touch with.

Congratulations to Nick and Lucy Tyler of Kingsplay Farming in the Wiltshire Downs for their very worthy win of the award, and congratulations to all the other winners and finalists.

The Farmers Weekly Awards night is certainly an occasion that reinforces what a wonderful industry we are all proud to be a part of.

Elsewhere, we are thrilled to have been selected as one of the pilot farms for AHDB’s Environmental Baselining Pilot.

This will establish the amount of net carbon storage on the farm in soil, hedges and trees, and track greenhouse gas emissions. 

As a business, we really want to see how we can improve our sustainability, reduce our environmental impact and delve further into exactly how different practices can impact the bigger picture.

We are looking forward to starting this journey and sharing it with those that are interested.