Farmer Focus: Relentless rain testing farm infrastructure

Like many other farmers, I have had a very wet start to 2016 with a crazy amount of seemingly relentless rainfall during the past few months.

Both field and yard drains are backed up, and the slurry pit is rapidly filling up. I’m struggling to see how we are going to get on the land to spread slurry in time for spring lambing.

Not only has the rain been very testing for the farm’s infrastructure, it is also making things difficult for the sheep enterprise.

We have split fields into 2ha paddocks for all-grass wintering, stocking 150 ewes a hectare and moving them on every four days. However, the wet weather is making this increasingly difficult as high stocking can very quickly damage wet fields.

Thankfully I have some dry fields and turnips as a backup, but expansion plans will have to be pulled back as the farm simply can’t carry too much stock when the land is this wet – a frustrating situation when the grass is still growing.

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The calf-rearing enterprise is continuing to improve. We are lucky to be able to work with a great team of support staff and vets to try to get the best out of the animals and sheds. It has been a huge learning curve, but is very enjoyable.

I’m looking forward to seeing how much difference our new calf jackets make. It would also be nice to get on the fields and spread some of the muck.

Gritting has been very slow to start this year, with only a handful of outings so far. Hopefully this will change and the cold weather will finally arrive.

One thing the past 12 months have taught me is that it is very risky to be dependent on only one enterprise, especially on a smaller-scale farm.

I think diversification is essential for the survival of many farms and I would be foolish to try and do without it.

A snow-making machine has been added to the shopping list.

Jim Beary contract rears 900 calves a year and has a growing flock of Aberfield-cross New Zealand Romneys on a county council farm. He also runs a contract gritting enterprise in winter.