Longer Nights

If I lived indoors all day without a clock I would still know the clocks had changed and the days had become shorter as the number of meetings in my calendar grows. These meetings are not to sniffed at though, and two in particular have been especially interesting.

The results of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will be at the forefront of all farmers minds. The NFU held a briefing in Kirkby to outline how the new regime is coming together. After years of EU deliberation DEFRA is consulting farmers and a host of interests with differing expectations. The NFU certainly has a different view to The National Trust, or to a host of green lobbying groups. As matters stand today it appears that hill farms will benefit from the new deal, with the settlement providing equal payments per hectare for lowland farmers and their colleagues in the uplands. Previously the split benefited the lowlands. That is good news! However the picture is vague for grass based businesses. Arable farmers know they will be subject to a number of new ‘greening’ measures, but so far there is a vacuum for grass farms. It is certain that the Entry Level Stewardship scheme is no more, but what replaces it and how much funding (modulation) will it draw from the main subsidy pot? It is all up in the air.

The Sun Inn, Bilsdale, was the venue for a North York Moors Quality Sheep Association meeting. The group encourages Moors sheep farmers to get together and discuss stock sales and other matters. A hot topic at this session was the introduction of Electronic Identification for sheep. A government led IT project, the idea is sound in principle however the technology fails to log all sheep passing a computer device. Farmers are principally upset as the failure to record sheep properly rests with us and can result in being fined by government!

Back on the farm I am continuing to monitor the pigs versus bracken project closely. I am really happy with progress to date, the girls are healthy and they are clearing the land excellently. In fact they have cleared enough bracken to offer views I have not taken in before.

Winter finally arrived this week. The drop in temperature is noticeable; I have even broken out my woolly hat! Of course the sheep just carry on regardless. But the hay racks are in place and as the grass loses its protein value our stored forage will come into play. We had a good summer, so will we pay for it? We will wait and see.