April 2003

Late march and the first three weeks of April were dry.

Until the last 5 days we had had only 7mm of rain in April with but we finished the month with 48mm.

The oats we sowed are now growing and this picture taken during the second week of April shows them at about 4cm tall they are now at time of writing about 10cm.

The cows are out in the fields having been let out on the 14th. The ground was dry enough but the clear dry weather has meant late frosts especially on the meadows which slowed the grass growth but this warm rain is making things grow now.

We have had 6 calves this month 1 black and white heifer, 2 black and white bulls Aberdeen Angus bull, a Belgian blue heifer and a Limousin bull.

Due to the fact we have lost some calves to Rota-virus we have now let them out into the Orchard with their mothers. Sadly one cow somehow managed to knock a machine from its stand killing the Limousin bull.

Sometimes as my father used to say "You can't do right for doing wrong".

The collecting yard alterations are now nearly finished and here is Stephanie our latest work experience "victim" shovel in hand helping with the demolition together with Daniel who came to us last year and who is currently doing a motivational placement with us for two days per week.

Nearly all the fertilizer has been sown on the grass and Simon has finished the rolling click here for a then and now picture of rolling.

Much of our time has been spent puting up electric fencing for the cows. As you see helped by Stephanie. Click here to learn more about electric fencing and why we farmers spend so much time doing it.

This months nature report shows some rescued newts together with preventing some tree damage and look at the then and now milking together with cows just let out in the fields 60 years ago.

Some things don't change that much.

Finally on the 17th - 18th of June the North West's largest agricultural show takes place - The Cheshire Show.

This year as well as a place in the NFU stand we will also be in the Cheshire Education stand.

If you have any school work in which you have use information from the Greenheyes web site and would like to have your work displayed at this prestigious event then I would like to hear from you.

Click on the e-mail button below and send me you details. I look forward to hearing from you.

See you next month PHIL.

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