DIARY FARMING Rosemary’s

The cereal crops (corn) along with winter beans, grassland, trees and hedges are all benefitting from warmer weather. The gardens are coming back to life, but there are a few plants/ shrubs which don’t appear to have survived the exceptional low temperatures that occurred before and after Christmas.

The usual winter/ early spring jobs have gone ahead with some sowings of cereals very early, but ground conditions were ideal which is the important window in farming with such extreme weather patterns are almost becoming normal as this year we are into the second quarter with very little opportunity to cultivate and sow, we are now in a late planting situation with no prospects of the wet weather relenting. What we don’t need is a very hot, prolonged summer without some rain. The late sowings won’t have the root structure which is vital for the plants not only to survive, but will also affect the yield and quality of that crop. With lack of grass for the livestock sector, gardens, in fact the very survival of everything living, but we are where we are, and as usual we just have to get on with it and do the best we can, the weather has the last say. For those of us who planted very early – most farmers were able to, it now seems to have been the right decision.

The agricultural sector has, and is coming up with some very advanced technology, with different varieties of cereals having more tolerance to the hot summers which can survive in very hot and dry situations and can also handle much later sowings. More advanced machinery, again with the environment also in mind, cutting the carbon omissions we are living in a very changeable time which farmers are embracing and once we have all got our heads around it I feel it’s very exciting. Having been brought up with traditional ways, I for one was sceptical about change, as many farmers are, but I can now see the advantages of these opportunities which are at our disposal to embrace and implement and I hope it is proven to be the right decision – only time will tell if this giant step forward has worked.

Our open farm Sunday was so popular, I was asked when the next one would be. This year will be bigger, with the emphasis on Farming through the ages helping farming and education reconnect communities with better understanding of where and how their food on the table comes from and also how to enjoy and be safe in the countryside

– it is of course a living and working environment. We will be celebrating the environment with ‘Rural’ and ‘Local’ at the centre of this with crafts like dry stone walling, weaving, leather work, pottery and wood carving to name but a few. There will be the educational trailer rides around the farm which were so popular last year, along with the display of tractors. We will also have some Dales ponies here on the day, this rare breed were a pivotal part of farming in days gone by. So make a note in your diary – Sunday 21 May, let’s hope the weather behaves itself with everyone enjoying a lovely day. We are still in the process of tying up a few loose ends but anticipate that entry will be free, with collecting boxes for donations to MAGPAS (air ambulance) who do a fantastic job – we were in that unfortunate position one Monday morning recently where my son Robin was in need of their help. Therefore it is his, and the family’s wishes that all proceeds on the day go to this charity.

With March turning out to be quite an eventful month, the wettest since records began, Robin out of action and all family and staff stepping up to cover. The weather might be more helpful this next week, let’s hope it does improve. The gardens are again in full bloom with bulbs and other plants and shrubs brightening up the days after a very long and dreary winter. I am sure we all find it all very uplifting, I certainly do.