15 minute read
Farming
Farming Welcome return of spring’s chiff-chaffs
Country Diary With AJ Selby
April brings the primrose sweet; scatters daisies at our feet. You never stop learning, or seeing something new in nature. Recently, during a walk across the downs, I had pause to watch some hares at play. Two males were sparring – boxing as it’s known – and not having lived in hare country, I had never seen this behaviour before. It’s usually one male claiming dominance over another at the start of the mating season although it’s also thought that sometimes it’s the females resisting the attention of the males. Was life ever thus! Old countrymen still call them jack rabbits and that name was carried over the pond to the States by the earlier settlers there. They are a most interesting animal that is naturally shy but able to run at speeds up to 35mph. Baby hares, called leverets, are born furred and with their eyes open unlike rabbits, so they can fend for themselves soon after birth. They don’t burrow underground like rabbits do but lie down and give birth in depressions in the grass called a form. Richard Jeffries, the prolific country writer from the second half of the 19th century, was adept at finding the flat, matted grass that was their home and he was said to have caught hares for the pot by creeping within a few feet of one resting, placing his hat on the ground in front of it and while it kept its attention on the hat, he would walk round the back of the animal and grab it. Apocryphal in all probability but they can lie still for a long time before setting off when disturbed. Jeffries was a remarkable naturalist and writer who died of TB aged just 38. He lived near Swindon, where he learnt to study nature on the Wiltshire downs with a keen eye and then put his observations into elegant prose. A contemporary writer at the time on first reading Jeffries wrote: “Why, we must have been blind all our lives; here were the most wonderful things possible going on under our very noses, but we saw them not.” Taking my early morning stroll on March 19 along the riverbank, I heard that familiar and welcoming sound. I looked up towards the top branches of a gnarled old oak and there, silhouetted against a cloudy sky, I saw him. Just the one. Singing his heart out. Chiff-chaff-chaffchiff-chiff-chaff. Yes, the chiff-chaffs are back and spring has arrived.
We’re in it We’re in it together together
Through our insurance products and services, we are here to protect you and your farming business against a range of risks.
For generations we’ve been putting farmers across the South West at the heart of what we do. To our Members, we’re the local specialists that understand the challenges you face and are here to help. From your very first conversation with us, to the moment a claim is paid out, We’ll always do the right thing by you. But don’t just take our word for it – ask your neighbours about us.
Want to speak to us direct? Call us on 01872 277151.
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Farming Symonds & Sampson teams up with Heards in new merger
Symonds & Sampson LLP have amalgamated with Heards RPS, a merger which brings two established firms together to enhance the range of services offered to farmers and land owners in Devon and Somerset. Both firms have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and offer an extensive range of skills and services including planning, agency, valuation, farm business management and landlord and tenant matters. The two firms’ agricultural sales departments are both highly regarded for their online, on-site and private treaty sales of livestock, machinery, fodder, standing crops and grass keep. Symonds & Sampson partner Ross Willmington said: “Symonds & Sampson and Heards RPS have worked closely together for three or four years, and this merger is a perfect opportunity to establish a stronghold in the heart of Devon at Tiverton, as the firm expand our business further west.” Paul Heard will become a partner with Symonds & Sampson from 1 April. He said: “Having built up a successful business serving clients across Devon & Somerset, we are very excited at the opportunity to join forces with the wellrespected team at Symonds & Sampson to further enhance and develop the range of services we offer.”
From left, Toby Cleave, Ross Willmington, Heather Burrough, Angela Heard, Paul Heard
Wanted: An apiary fit for a queen
By Karen Bate
Few occupations are as soothingly pastoral as beekeeping, and this is certainly true for Philip Morgan, a former Metropolitan police officer who fell in love with bees at the tender age of 12. But it wasn’t until Philip transferred to serve in Dorset and start a family in 1978, that he was able to fulfil a lifelong passion and become a beekeeper. “My first encounter with bees was when I was about 12 and living in a small town in Devon. We had a swarm arrive and settle on a blackberry plant on my father’s allotment. He knew a beekeeper friend who collected the swarm by putting a cardboard box underneath and banged the branch, all the bees fell into the box. “Before the bees went into the box, he said if I was not nervous, to put my hand into the swarm. I have always had a great fascination with nature and slowly put my hand in. It was the most amazing feeling looking at my wrist and not being able to see the rest of my hand as it was covered in bees. “I wouldn’t recommend this and would never encourage anyone, let alone a child to do it, however, this started my love of bees.” A member of Dorchester & Weymouth Bee Keeper Association and an official Swarm Collector, Philip is often being called upon to collect bee swarms and now he is searching for another site to house an apiary and is appealing to our readers to help him find one. He said: “When you collect a swarm, you don’t know where they are from or whom they belong to. You don’t know if they may have a disease, so it is important to quarantine them until you have had chance to inspect them. I also want to start breeding my own queens so will need an apiary to do this. “If at all possible I would like an apiary site within an eight-mile radius of Bere Regis however any location would be considered. All it needs is a reasonably quiet area preferably away from humans and livestock that would be accessible by vehicle or garden/camping trolley.” In the UK we have 270 species of bees of which 250 are solitary, but there is only one type of honeybee. Philip added: “Bees are fascinating creatures and can be described as a superorganism as thousands of bees work for each other in a 40 litre box, in perfect harmony, with no fighting, no bullying, no domestic disputes. I get immense pleasure just watching them go about their business and trying to make their lives as pleasurable as possible. “If only people could follow their example the world would be a much better place.”
n If anyone has a possible site for an apiary, please get in touch with Philip on 07870 957036 or 01929 472283.
Urgently wanted COWS COWS COWS
To receive top price for all barren cows. Brookfield Livestock Marketing Limited. Payment on the day of purchase. Haulage arranged 07811 381 159
Farming Farm vets and internal specialist referrals
By Alice Miller BVSC DBR MRCVS Friars Moor Livestock Health
If you have been unfortunate enough to have a pet with a complicated or unknown condition, then your small animal or equine veterinary surgeon may have given you the choice of referral to a specialist hospital for further investigation or surgery. However, those of you with farm animals are probably aware that this is not an option, because the first opinion and referral structure does not exist within farm practices. Farm clients tend to be running commercial businesses and referral would not be a viable option in many cases, largely because farmers have several hundred animals in their flock or herd, and unlike on the pet side, insurance for each individual animal on farm would be impossible. Also, often the individuals we treat are part of a productive flock or herd and removal from this, for any length of time would be stressful and detrimental for the animal as well as impractical, for example where dairy cows need milking twice daily in a parlour. This difference in set up however does not mean that our patients receive a substandard level of care, it just means that whilst offering the first opinion we also offer the expertise to investigate further, and we do this at Friars Moor Livestock Health by offering internal referrals, since all our clinical vets have their own specialist areas of interest as well as a broad knowledge across all farm species. For example, Helen Rogers, John Walsh, and I all have a further degree in the Diploma of Bovine Reproduction (DBR) so have further knowledge in dairy and beef cattle fertility management. Whilst Yoav Alony-Gilboa holds the RCVS certificate in Sheep Health and Production and is a recognised Israeli specialist in Small Ruminant Health and Production. Eleanor Livingstone is currently studying for the DBR whilst Jo Childs is studying for the RCVS Sheep certificate. Our further interests are as follows. Lucy Hepworth’s are beef and small ruminant health & production, as well as dairy youngstock and nutrition. Paul Doran’s is pathology and post-mortem investigation. Katie Harrower’s is youngstock and mastitis control. Bogdan Butnaru’s is cattle lameness and dairy goat management. Eleanor’s is mastitis, dynamic parlour testing and antibiotic reduction. Helen’s is dairy and beef health and production. Yoav’s is sheep and goat health and production. John’s is cattle lameness, dairy youngstock and pig health and production. Jo’s is parasitology, diagnostic ultrasound lung scanning, sheep lameness and herd and flock health planning. Mine are dairy and beef heifer breeding, bull fertility testing, AI training and infectious disease control. For further information on any of our services please visit: friarsmoorvets.co.uk or call: 01258 472314.
Independent veterinary services for livestock in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire
Collection points for livestock medicines and supplies at Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Shaftesbury Please call the office on 01258 472314 www.friarsmoorvets.co.uk
FARMING JOBS
WANTED Hard working individual to join a family business to steam clean tractors & heavy plant machinery. 40hrs a week. Based in Semley, Shaftesbury. Must have a driving licence and own mode of transport. Email. sales@tractorsandplant.com Tel. 01747 855327
WANTED GFW on a family dairy, beef and sheep farm at Queen Camel, experience essential. Relief milking and tractor driving work, along with all other stock duties. No accommodation available. Call Dan on 07976 787636
It’s a bumper year for twins
Ruth Kimber’s Farmer’s Diary
Happy Easter, and hopefully we will soon be able to catch up in person with our families and friends. Spring has officially started and as I write it’s showing great promise. The low yielding cows are happy to go out to pasture, but have feed available to them after milking before heading to the fields. Calving till the autumn is all but done. We had a good calving, with only a few hiccups. Seven sets of twins were born, which in cattle is fairly unusual, oddly if a female and male make up the twin, the heifer/female is most often infertile. Over the years we have noticed all but one heifer twin proved to be infertile, none as a free martin in farming terms. If two heifers, fertility is not affected. Lambing is now well underway, lambs everywhere, with a few coming up for a little supplementary milk from a bottle. Please keep your dogs under control and take away their poos. Farmers across the land dread the fallout of sheep worrying and disease introduction via dog faeces. The land is looking in good heart, the grass growing and springtime jobs are underway. Farming life is all about being ready for the next season, which really helps to keep things running smoothly. After my rant about litter on the roadside verges, I was delighted to see I was not alone. Many people in our area have been picking up rubbish, putting it in black bags to be collected. In one of our gateways Paul spotted two bin bags and firstly suspected someone of fly tipping; however, he went back with our gator to collect them, finding one was full of roadside rubbish, the other roadside recyclables, cans, bottles etc. he then realized it was the work of our friends and neighbours Jean and Jeremy! After this he saw litter picking in progress on the Frome bypass, and several conspicuously clean roadsides on his way to the slaughter house in Dorset. Godminster Vintage took advantage of Dropping Lane, near Bruton being closed and set about doing a massive clean-up, removing a trailer load of full bin bags. I heard on the early Radio 4 programme a man in Kent, Mr Ted Graham, asking for 21st March to become an annual Spring Clean day – what a good idea, I hope it catches on. What’s all this to do with a farmer’s diary you may ask? Well, its just a general care of our environment, wildlife, and farm animals, discarded litter is often found in the stomachs of farm animals, wildlife can be ensnared and causes damage and death. Plastics end up in water courses and the ocean. Kimbers Farm Shop, BA9 8HD Wincanton Racecourse road B3081. Opening times Tues-Fri 8.30am -5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. kimbersfarmshop.co.uk Tel 01963 33177
FARMING CLASSIFIED ADS: CALL 01963 400186
ATV SPRAYING, AGRICULTURAL & PADDOCK SERVICES. CALL 07711980871
Mob: 07966 244536
Hydraulic Hose Specialists and Stockists to the Agriculture, Forestry, Automotive and Transport Industry
Pneumatic fittings Quick release couplings Air brake fittings Pressure wash hoses + lances Hose clamps Up to 1 ½ “Hose stocked Hydraulic Hoses Variation of oils Mobile service available
Cote Farm Works, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6RF
Email: hoses@ardiesels.co.uk
SCRAP METAL RECYCLING WESSEX METALS
STURMINSTER NEWTON & BLANDFORD AREA WANTED
Scrap Metal, Cars, Heavy and Light Iron Farm And Factory Clearance Weighbridge TOP PRICES PAID
Skips/HAIB lorry available for onsite collection Tel 01258 860 166 or 07974 822 243
WEDNESDAY 14th APRIL Pedigree Breeding Bull Sale Commencing 2pm Entries Invited FROME MARKETS 1ST INAUGRAL SPRING STIRK FAIR Wednesday 28th April Show & Sale Kindly Sponsored by Barbers 1833 To Be Judged in The Pens Prior To Sale Best Pen Of 2 Or More Native Bred Dairy x Steers Up To 7mo Best Pen Of 2 Or More Native Bred Dairy x Heifers Up To 7mo Best Pen Of 2 Or More Continental Bred Dairy x Steers Up To 7mo Best Pen Of 2 Or More Continental Bred Dairy x Heifers Up To 7mo Best Pen Of 2 Or More Dairy Bred Steers Or Heifers Up To 7mo Overall Champion £30 Prize Money & Rosettes For The Winner Of Each Class Overall Champion Receiving A £70 Prize & The Spring Stirk Fair Cup FOR ALL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Auctioneer- Charlie Coleman 07494 588013 Fieldsmen- Tom Rogers 07384 462 288 Mark Ferrett 07702 264 502 Market Office 01373 830 033 NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!!! SATURDAY 22ND MAY
Poultry Sale (Entries Close 7th May) Subject to Covid & Avian Flu Restrictions Auctioneers
Trevor Rowland: 07968 480 401 Lester Williams: 07778 646 031 Ross Whitcombe: 07815 985 737 Charlie Coleman: 07494 588 013 Fieldsmen
Mark Ferrett: 07702 264 502 Tom Rogers: 07384 462 288
Frome Livestock Market, Standerwick, Frome, Somerset BA11 2QB Tel: 01373 830033 Email: info@fromelivestock.com Website: www.fromelivestock.com
Sheep worrying cases
Conyers
Country Outfitters
(Justin J Frampton) R.F.D.13D New or Secondhand Shot & Air Guns, Rifles and Repairs. Game, Coarse & Sea Angling Equipment
Est 1886
3 West Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7AW jay@conyers.biz www.conyers.biz Tel: 01258 452307 Mob: 07973 642278
We provide a friendly, local service at competitive prices. Based at Redlynch near Bruton, we supply Car, Commercial, Agricultural, Plant & 4x4 tyres and offer a 24hr breakdown service. We won’t be beaten on price.
Call us on 01749 813957 or 07971 012628
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Mobile Service
Agricultural Specialist Over 35 year’s Experience
NIGEL MARTIN 07921 929891
YOUNG PEACOCKS & HENS available £100 a pair. 01725 517268 07311 478301
FARMING CLASSIFIEDS
By Karen Bate
Sheep farmers in North Dorset are urging dog owners to keep to the countryside code as they enter lambing season, with pregnant ewes and newborn lambs particularly vulnerable to attacks from out-ofcontrol pets. The numbers of livestock worrying
OLD TOOLS WANTED FOR CASH. BEST PRICE IN UK. VINTAGE,COLLEC TABLE & GOOD USED TOOLS, boyshilltoolsandtree n.co.uk Tel 07977 298834 danletts51@gmail.c om
QUALITY HAYLAGE, D1010 Bales, 6ft, 4 strings with 8 wraps, a large quantity, Mark Needham 07860 759996
WANTED old trailer mower/mower conditioner, anything considered. 07740 663925
Variety of POL HYBRID PULLETS now available. 07545468700
LOOKING FOR FARM BUILDING/ FIELD TO RENT. 15 mile radius os Sturminster Newton. 074960 33069 MUSCOVY DUCKS. 07968121857
CONCRETE RAILWAY SLEEPERS For cow tracks / retaining walls. Contact Ricky or Robert at Liquiline Limited. 01258 830324 / liquiline.co.uk
For those For those whose farmers TV volume 38 The High Street, who drove is now Wimborne BH21 1HT tractors
at 50! Tel: 07514 417556 8.30am – 4.30pm in the 70s!
