Wheat price is causing concern

A total of 130 acres of grass silage was made a few days before I returned, and it now looks as if we will have well over 200 acres more to cut in a week or so; all top quality leafy material, thanks to all the grass cutting we did in the dry spell.

It is amazing how spring like the grass is, and is compensating for the dry spell, although I have found one or two seed-heads, it is virtually all leaf.

Fields that I was considering drilling with seed in August, now following a good application of our enhanced dirty water from the AD plant, is full of ryegrass, which looked as if it was on its last legs earlier in the season.

I think that a bit more Phosphate and Potash in these far flung fields has been the making of them, and having bought a second-hand vacuum tanker, we will be able to repeat the exercise again later in the season if it’s dry enough, and of course next year.

Mind you, compared to the bulk of the fields which are within reach of our umbilical system, a vacuum tanker is both slow and expensive to operate, but is the only way to get to areas which are separated from the farm by main roads.

We are also busy running muck into the maize fields, in preparation for spreading and ploughing in this autumn/winter.

The maize at Tillington is only a week away from harvesting, and that will be a blessing in itself, as we are carting it rather a long way for both the cows and the AD plant at the moment.

n Whilst I was on holiday in France, a low flying Chinook Helicopter suddenly arrived over the woods, banking steeply as it flew past the farm.

This happens quite often, more often in the dark these days as they practice their low-flying techniques.

The Chinook is a very large machine, and as it flew over the Anaerobic Digester, it blew in half of one of the inflated roofs.

This caused a massive surge in gas pressure (stored in the roof), and made the engine grunt a bit as the whole system was temporarily affected by the shock of it all.

Our AD plant operator phoned up the Ministry of Defence and complained, and we have now a temporary low flying ban over the farm.

We had a very informative letter from the MOD, explaining why they conduct such maneouvers, and they are considering a permanent ban over our plant.

I remember finding a large metal door in a field not far from the buildings a few years ago, which I returned to RAF Odiham in Hampshire. At the time, it was received without much surprise.

RAF banter at the time was that you can always tell where the Chinook had flown, as a trail of debris would be left on the ground as bits fell off!

It was described as ‘two windmills connected by a garden shed’. It is an awesome sight at low level (they fly as low as 50 feet), and you have little notice of its arrival, as it skims the trees on its way.

n The wheat prices, although lower than they were a few weeks ago, are causing concern not only for bread makers, but stock farmers as well.

The rising costs of feed, especially as winter approaches is of concern, especially as pressure on farm-gate prices are as bad as ever.

Poultry farmers are hit hardest of course, as 60 per cent of feed costs are wheat (every £10 per tonne rise in wheat, costs the sector £37 million a year), putting extra costs of 15p on a chicken and 7.5p on a dozen eggs.

Every chicken breast has eaten a kilogram of wheat, and that will need to be reflected in the price soon.

Egg producers are certainly struggling to absorb these costs whilst spending millions in record investments to meet the ban on conventional battery cages by 2012.

Chicken meat and eggs, along with milk and cheese are surely the best value foods around; so incredibly versatile, amazing energy and protein content, and super tasty.

Milk and cheese is under severe pressure yet again as retailers exert more pressure, and processors fight for business (at the farmer’s expense in almost all cases)

n The WI (or National Federation of Women’s Institute) is to step in again this autumn.

I ran a high profile campaign with the WI a few years ago, and it certainly made a difference, as we held meetings up and down the country, bringing the plight of the dairy farmer to everyone’s attention.

The WI have kept in close touch, and they informed me at their Annual Conference in Cardiff (I was a speaker) that they were once again very worried and wanted to team up with the NFU again to run another high profile campaign.

The timing could not be better, as we approach winter with low forage stocks on most dairy farms, increased feed prices, but huge pressure on farm gate prices which are 2p per litre behind where they should be.

The ‘Grocer Magazine’ has highlighted the fact that milk is a ‘political food’, and that prices are artificially low in most if not all stores.

Sir Don Curry has hit out at retailers; architect of ‘Food – A sustainable Future’ report in 2002, which lifted the lid on abusive practices and set out the first framework for policy on one of the most contentious areas of grocery.

Naming by adjudicator, will be a serious discipline for retailers he said.

Sir Don, who wants retailers named at the start of any investigation process, is disappointed that that supply chain relations have failed to make the positive progress that he had envisaged.

n Milk does now seem to be the new beer, as supermarkets switch from alcohol, and as they say ‘invest in core grocery essentials like milk instead’.

Having (according to the media and others) fuelled binge drinking in this country with cheap alcohol sales, some of the worst culprits are being praised for their switch away from discounting alcohol, and therefore encouraging responsible drinking.

As usual, the switch brings greater pressure on another group, this time the hapless dairy farmer; but you have to admire the smart PR, and the way they come up smelling of roses, time and time again.