Sainfoin preparations & latest news
26 April 2016
- In our April video blog Richard is making ground preparations for the establishment of sainfoin, his favourite forage legume, at Daylesford organic farm.
- This month FarmHealthOnline was launched by our partner Duchy College, in collaboration with Animal Welfare Approved and A Greener World. Replacing the Organic Vet site, this great online resource covers all aspects of livestock health and welfare.
- We are excited to announce Agricology’s first open day to be held on the 28th of June at Daylesford. An exciting opportunity for a farm tour and to hear from our partners and experts about the latest in practical, sustainable agriculture. For more information and bookings see our Open Day blog.
- As the weather begins to improve Richard has taken the opportunity to prepare this 80 acre field on the north end of Daylesford for a sainfoin crop.
- Following muck spreading earlier in the month, the field is now being ploughed at 7 inches deep. This will be left until drilling in early May, allowing the soils to warm up.
- Keep an eye out for next month’s vlog as the sainfoin is drilled and Richard explains some of the difficulties involved in establishing this crop.
- Richard hopes to harvest 1,200 tonnes of fresh weight silage from 80 acres. Analysis of this year’s sainfoin crop showed a protein content of 22% and ME of 13.5. A very pleasing result.
- New to the site this month is a blog by Linking Environment & Farming (LEAF) Chief Executive Caroline Drummond discussing their Integrated Farm Management conference later in May.
- We also have a great new resource, Sustainable Control of Crop Pests, from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) with information about biological control methods for all major UK crop pests.
