Open Day 2010
August Report
August has been rather cold this year with below average temperatures and, unfortunately, below average rainfall. However the rainfall over the weekend has been an immense benefit.
The main activity with the cropping program has been post emergent spraying and top dressing urea. The bulk of the spraying has been done but subsequent to the number of frosts lately we have held off finishing spraying until after the next lot of rain falls.
Some barley crops are visibly in need of rain to assist in a response to applied nitrogen and fungicide treatment. Some are showing herbicide effects and this is most likely exaggerated by the cold conditions. Two lambing paddocks have now been sprayed to control the stinging nettles and these are showing good results so far.
Lambing has proceeded well with a large number of twins and triplets. The maiden ewes are now well and truly into swing and fortunately have required little assistance to date. Lamb marking will commence next week and promises to be interesting regarding lambing percentages given the number of twins and triplets.
Calving has almost finished. The cattle are knee deep in feed at the moment and in good condition with the rain over the weekend assisting the situation.
The plantation along Tuckers Road was planted and guarded this week and a thank you to all involved in this operation. The site was direct seeded last week and approximately 2,500 tubes were planted on Tuesday. Yet another operation that benefited from the rain over the weekend.
Luckily we arrived on Monday to find mud and puddles around the farm. We will now watch to see things really start to grow.
Andrew Wills
Farm Manager
Open Day 2010
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