Monthly Update - July 2024
“What was it like” they asked, “judging grassland near Petersfield yesterday?” Well, it was like trying to compare a pair of shoes with a suit, with a tie, then a hat. Just four entries - the fifth had gone to Ascot for the day. My steward was Joe Atkinson. He looked young and pretty fit. He had just retired, having played professional rugby for ten years. He had now joined his dad to look after the sheep, drive the combine and learn the ropes. The Atkinsons first came to the farm in 1904, leaving 100 acres in the Lake District to farm 1000 acres of chalk down land, covered with thorn bushes and rabbits. Now they run a profitable farming business operating over 2000 acres with mainly family labour and no rent, so they have grown carefully and well.
Our first stop was to look at a four-year-old piece of grass with deep roots and late maturing varieties, with lots of clover and herbs. There was no need for artificial fertiliser, the mixture promoted good soil structure and soil microorganisms AND the flock of 800 ewes and their lambs were tucking into it well. This was in sharp contrast to the thick, almost waist high crop of grass on the next farm. One huge cut of silage had already been taken and the field was ready for another cut to help feed 200 dairy cows and followers. Again, this was a family farm with the younger generation in charge, definitely “High Farming” with lots of expensive nitrogen fertilizer to make the business work, and the cows and young stock were in superb condition. It was a job to find the third farmer but his young daughter led us to the top of his farm. He eventually arrived on an old tractor, the hay turner still spinning. He had been to Reading University in the 80’s so we reminisced and stared at the view across the Meon Valley in wonder. His grass land was a stand of mainly Timothy, ideal for horses, with a good mixture of clovers and wildflowers, so perfect for pollinators.
Last of all was Joe’s uncle. He showed us cattle owned by Sainsbury’s grazing grass improved by stitching in better varieties and clovers. We looked to the hill where sheep grazed the South Downs and enhanced the biodiversity. We visited his newly mown campsite with Portaloos ready for action, a field with silage being baled and wrapped and finally viewed 15 acres being fenced around the River Meon awaiting the arrival of a family of Beavers.
How do you judge that lot? Have a good summer!