The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: Midas on March 17, 2016, 08:40:47 pm

Title: Help!- Field management
Post by: Midas on March 17, 2016, 08:40:47 pm

Hello everyone,
I have so many questions, sorry about that.  I have not owned my field for long, it is in pretty good shape and last year I had sheep grazing, then had a cut of hay and then the sheep went in again.  I thought it was going to be the same this year, but the person who had the hay does not want it this year, shame as the hay was excellent, just not much of it as nothing, apart from topping, was done with the filed (My Father was to ill to do it).

I am just wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what I could do.  I know the sheep are coming back at some point, but I do not know when.  Will I need to Harrow and roll the filed in the spring? and then keep topping it until the sheep come in? I did have the field sprayed last year, but I cannot remember the last time fertilizer was put on it.  I do know back in the day (I have been going there for years) Dad would only use muck on it, he didn't like artificial, he said the reason the hay was so good is because no "Rubbish" was put on it.

I would be grateful if anyone could help me out with a management plan, maybe a diary type a thing?
I am quite sure Hay was only taken off of it every other year also?
It all seems rather daunting at the moment.  Just want to keep it nice and not do anything that will ruin it.

Midas

Title: Re: Help!- Field management
Post by: Dan on March 18, 2016, 08:44:01 am

You might find this series useful as a primer:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/smallholding/grassland-management/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/smallholding/grassland-management/)

HTH.

Title: Re: Help!- Field management
Post by: Midas on March 18, 2016, 10:34:34 am

thanks Dan

Title: Re: Help!- Field management
Post by: John Davies on April 12, 2016, 04:43:00 pm

Midas

Did you get sorted with your field?

Title: Re: Help!- Field management
Post by: Midas on May 02, 2016, 07:51:32 pm

Sorry for not replying sooner, have benn a bit busy. I have managed too remove about 600 metres of posts and stock fencing which has been there for over twenty years. I pulled it out by hand, which took a couple of days. I have cleared brambles and rescued half a dozen sheets of corrugated tin sheets and have cleared part of the barn.
As for the field, someone wants it for haylage and I am hoping to chain harrow it within the next couple of weeks and on top of all that, I have finally got the little tractor back, it had an engine rebuild. The sheep will be coming back in the late summer all being well  :)