JDog Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 One of my farms is 600 acres in size and is in a good area for pigeons. The farm is owner occupied and there will almost certainly be no charges against the farm itself as it was inherited but here may be borrowings against machinery. This should put the following into context. Whilst every other farmer in the area has been madly drilling, this farmer, who has some very light land, is hedge trimming. I am well aware that there is a time window for hedge trimming but he only started this week. He is half way through dealing with the hedges. He is a very affable fellow and I disturbed his work this morning (he told me it was a welcome break) and we had a fifteen minute chin wag. He still has getting on for 200 acres to drill and this will include several fields of beans, spring barley and peas. All good stuff for a pigeon shooter. This is an early spring (so far) but surely he should have made a start on preparing the ground for drilling? He is a one man band and he therefore has to plough, cultivate, prepare and drill all of this land this spring on his own. Which is more important, having the place look tidy or sowing the seed for financial gain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 I think you answered your own question at the beginning. If he is quite comfortable financially he probably sees no great rush to drill and would rather the place looks nice from his kitchen window. I've said it before, its all the chemicals they use. Makes them do strange things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 there is a window for cutting hedges.......the hedge cutting NEEDS to be complete before the nesting season...........alot of land around here is still stubble.....hedge cutting has only just finished here............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 Yes, and modern machinery can change the landscape so quickly these days. I'm pretty sure he knows what he is doing and has his plan. The ONE BIG problem with anyhting to do with agriculture is WEATHER and the next 5-6 days looks prfect for tilling/sowing the ground but three or four days of rain promised for next weekend. Long gone are the days of towing a two furrow plough and some 8ft discharrows(big in my day). I borrowed a 3 furrow conventional plough from our neighbour and thought I was the bees knees, now they are pushing seven and towing ten or more. Just look forward to him putting in those beans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 We have a selection of scruffy farms and others that are like show homes. I have two farms next to each other and the one farmer complains that his neighbours rape is better than his and the pigeons don't bother with it. His neighbour harvests and prepares the next crop all in one week the seed is in early and gets established he has Twenty to gas guns hence no pigeons also the rape is always very tall and lush and the pigeons will not land in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 Still cutting hedges around here and plenty of stubble fields, if he direct drills it will take him a couple of days, or he could of course use contractors, its amazing how quick they can turn a field around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddyscot Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 JDog nothing to worry about, u should be more than happy with that. Wait till all other crops are up all yours sown should make some great shooting. Let us know how u get on please should be a great report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted February 24, 2019 Report Share Posted February 24, 2019 You also mentioned light land Jdog the farmer on my perm always says we mostly get the same amount of rain in a 12 month period, possible if he gets it in too early and it gets too much rain it could cap the land. Also Barley doesn't like its feet in water and will rot, so may be a possibility with some of the other seeds mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenBhoy Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 We finished last of our hedge cutting yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShropshireSam Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 You have to remember it is still winter! Still had a sweat on yesterday clearing rides on the shoot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 A hell of a lot of land that I shoot is still stubble. No doubt the farmers will get around them over the next month or so. I am looking forward to when they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 I saw three hedge cutters on my trip to Linconshire today and one working on the estate when I got there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timerider Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 I had a trip up to one of my farms today, and they had just started putting the beans in 😀. it`s a good few weeks earlier this year than last, due to the good weather we`ve been having. The farmer said the whole lot will be in and disc rolled in 3 days, so i`ll be back up on Friday, and hopefully will get some decent shooting at last (fingers crossed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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