View From the Farmers Side

[sandersj89]

A dry morning…..well sort of, squally misty showers blowing through every

now and then, very windy from the west.

 

Being Sunday then it must be a day of rest…..well sort off, usual first rounds around the stock, very pleased with the sheeps feet, the ram in particular has made good progress, another session required but he is walking well as are his ladies. An hours work tomorrow or the next day and that will see them though for a few weeks.

 

Load of wheat straw needed, and good chance to clear a corner of a field of bales, the kids were running around wanting me to make a castle but that will have to wait:

 

 

I then took the chance of trying the decoys again, I had watched a good number of rooks on some oat stubble so set up a hide:

 

 

And sat back and waited, not a bad view to sit and absorb:

 

 

Had 2 hours and to begin with I could not hit a barn door, changed the layout inside the hide so I stood rather than sitting for shots and started to connect, the strong wind made for good testing shots and managed just over 20 blackies and a few pigeon, very enjoyable.

 

The decoys also brought in this little lady:

 

 

Female sparrow hawke, she swooped over the decoys and sat in an ash tree to my right eyeing them for a few minutes.

 

Back to the house for lunch and the kids helped me finish some pheasant feeders, these are a budget special. Black bins with spiral feeders in the bottom and three legs, each cost not more than £10 but they are not as large the big blue barrels so often used. Ideal though for feeders on cover strips. We can only shoot on about 100acres as the majority of the farm has shooting rights retained by the Courtenay Estate even though we own the land, they revert to us but not before I am pushing up the daisies I am afraid, these feeders will be for wild birds which will be walked up.

 

 

 

 

After lunch it was down to the “wave†pool at Torquay with the kids so they could try and drown me!

 

Wind dropping now at 10pm, at long last, still too strong to go for a mooch with the rifle, might do an early morning tomorrow. Weather for tomorrow still not looking great either!

 

Jerry

[sandersj89]

How not to go about asking for shooting permission……

 

Saturday morning was wet as I have said before and I was not expecting the door bell to ring but it did and I answered to door to find a young chap, early 20’s standing there and his mate trying to execute a 3 point turn in the yard in a “souped†Hyundai, revving the guts out of it and very noisy.

 

He then launched into a speel calling me his mate numerous times during which he did not give me a chance to speak, (not a great start) ask me my name, (not good) or ask even if I would think about letting him shoot, he constantly said him and his mate were great shots with lots of experience and it seemed like it was their right to say they could shoot on out ground, not a great start sliding towards an awful one)

 

When they announced they had “already†driven up over the farm road and seen rabbits and pigeons, the pigeons hitting the hay stubble……eh? Hay stubble? I was less than pleased.

 

When I asked what they wanted to shoot he said rabbits, I said there are a few about but they have myxi, he then said he meant pigeons and had some decoys in the car.

 

I asked if they had insurance…..reply was no, cant see the point. (Wrong answer)

 

At this point his mate had managed to negotiate the yard and pulled up beside me and leant out the window smiling and shouting, “We on them mate?†(He did not help)

 

My reply was……..NO!

 

I then spent a good 10 mins explaining that if they wanted to shoot on some ones property they should first learn to ask correctly, not drive around private property with out permissions and treat the land owner with a little respect. A bit more than basic knowledge of farming and crops might help as well as some basic insurance as offered by BASC or NGO.

 

They got a little shirty at this and seemed to think they ha not done anything wrong……until I pointed out the ewes happily walking down the lane where they had left a gate open.

 

At this point I lost it and told them to leg it before I lost my rag.

 

So, if you want to get some shooting, and I am sure I am preaching to the converted here, do a little home work, ask nicely, know what you are talking about, show you are responsible and don’t expect it to fall into your lap, good things come to those who wait.

 

Jerry

[roadkill]

nice write up

 

Tomorrow I will be posting about some one coming door knocking for shooting on the farm and how not to go about it!)

 

so tell us more

[sandersj89]

nice write up

 

Tomorrow I will be posting about some one coming door knocking for shooting on the farm and how not to go about it!)

 

so tell us more

 

I think I just did!

 

 

Though I suspect our posts crossed in the ether!

[Browning GTS]

I notice you mention a caravan site is this run by you parents? If so. Being one of Mr Clarksons favorites my self have you any details please.

 

Yes, we run a small 5 van site affiliated to the Caravan Club of Great Britain.

 

If you want details we have a web site but dont think I am allowed to post it here in the open forum, anyone want details pm me and I will send you details.

 

Jerry

(Note, the reason for my thread here is not to drum up business for the site I assure everyone, just to educate/inform and hopefully give an enjoyable read. Tomorrow I will be posting about some one coming door knocking for shooting on the farm and how not to go about it!)

 

Cheers pm on its way

[Marine1980]

Jerry,

 

Its a bit cheeky, and dont worry im not after land to shoot on as such but, Ive been shooting clays for about 4 years and trying to shoot pigeons for about 9mths. Ive already got land of my own to shoot but would be greatful if somebody could give me a bit of guidance on positioning on decoys and things like that on the ground rather than reading from a book or magazine. Dont get me wrong i get my fare share of pigeon, but i thing a lot of it is down to luck rather than good field craft. If your shooting again in the near future is there anyway i can tag along with you with or without my gun just for some guidance. Just for your piece of mind iam insured have shooting permission with clinton estates and ive been in the armed forces for 8 years. (oh and i dont drive a Hyundai)

 

Regards Lee

[sandersj89]

Jerry,

 

Its a bit cheeky, and dont worry im not after land to shoot on as such but, Ive been shooting clays for about 4 years and trying to shoot pigeons for about 9mths. Ive already got land of my own to shoot but would be greatful if somebody could give me a bit of guidance on positioning on decoys and things like that on the ground rather than reading from a book or magazine. Dont get me wrong i get my fare share of pigeon, but i thing a lot of it is down to luck rather than good field craft. If your shooting again in the near future is there anyway i can tag along with you with or without my gun just for some guidance. Just for your piece of mind iam insured have shooting permission with clinton estates and ive been in the armed forces for 8 years. (oh and i dont drive a Hyundai)

 

Regards Lee

 

Lee, if I do get time I will give you a shout, though the weather at the moment is not helping, raining buckets here right now and I am inside trying to sort out yet another tractor puncture, though now a rear tyre...

 

Jerry

[Axe]

I bet they didnt bargain on you being a fellow shooter and knowing what your on about, unlike seem. Keep it up Jerry, this is a great write up.

[chunk]

Nice land Jerry, and i know business is business and all that,but it must be annoying having all that land, and the shooting rights retained by someone else.

[Chard]

What a great read. I was brought up on a farm, so it brings back a few memories. We weren't farmers, we just used to rent half the farmhouse, but it was a great place for us kids to grow up, and the country thing never leaves you

[tulkyuk]

well done yet again Jerry - can i come and shoot stuff on yer land mister

[Browning GTS]

I forgot to ask Jerry are dogs welcome please ? As i could not see details on the site

[sandersj89]

I forgot to ask Jerry are dogs welcome please ? As i could not see details on the site

 

Yes, not a problem and plenty of county walks for them. we just ask they are under control if any stock around.

 

Jerry

[sandersj89]

Rain and Punctures

 

Had enough of both now!

 

7am and things are clear, little wind and looks ok, 7.30 and it is bucketing it down and down and down. Just over 40mm of rain today resulting in flooding, sodden fields and washed ground where the pipeline is going through:

 

Stream across the lane:

 

Lane:

 

Pipeline washing and clogging the stream with sand:

 

They were not meant to have travelled on the bare ground recently but they have and it has washed resulting in soil/slit clogging land drains and streams, another good hour spent on the phone to agents/contractors moaning and asking them to sort it.

 

Bank field starting to wash…again:

 

And then to cap it mid morning I get another puncture, this time a rear wheel so a call to the tyre place to arrange a visit to sort, cant make it till the pm but that is fine as the ground is now soaked, far to wet to travel on it with machinery so call a halt to everything going on and give up for the day.

 

 

Just as well as I managed to drop my mobile in a puddle and needed to get to a shop to replace it, 45 mins on the phone there to sort out the insurance but up and running again.

 

Call it quits for the day and take the family to Crealy Park for a few hours, most of it under cover so thank god for that! In all a good afternoon and the kids had a ball.

 

Baby sitter arrange for the evening and Debs and I out to the Diggers Rest at Woodbury Salterton for a great meal.

 

Great sunset on the way and dry since 6pm so fingers crossed we might get a bit of decent weather tomorrow, straw still far too wet to move but need to get the sheep in again to check feet.

 

The joys of a British summer!

 

Jerry

[Stealth Stalker]

Great read Jerry

 

As you know the Mrs & I were down for a nice long weekend staying along the road from the Chag Agg show, shame we missed it judging from the pics it looks like the weather held up, as for our nice little summer break, we've had better weather there in February, Sunday being the only day we didn't get sodden.

 

I feel sorry for the people that rely on the tourism trade in this country Mind you we went in to the famous hardware store in Chagford for some stick ferrules & I came out £320 lighter after the Mrs spotted a nice new Barbour & leather wellies

 

SS

[davo]

This is good stuff, keep it up, great reading...

[peter-peter]

As some of you know I am from farming background and at present forsaking my desk job for a 2 week break to allow my parents to get away as it is so hard as a farmer to take a holiday.

 

We often do this and my wife and kids love it, a change is as good as a break and I really enjoy running the place for a while, one of the reasons we will be moving back to Devon next year, we can be nearer the farm and I will be taking an active part in running it so dad can slip into retirement...yeah right!

 

So, this is a little diary of my activities and will run for a week or so until I have to head back to Sussex for my desk....

 

Saturday 11th Aug

 

Ubp early to see mum and dad of at 6.20 so they can get away to the ferry in good time, we arrived down in Devon at 10pm the night before so kids crabby to say the least.

 

Great morning, blue skies but chilly and no wind, lots of dew and mist in the valley bottoms. Dad briefed me last night on the jobs to do and the main priority needed is to run the combine/baler to finish off the harvest, about 40 acres of oats, 60 of wheat and some 30 of barley that is looking horrid. Nothing laid though so that will help. Wheat coming off at 12% so drying is not going to be a huge issue.

 

Other than that is it keep an eye on the sheep, hopefully it will be routine maintenance on their feet and watch for fly strike. The rams have done their business just about and are due a rest. Finally there is some mowing to be done on field margins and set aside, the oldest tractor is on mowing duty and she is always a bit temperamental, don’t stop her when she is warm as she wont start again until cooled down.

 

10:30 and out to grease the combine, approx 20 grease points and then check the belts, chains, knives, etc. Horrid job if it has been working in barley, makes you itch all over, bit last field was wheat so not too bad. Fueled up and then a walk through the crop to see how it is and do a quick moisture check. Needs 30 mins of sun so arranged for the baler to be greased.

 

Just after 11.30 combine on the go and I move trailers out for grain dumps. I then leave them to it for a bit while I run Debs into town to do a food shop. Back for early lunch and then spell the combine driver whilst he has his. Running a treat and coming off dry.

 

Hand back to the driver and I then do a spell on the baler, boring compared to the combine, also get a crik in you neck from looking over your shoulder all the time.

 

Back to the house for a break at 6.30 and find Debs firing up the barbeque for the kids and ours supper. Great! See the kids into bed and then watch the weather and then back out to the baler. Lights on all round and try and knock off as much as I can before the dew drops.

 

Good day, no mechanical problems and great weather.

 

Sunday 12th

 

Up early again, no lie in for the wicked though a little stiff from yesterdays work. Chap turned up at 7.30 for some pigeon decoying and he was soon getting a few shots.

 

Morning was grey and slightly damp from a heavy due so no chance of running the combine any time soon this morning. Need to try and crack on with the last of the wheat as the combine wants to move to another farm before coming back to finish off the barley that is a good 10 days away yet.

 

Combine driver turns up at 10am and starts he pre flight checks and fuels up. Worried about one of the main belts, it is a hydrostatic belt that is tapered and they do wear out from time to time, looks a little frayed around the edges and you get a whiff of burning rubber from time to time.

 

Good breeze if cloudy and we fire up the combine at 11am and move into a new field. Run on 150 yards and check the sample and what grain is going out over the back, not too bad but a bit of chaff in there so increase the wind (airflow) over the sieves to blow it out the back, balancing act as too much wind and the grain blows out with the chaff.

 

11.30am and it is raining!!!! Well a bit of drizzle for 5 mins. Not enough to halt proceedings so we crack on.

 

I run back to the farm to fetch the baler and start to follow on the combine, rounds again, we have enough squares and this lot is due to be sold. All going well until I pick up a stray rod some kind soul has thrown over the hedge from the road!!! Lucky the combine did not pick it up as that would have been big bucks but as it is the bailer is out of action until tomorrow when I can get the parts to fix it.

 

Oh well, that gives me time to put the topper on the tractor and mow some of the field margins, the weeds have got up too much and need sorting, both Benjamin and Belinda join me from a bit in the cab, one at a time, both enjoy steering the tractor and Belinda makes a good attempt at flattening a stretch of fence, luckily we missed!!!

 

2pm we take the kids out to the Butterfly farm at Buckfastliegh, amazing creatures, the colours are great. Spent a great hour wandering around the large greenhouse they are housed in and then moved outside to the Otter Sanctuary. I love otters and would love one as a pet! Not to be of course.

 

Feeding time was a laugh and great afternoon out!

 

Back home to check the sheep, all seem fine though need to look at a few feet as some a tad lame. Will try and get them sorted tomorrow.

 

Forecast fair for Monday, rest of week is looking a bit iffy so would be great to finish the wheat and get the straw baled. If it stays dry longer we can start moving the bales back to the yard or stack it in the field ready for lorries to take it away.

 

Monday 13th August

 

Phone wakes me at 6am, the field engineer is on his way to fix the baler, look out the window and bit grey but breezy so the dew has not settled, good.

 

Forecast is OK so fingers crossed we will clear the last of the wheat today and that will be it until the 40 acres of spring barely is ready in 10 days or so.

 

Baler is soon fixed and combine greased and ready for the off but grey skies and no sun to dry of the ears, start delayed until 12.

 

Get a call from the straw dealer asking if we can switch to square high density bales, he wants 150. So the now fixed round baler is unhitched and the square baler is hooked up and needs new string drums. 15 mins of fiddling and it is ready for the off, fingers crossed no more stray iron lurking in the field. I can see why the big silage boys have metal detectors fitted to their expensive kit.

 

Things run smoothly and by 4 the combine is clear and done, no hic ups. Baler is running well and finished behind the combine at about 7pm, so that is the major part of the harvest done and dusted. Still need to stack the bales up but that can be done in any weather and that is not looking so bright for the next few days.

 

Watched pigeons hitting next doors rape hard, sorted out the flight line they are using over some of our wheat stubble so hopefully will have some time for a decoying session in the next day or two now I have a bit more time. Take the kids up to the field and make a start at building a hide, would be nice to have some pigeon breast for the barbeque later in the week.

 

Got to do some sheep chiropody at some point though, a couple need doing in the next day or two. The ewe lambs in the orchard are enjoying the first wind fall apples, fighting over them as they hear the thud of one hitting the deck, need to pick the next lot of plums and gauges for the freezer.

 

Join the kids for tea and find out they and Debs have been around the caravan site selling excess runner beans to the campers, £4.50 into the kids piggy banks! Well done them. They have also taken 15 assorted courgettes down to the local Chinese restaurant in the next door village, will settle up when we go for a meal at the weekend. Only just opened but very smart by all accounts, if food is as good as décor we will be in for a treat.

 

After tea take the kids up to the top of the farm by the badger set to scatter some peanuts, hope to lure them out one evening so the kids can watch them, fingers crossed I might get a picture or two.

 

Here are some pics,

 

Tractors for Paul, sorry nothing blue.

 

Green:

 

 

Red:

 

 

Green again, this is our old girl that stays around the yard most of the time, old and rather tired but never misses a beat, might do a project on her one day!

 

 

The last of the wheat to come in:

 

 

Combine ready for the off:

 

 

Oat straw all safely baled:

 

 

More to follow if anyone is interested.

 

Jerry

How times change the work you got through in 2 days would have taken 3 months in the 50's

we ploughed with a single furrow plough behind a massive shire or clydsdale,

started milking 60 cows at 4 30 behind the plough about 9. tea break in the field. milking again at 4.00

and back on the plough till it was too dark to see.

wheat was cut with a 6 ft blade horse mower sheafed loaded onto a cart and put under a shed until the thresher arrived

then the sheaf's where thrown up to the man on top who cut the bands and dropped the corn in.

it was a 5 man job.

hay was made cutting the grass, leaving a couple of days then, tossing with a fork to let the wind in.

1 more day then raked into windrows,

day after manual rake behind old dobbin. into large piles to be forked onto the cart.

back to the dutch barn lift the roof and fork up to the top of the stack.

when hay making we used to start at 4 am and finish around 11.pm if we where lucky.

THE GOOD OLD DAY'S (WHAT A LOAD OF ****) but we still enjoyed it.

waitng with the gun for the last triangle to be cut to bag bunny dinner for the day after.

memories.

[sandersj89]

Blimey a dry morning!

 

Up and out early, 6.30am and I start the tractor to get on with mowing some sprayed off grass land ready for the plough in the next few weeks, field is just over 18 acres so a fair bit of tractor work with a small 10’ brush cutter, steep old field in places so have to watch it.

 

 

Funny enough though I do enjoy tractor work like this, there is something very satisfying about working systematically across a field doing a good job. The only exception is rolling winter corn in the early spring, crawling along at a snails pace gets very boring after a few hours even with a radio in the cab!

 

Back to the house for breakfast and then check the stock, going to have to delay the sheep work until tomorrow but forecast is fair so they should be dry by then. Cattle look good and enjoying the bonus if late summer green grass.

 

On the phone for a bit, one of the tenants in one of the farm cottages has handed in their notice, sort things out with the letting agent and sort out leaving dates with the tenants, they have been here just over a year but decided to get back on the property ladder, will be a shame to see them go as they have been good visitors. Prospective tenants already booked to come and see the place and by 12 it is let again with a 2 week break, good.

 

Lunch and a contract sprayer turns up to spray the spring barley a share farmer is growing on some of our ground, it needs a desiccant applied to help ripen it as still very green in places and he used his own seed and it look s a bit of a mess to be honest, glad it is not my barley as the sample or yield is not going to be great.

 

Great bit of kit though, shame I forgot my camera so could only catch him once he got well over the fields:

 

 

I then call it a day and take the family out for the late afternoon for a few hours and drive up onto Dartmoor, home for supper, check the caravans and stock before heading out for a 20 min walk with the HMR, 5 bunnies in the bag, nice calm and warm evening….oh and it is still dry!!!

 

Jerry

[sandersj89]

Great read Jerry B)

 

Mind you we went in to the famous hardware store in Chagford for some stick ferrules & I came out £320 lighter after the Mrs spotted a nice new Barbour & leather wellies

 

SS

 

Thanks SS

 

I love Chagford for the pub up by the church and those 2 shops, you can buy anything there!

 

Jerry

[sandersj89]

peter_peter

 

You are showing your age!

 

B)

 

Jerry

[LEFTY478]

Jerry, your post/thread is truely brilliant, I've loved reading about the farm and life of a farmer (it's a million miles away from my upbringing in a 3rd floor flat, on a West London council estate). But boy, are you putting in the hours! and still seem to find time for the family?

 

Your taking time off work so that your old folks can take a break? Mum & Dad should be very proud of themselves, as they've obviously raised a top son. You'll go back to work knackered, but I expect, very happy.

 

Please keep the posts coming, it's like PW's very own series of the Archer's. B)

[sandersj89]

Jerry, your post/thread is truely brilliant, I've loved reading about the farm and life of a farmer (it's a million miles away from my upbringing in a 3rd floor flat, on a West London council estate). But boy, are you putting in the hours! and still seem to find time for the family?

 

Your taking time off work so that your old folks can take a break? Mum & Dad should be very proud of themselves, as they've obviously raised a top son. You'll go back to work knackered, but I expect, very happy.

 

Please keep the posts coming, it's like PW's very own series of the Archer's. B)

 

I hasten to add I look nothing like Ed Grundy and dont sound like him either!

 

Thanks Lefty

 

The kids love it here as they get to ride around in tractors or the pickup all the time, they also love helping with the stock.

 

The eldest, 10 years old, is well on his way with learning to drive, he is happy taking the pickup around a field now though I have not let him loose on his own just yet, the youngest, 5 years old, is still happy sat on my lap steering though the presure is one to let me let her drive properly, dont think she will reach the pedals just yet though.

 

Only one more full day down here now, big shame, but I have to get back to my paid work soon.

 

Jerry

(One big bonus is the shooting, just back from a mooch with the lamp, another 3 rabbits in the bag with the HMR, only problem is I laid down for one shot and put my knee into a lovely ripe cowpat!)

[BSA Shaun]

THis post really makes me regret my choice of career in a way, got a really well paid job and a lovely house in the country now, but have always wanted to get into farming since growing up, practically, on a mates farm.

 

How the regret is seeping in having read this. Would love to have come down there and given you a hand, sounds like hard work but the kind of hard work I would enjoy.

 

B)

[peter-peter]

peter_peter

 

You are showing your age!

 

 

Jerry

Y know what jerry my age is showing, B)

[sandersj89]

Well this will be the final stage of this saga as today was the final full day on the farm, for the rest of the week we go on the second stage of out break, this time with the in-laws and sailing around the solent for a few days then it is back normal life after the bank holiday.

 

And at last a decent summers days, a great drying day as warm, sunny and a strong westerly breeze blowing so the ground has started to dry out well.

 

Up early again and 6.30 and I am running the tractor/brush cutter again and knock off a few acres before breakfast with the kids, even managed to have it out on the patio for a change!!!

 

Back out on the tractor for a couple of hours and my sister and law and kids come for lunch. The kids have a ball playing and then they all help me get in two lots of sheep to work on their feet again.

 

This time breezed through them as the work I did last week has paid off and they are in fine form now, only took 90 mins to go through them no signs of fly strike now, good job done.

 

But why do rams have to stink so much? I am reliably informed by Debbie that I stunk like a rancid goat once finished with the sheep! Charming!

 

As nearly all the caravaners are out for the day take the chance to mow the orchard they use with the ride on mower, takes just over an hour but makes the place look so nice and trim.

 

Call it a day and take my little one out on her bike for the first time with out stabilisers, she does very well and it wont be long before she cracks it.

 

Early shower and then take the family out to a little Italian restaurant at Topsham for a meal, always a real hit with the kids and the Italian owners wife is a real hoot with the kids, making a fuss over them and acting like a real Italian mama.

 

Great evening and nice end to the stay.

 

Once the kids are settled I head out for one last trip with the rifle, not an ideal night as half moon, no cloud cover and still a stiff breeze, but it turns into a red letter evening. I swap the lamp filter for a red one and make my way to the first field. In all I walk just 3 fields in 90 mins and come home with 10 rabbits for 11 shots. It should have been 11 for 11 but I could not find one no matter how hard I looked, it was a stubble field so may find it in the morning. The HMR did not miss a beat and a red filter certainly seemed best tonight.

 

Tomorrow morning it is finish a bit of mowing, about 2 acres to complete, check the stock one last time and then pack up the car and then head of after lunch. It is always sad to leave the farm but this time next year we should be down in Devon permanently if things work out as planned.

 

Hope you have enjoyed this diary of sorts and it has proved interesting.

 

Many thanks for the comments along the way.

 

Jerry