The clocks have wound back and the nights are drawing in but the farm is still busy as we prepare for the long winter ahead. So share our journey with us and discover our ‘farming life’ as we take 5 on the farm this autumn…
#1 The Isle of Wight Gilten Market
While our main focus on the farm is usually the sheep, this time of year, we start gearing up for the one cattle show we participate in. The Isle of Wight Gilten Market is a long-standing winter fair that’s been around for over a century. To get ready, we pick out our show team and begin halter training them, then come the bath times and trimming sessions. This year, we’re entering four cattle along with a pair of lambs. The kids even get involved, showing their own lambs in the Young Farmers class.
*News just in overnight, puts the Isle of Wight in the bluetongue restricted zone. Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges - which can affect: sheep, cattle, other ruminants such as deer and goats, and camelids such as llamas and alpacas. The restriction imposes a limitation on animal movements, meaning we can only move the animals within restricted zones. This year the Gilten Market takes place in Salisbury, whilst our new community building takes shape at the County Show Ground. Salisbury is currently in a clean zone, so as of this morning, it may be that it cannot take place, unless Salisbury fall into the zone too. Time will tell......
#2 Mums to be
After getting some great news from our cattle pregnancy scans, we’ve had the technician come by to check our early-lambing flock of ewes. Looks like our new Jacob ram was a bit slow to start, but we still have about 30 ewes confirmed to lamb in January. The Rams are back at work now with our main April-lambing flock. Their timing is set so that “tupping” aligns with Bonfire Night, leading to April Fool’s Day lambs!
#3 Budget news
Even though most of our farm is tenanted, the newly proposed “farm tax” could impact us in the future. Historically, many farms and estates were broken up and sold off to cover death duties or inheritance taxes. Agricultural property relief was introduced to help secure the future of these lands for both owners and tenants. Farming is a long game, and stability is key if we’re serious about maintaining UK food security.
#4 Award season
There was a really proud moment for our family this week as Matt was presented with the Outram Award by the NFU for his outstanding contribution to agriculture here on the Island over the years. This award acknowledged his work with many groups including the IW Young Farmers, the Royal Isle of Wight County Show, the Island Sheepdog Trials, NFU Mutual Isle of Wight, the IW Grand National and Ashey scurry and, of course, the Gilten Market - phew! It’s a wonder we ever see him at all!
#5 Break in the rain
Thankfully, a break in the rainy weather has allowed us to put livestock back on some fields that got too wet earlier. Meanwhile, our neighbours have been working around the clock to get the arable land planted for next summer’s harvest.
Fingers crossed for a good season ahead.