sweeping the yard

We had a little rain this week, not as much as we'd like, but enough to make it easier to sweep the yard. The brush attachment fits to the front of the teleporter and sweeps and collects in one pass. So much easier than a broom and shovel.

Last week the contractors spread fertiliser on the oilseed rape and some of the wheat. The soil is regularly analysed so that the correct fertiliser can be applied and some fields this year needed Muriate of Potash, which we haven't needed to apply for more than fifteen years. Potash is important because it helps the plant to grow and produce seeds and also to protect itself against drought. During the short spell of warm, dry weather last week we also sprayed the oilseed rape with a fungicide for tight leaf spot.

Improving gateways

This week we've been

spraying crops and spreading fertiliser

improving the gateways to the grass paddocks as they get very wet and muddy in the winter where the horses go through

moving scarecrows and bangers around and put up another artificial hawk in an effort to deter the pigeons, which are still feeding on the oilseed rape crop.

enjoying the sunshine but ...

hoping for some rain as it would be good for the crops. 

Fertiliser Spreading

The contractors have been spreading fertiliser on the wheat crop in Great Forest over the weekend. Historically, sulphur (which the crop needs for growth) was available in the atmosphere but with reduced emissions of sulphur we now have to apply it together with nitrogen, which boosts plant growth.

The fertiliser is taken down the field so that it is ready to be loaded into the spreader. Each bag holds half a tonne of fertiliser.

When the spreader is empty, the driver pulls up next to the bags, which are lifted in pairs above the spreader.

 The bottom of the bags are cut open so that the fertiliser flows into the spreader.

When all four bags have been emptied into the spreader, the driver resumes spreading.

fertilier applied to the wheat in Great Forest

The small white balls are fertiliser.