Recent rain is very welcome ,on the whole. Spring sown barley was showing signs of stress from drying winds and weedkiller application. Within days it looks a different and thriving crop once again. Fertiliser on grassland is being utilised better also.The main crop potatoes, though not yet emerged in the drill will benefit also as they had been planted in very dry conditions and the rain will not only replenish soil moisture levels , but also help flush a weed germination in readiness for spraying.
One "family" not very pleased with reduced temperatures and wetter conditions are the blue tits and 8 newly hatched chicks in the nest box with tv camera linked to the education room . We will have many happy smiling faces on our visitors in the coming weeks im sure.Once you begin to watch the chicks feed it is very difficult to remember there is work to be done on the farm!
The main task this week is preparation of pigs ready for the show season.