May 2009

I am writing this blog mid May endeavouring to remember to update my blog more frequently!

We have had a prolonged period of dry weather really since Easter at Wheatacre, great for my guests not so great for the farm. I am at present having to wear two hats one in my office enjoying the good weather with guests discussing great places to visit and the enjoyment of the coast for fine sunny days and the other hat indoors sympathising with my husband on how badly we need the rain for the crops, in fact desperate for the sugar beet which has been laying

dormant now for a few weeks since drilling. It was never said a farmers wife has an easy life!

The fine weather though has certainly help the huge numbers of baby ducks born this spring. All ponds on the farm have great numbers of ducklings enjoying their swim with mum. For our recent visitors all of the mummy ducks sitting near my office hatched off safely - the duck under the car shelter behind Snipe & Woodcock had 5 ducklings and the one in the old tank near the new plants had 11 ducklings. All soon after hatching waddled off to the ponds. For guests who have stayed in Mallard Barn and others that have seen the Egyptian geese at the farm the goslings which are daily visitors to Mallard are now nearly as big as Mum & Dad!

Hopefully you might just maybe able to see the newly hatched ducklings in this picture!

At the barns we are now heading towards the second bank holiday of the month a very busy one! On the farm the maize has now been drilled, last week the first cut of grass silage (winter forage for the cows) was cut and put into clamps and there is the continuation of crop spraying for weeds and ultimately the lead up to harvest. At the end of the month our first county agricultural show takes place - the Suffolk Show so the cows and calves are now being prepared this entails training to walk on a halter, clipped and washed and beautified all ready for the judges. The show team has been selected and grooming starts a cow beauty pageant! On a serious note the cows are judged for their ability to be as near as perfect for their breed type, but as always this is in the eye of the judge on the day!

Well I must do some other work and remember to blog again soon!