My Farming Week – Hugh John Patton – 14/05/2012

My name is Hugh John Patton and I farm at Wardtown, Kildoney, just outside Ballyshannon. My farm overlooks the scenic Erne estuary. I keep approx. 350 cattle, which includes 150 sucklers and 5 bulls.

I reseeded the main silage fields in September 2011. The seed mix was Tyrella, Portstewart, Navan, Pomessa, Crusader & Barblanca. It involved no ploughing, just spraying and then direct drilled. Slurry was applied immediately after sowing. It was then grazed by sheep in January, rested, then grazed again at the end of February. It is now set aside for silage (See Photograph). I also sowed silage ground during the last week of March, and these are now growing well with the improvement in the weather.

It is noticeable at present that grazed land is very slow coming back. The inclement, cold weather is making for slow growth. I put a bag to the acre of pasture sward on grazing land.

I have been very busy also separating scanned cows, those in calf and those not.

I am still putting out silage to some late calving cows, and cows with very young calves. I have also dehorned and tagged some calves. As you know BVD tagging is optional this year but compulsory next year. I took the decision this year to have all my calves tagged as part of the three year programme.

I have also begun making paddocks using electric fencing.

I have observed that cattle which were let out early are not thriving due to the bad weather and lack of grass growth. Hopefully this will improve.

I have applied for planning permission to build a new silage pit, a slatted house and a specialist shed for cows to calve. I hope to get this work under way very soon. I anticipate a busy year when construction begins.