Vsiting farmers at Allet

It's hard to think that in April last year we were basking in sunshine.  On Friday I visited some dairy  farmers at Allet.  Although milk prices have gone up over the past year by about 8p a litre this is just about compensating for the huge increases in feed, energy and fertilizer costs.  Farming is never easy.  From my days down on a dairy farm I know that.  The milking starts early meaning that most dairy farmers start at about 5.30am and go on until late sometimes working via tractor headlights in the fields in the evenings.  Paper work tends to pile up and get done in odd meal breaks during the day.  I think that many also put off doing this task as it's not always the top priority and let's face it not much fun.  

I had not seen the paperwork and forms used in recent years.  Passports for all the cows, rip out portions if the cow moves anywhere off the farm - even to a neighbouring field. Forms to fill out if they die.  Huge colour manuals on what to do in every eventuality from wildlife to goats, pigs, sheep,cows.  All of this paperwork is costly and since it is constantly being updated most farmers have filing drawers full of information from the Government.

I was interested to hear that the nitrogen free zones (NFZ's) which prevent farmers from spreading slurry during the wet winter months is causing concern.  Many smaller South west farms do not have slurry pits.  This means they usually spread slurry every day.  With the milder climate and longer growing season this has always been the case. Now some are being faced with building slurry pits at a rough cost of £50,000.  There will be no grant aid towards this work.  The NFZ's are not in place everywhere so some will lose out and have to borrow heavily to comply.  No wonder that last year 3 dairy farmers a year quit!