Making Hay While the Sun Shines ☀️

The past couple of weeks have been all about making hay whenever the weather has allowed!

Since moving away from sheep and focusing solely on our suckler herd, we’ve been able to take a different approach to managing our grassland. With more flexibility in our grazing rotations, we’ve been able to set aside additional fields for both hay and silage this year, helping us build up valuable winter forage.

One of the reasons we’ve chosen to make more hay this year is to reduce our plastic use. Unlike silage, hay doesn’t need to be wrapped, making it a more sustainable option where the weather allows us to produce it successfully.

Another benefit of making hay is that the grass is left to mature for a little longer before it’s cut. During this time, some of the seeds naturally fall back onto the ground, helping to improve the pasture for future years. It’s a simple process, but one that can make a real difference to the long-term health and diversity of our grassland.

Although it’s a busy time of year, making good-quality forage now is an important investment for the months ahead. Every bale we bring in will help feed the herd throughout the winter, so there’s always one eye on the future while we’re working in the fields today.