Farmer Tustian writes---

So far this year farming has been very difficult. There has been a nationwide problem with blowfly maggots. I have spent countless hours clipping the wool off ewes to expose the maggots feeding on the flesh. Disinfectant was then applied and the area vigorously rubbed with the fingertips to force the maggots out of the flesh. Some of the ewes had to be almost stripped of their fleece before they were free of them. I think the mild winters must be causing a build up of the blow fly population.

Scald has been another problem affecting the sheep. This is a bacterial infection between the toes which is caused by wet weather. The flesh turns white and the feet become very sore.

Haymaking was six weeks late starting due to the continual wet weather. My first piece of hay lay in the field for over three weeks before it was finally baled at the end of July. From then on it was wonderful haymaking. I had taken my animals out of my hayfields at the end of May so the grass was still young and the cool wet weather helped keep it that way. The weather was lovely and the hay was nearly all green leaf with hardly any stem - a really first class product and plenty of it.

The grain harvest was variable. Oats and barley were good but the wheat was a disaster. This was caused by disease and also by the fact that the previous grass crop although having been sprayed off in the autumn had somehow survived and grown again in the wheat. The resulting yield was only a third of normal.

August brought the foot and mouth disease. This has affected all farmers in the country due to movement restrictions. I was just about to sell some store cattle when the restrictions were imposed. September saw movements relaxed.

I waited a week to see how prices were and again was just on the verge of selling when there was another outbreak and all movement was stopped once more.

The whole of Oxfordshire was designated a high risk area due to the proximity to Surrey, and as I write restrictions are still in place. I have ninety eight cattle and a hundred and thirty sheep and desperately need to sell stock so that I can pay the ever mounting bills.

Things can only get better . . . .

[i] Since this was written in early October, movement restrictions have thankfully been lifted

The view is improving . . .