So ... October begins, which means we are now officially in Autumn. Talking to a local farmer this morning (as yet another weather front moved swiftly in) we found it almost hard to believe that we are three quarters of the way through this strange weather year.
This afternoon, sitting listening to the rain lash the windows, I was trying to sort out my photograph files and came across a day in last monthI had forgotten about and an important part of the farming cycle or should I say recycling of farmyard waste.
Yes, I am back to something I've mentioned before, bovine bedding left over from winter has been piled up gently composting in all weathers and over the last month, those with cattle have been out with the muck spreaders. The well rotted manure is scattered over the land, encouraging lush grass growth for the coming year.
The combination of man and machinery ensures that (in this case) the sheep grazing next year will be much improved. This particular set of fields is grazed by sheep only, the manure having been laid down by the home farm from some miles away. For those that breed both cattle and sheep, it is an added bonus. Sadly due to B.S.E & T.B fewer local farmers rear cattle on their farms.
But for those rearing both there are some advantages, such as manure enriched pasture and sights such as these lush green fields. But, having written that, I suppose that for the "sheep only" farmers there is the lack of the restrictions of constant T.B testing. However this years problems with Schmallengurg virus, which seemed to have missed Wales, has just been confirmed in Ceredigion. So far (fingers crossed) in our area there are no signs of this virus that effects cattle, sheep and goats. Not many goats around here! This midge born virus presents itself in the newborns of the above species, causing all sorts of deformities, so we will now have to wait until the next lambing and calving to see if our area has been infected. Hopefully, we will escape the problems this virus causes. Meanwhile as I took these photographs last month, the mad mutt was looking at me as if to say ...
"What are you photographing this time?"
"Well, sorry dog ... but you should be used to my eccentricities by now!"
But on that particular day we witnessed one of the few of this years lovely sunsets.
There's an old Yorkshire saying "Where there's muck, there's brass." Well here I would say ... "Where there's muck, there's better grass!"
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