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Hello again everyone, by the time you read this we will be heading into autumn. I’m sure you will all have enjoyed the lovely sunny summer weather. While the warm conditions were a change from some of the summers we have had recently, the lack of rain has made livestock farming very difficult.
Yields of hay and silage were lower than usual, meaning that we wouldn’t have had enough to feed the animals through the winter months. This has been further compounded by the fact that we have had to start feeding the animals in the fields as there is no grass left to graze - our normally green and pleasant land has taken on a somewhat scorched appearance.
Normally we would be able to buy extra forage, but because everyone is in the same boat and no-one has a surplus, there is very little to buy and what is available is very expensive and usually very poor quality. Hopefully we will have had some meaningful rain and we might be experiencing a second spring. If it has stayed dry there will be some serious repercussions next year too. If there is little to eat conception rates will be low, therefore there will be less offspring from the lambing and calving next year. I think it’s what is referred to as a perfect storm.
The good news though, is that the harvesting has been pretty easy, hay was made easily in hot sun and the combines have finished their work weeks ahead of the usual September.
If anyone has a good rain dance I would be interested in learning it!
This summer has been eventful at the shop. We started building an extension in February, this was finished and opened in early August, by the time you read this the café will be open too. It has been very exciting watching all the plans taking shape this year.
The last month of the build was very stressful with lots of upheaval - our customers and staff deserve immense credit for taking all the changes in their stride. Now it is finished it has exceeded all our expectations.
The shop floor area has doubled and we have also added a café.
The feedback from our customers has so far been beyond belief. I know it’s early days but the atmosphere is lovely and its seems to be such a pleasure to be at work.
On a more worrying note the next time I write it will be for the Christmas edition, time seems to fly by.