Spring Newsletter
The latest news from Chaldean - In this issue, as well as our Estate article, we have an update on the Helping Herts charity campaign.
The latest news from Chaldean - In this issue, as well as our Estate article, we have an update on the Helping Herts charity campaign.
Another very different and in ways difficult spring. We had two lots of rain in April, fortunately for us totalling 38mm and nothing since. Many other farms in East Anglia have had far less than that. Crops are now drought stressed and the ground is starting to crack.
Our crops came out of the winter looking good and our spring barley and oats went into good seedbeds. The lack of consistent rain is forcing crops through their growth stages faster and if this continues then yields will be impacted as we move into grain fill. A positive from the dry weather is much less pressure from fungal disease.
This year to try and combat significant grass weed problems we have used extended winter stubbles, where we leave the land fallow for 12 months. This encourages everything in the soil to grow, especially grass weeds – blackgrass and brome. They can then be sprayed off to give control, however they don’t disappear completely giving cover for small mammals and birds.
In addition, we are growing a larger area of winter beans as a break crop. As a broad-leaved crop, we can used different chemicals to suppress grass weeds and being legumes, they will fix some nitrogen in the soil. Come the autumn the bean stubble usually has a friable soil underneath which allows for direct drilling and no cultivations. Moving soil less is beneficial for soil health and of course helps us save costs.
Currently cereal prices are very subdued and government support has been withdrawn to new applications for Stewardship and SFI. In both cases we hope that things will change. At current levels the prices do not cover the cost of production, so we will be losing money on our production. At a time of increasing concern about food security it feels as if we are in a very strange place where food production isn’t valued.
C-Logs gets quieter at this time of year naturally. However, production doesn’t stop and we continue processing to ensure we have adequate stocks drying to 20% moisture for delivery.
HoundBeam Dog Chews use the smaller timber to create natural hornbeam dog chews. Please visit houndbeam.com to see what is available. Order online for home delivery. As with our firewood, these are taken from hornbeam trees on the estate.
Our third vineyard was planted over the Mayday bank holiday, and they are already starting to come into leaf. The plants include Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as we have these elsewhere but also Sauvignon, and a small number of Gamay Noir and Cabernet Franc. It will be some 4 years before there are any meaningful bunches to pick. This takes our total area under vines to 38 acres.
Despite the dry weather the vines look in good heart. They will have their roots down to the chalk and be pulling water up through capillary action through the rock.
Due to the increasing cost of labour, we are increasingly having to consider mechanisation of operations. This year we will acquire a front mounted tool bar to allow for trimming, leaf removal, stem brushing and potentially pruning. We are also investing in a new sprayer which will have the capacity to catch and recirculate any over spray, saving us cost and preventing chemical wastage. In addition, it will spray 2 rows at a time meaning less travel through the vineyard.
The next step will be consideration of mechanical harvesting, yet to be fully understood.
As we move into summer we will be preparing for harvest on the farm. Hopefully we will have something to harvest, although that is in the hands of the weather. Stores will be cleaned and prepared with our contractors, Gilston Crop Management. We farm as part of a wider consortium, where our acreage is about 40% of a wider operation, again allowing us to spread significant capital equipment costs over as large an area as possible.
The vineyards will be tended and managed to hopefully give as many high-quality grapes as possible.
Due to the significant pressure on farm incomes, we will be looking at alternative sources of income. Indeed, we are being actively told to do so by DEFRA and wider government. That is likely to include development of assets away from food production. Obvious areas to consider are energy generation, using the sun for power rather than food. While these are likely to be unpopular to some, they are going to be essential as we move towards net zero targets and away from a reliance on oil.
Gordon Morrison and Jim Tatchell, who are the co-founders of Helping Herts, once again successfully completed a 156-mile Hertfordshire Way charity walk and raised over £35,000. They walked a half marathon every single day for 12 days through the Hertfordshire countryside to raise money for 12 incredible local charities that Helping Herts partner with; from mental health mentoring and specialist playgroups to inclusive arts and youth support services.
Jim & Gordon started off from Bishop’s Stortford on 12th May and completed the last loop from Codicote on 24th May. In-between they also walked loops from Newgate Street, Royston, Chipperfield, Shenley, Hertford, Kings Langley, Stanstead Abbotts, Sandridge, Great Gaddesdon and Kimpton.
They were expertly guided by The Friends of the Hertfordshire Way and joined by a number of high-profile people on different sections of their walk including Lord Salisbury, Nicholas Buxton - the High Sheriff, Annie Brewster, Suzie Harvey - Deputy Lieutenant, and the Mayors of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford, Dacorum and St. Albans, as well as individuals from each of the 12 charities that Helping Herts supports, local business teams, volunteers and even some four-legged friends! (two of which are pictured).
Following on from this will be The Great Big Walk for Herts on Saturday 27th September. If you are interested in joining this or any other of the events please visit the website www.helpingherts.com