Recent content by exquisitus

Its likely the grass will recover when we get some warmer weather and longer day lengths i.e. early-mid April. Once the field has been topped, allow the weeds a fortnight to regrow, then spray with Pastor, this gives excellent control of thistles, nettles, docks etc. plus all manner of other...

To set the scene, I’m a farmer and have 70 acres of grassland behind my house currently under utilised, the majority is free draining that can support stock all year round. Hacking wise there is a Bridleway running through the middle of the land, giving immediate access to Forestry Commission...

A real variety of prices here, I guess much of the difference is to do with the area and standard of facilities. A little more elaboration may make the thread more helpful to others perhaps?

Apart from a neighbour or passing local who see's you do it, who's to know? Putting the posts in straight and level is the art, I use a Bryce Suma with a hydraulic post cap and can pretty much get them all spot on. If the posts are put in higgidly piggidly then yes it would be a challenge to...

Yes, you should be worried. But as soon as we get a break in the weather every mower and baler will be flat out to compensate. Those with a few acres to do, relying on a contractor or local farmer, may find given the season they struggle to find anyone to make any hay, or if they do the...

If you have it topped with a flail mower, then all the cuttings are shredded into small pieces, give it a week to die down and theres no problem with residues then.

I treat all my fields with Pastor, plus they get topped at least once a year. IME its a false economy to use ineffective sprays that just kill the top growth which looks fine for one season, but doesn't nothing to control the problem. Headland Polo would be my other choice of chemical, but...

Hiring a tractor and post driver is perfectly possible. Generally they will always want to supply an operator, due to the damage that could easily be done. I do quite a bit of contract post driving; Depending on the post driver expect to pay between £30-45/hour. At the top end of that...

Depending on what you've sprayed it with, it may take weeks, even a month or two in some instances e.g. amidosulfuron I usually treat my fields with Pastor, once on top of the weeds, it just needs a little spot spraying each year to keep things tidy. Although Ragwort isn't a label weed for...

What sort of area do you have to cut? If its a catchy hay making season you could end up with the liability of rotting grass in the swath etc... For small areas its unlikely it will be cost effective to use a contractor, unless there extremely generous and/or very local.

If its just Ragwort to control then I would blanket spray the area with Headland Polo. Three quarters of an acre would probably use about £5 worth of chemical... The main cost for a professional will be travelling, setting up, washing out etc. for a small area. I suspect you'd be looking at...

Thank you for the considered responses so far. I guess my main thinking behind the thought of offering private yards rather than individual stables, was firstly a reduction in hassle, yes more eggs in one basket but hopefully less management required. Secondly I hear people often fall out...

Hello, I'm after a little opinion, I'm in the planning stages of setting up an equine diversification. I currently have a wooden stable which has three stables, although this hasn't been used for horses for about 10 years. I'm going to build some more stables, the question is whether to have...