I can not believe they have bailed that field!

orionstar

orionstar

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 July 2010
Messages
2,537
Location
Newcastle
Visit site
Coming back from work today I passed a field that has been left to it's own devices for 3 years. Last year it was covered in Ragwort, and I mean covered, this year less so, so I can only assume it's been sprayed, but it still had more than enough present for me to think on Monday it was a sad waste of a field when I drove past. Tonight it's all in round bales of Hay! I'm stunned that a cattle farmer would do that, not least as he normally sells a lot of hay on. I've messaged a few people I know who would normally buy it, but I can not believe he would put people's horses at risk like that:mad:
 
have you considered that this could be the most efficient way to remove it for burning? at least it won't be going to seed this year
 
If it had been any other farm I could have considered it being burnt but TBH he would not go to the lengths of baling it if he wasnt using it commercially, sheep is possible, but we have very few sheep farms in the area and those that have sheep, tend to cut their own. He supplies a lot of small holdings with hay which Is why I'm concerned.
 
orionstar said:
If it had been any other farm I could have considered it being burnt but TBH he would not go to the lengths of baling it if he wasnt using it commercially, sheep is possible, but we have very few sheep farms in the area and those that have sheep, tend to cut their own. He supplies a lot of small holdings with hay which Is why I'm concerned.
Click to expand...

Well we have baled ' hay ' and taken it out of the field when we want to dispose of it on a couple of occasions.
 
We have baled a few fields of cr*p for people to clear the field and then have stacked the bales in a corner and they have been left to rot, or they have burned them. Sometimes it is the best way to clear established plants so you can then start a weed control programme.
 
I also know of cattle farmers who are not bothered about it because the cattle are dead long before the ragwort gets them, they happily feed them infested hay.
 
A lot of the farmers round here do it to feed to their cattle. Salisbury plain is riddled in ragwort, just a shame the local prison couldn't be put to good use as a labour force.
 
Dont know whats more upsetting, the hay or the fact that thanks to a bit of googling the field seems to have a big red pen mark around it earmarked for houses. Must be a sign of the new planning regs, so next year the field will be full of houses that no one is buying or can afford!
 
Baling is the handiest way to get the stuff off the field so that they can foster new growth, spray for weeds, etc
 
Which is why i'm cutting mine, baling it and burning it, way too much ragwort. wish there was a way of getting rid of it completely. I've pulled it all in the paddock that the horses are in, but it's such a disease. I wish you could spray for it like you do doc leafs, but understand why you cant. didnt realise shhep can eat them, might actually get some money for mine so!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top