November Farming Tips

·         November
A late drilled cereal crop is being rolled to consolidate the ground. Rolling provides a good cultural control for slugs which are prevented from moving along the drill lines eating the emerging crop. Slugs can cause significant damage to cereals, especially where the crop follows oilseed rape.

·         Winter wheat receives a herbicide to control broadleaved and other grass weeds. Well established crops naturally compete with weeds and so farmers and agronomists can reduce the rate of applied herbicide significantly so that financial savings can be made.

·         Fertiliser for next years crops is now being delivered. Fertiliser manufacture is energy intensive and so fertiliser costs are closely correlated with the energy market in general. At Dirtyboots we are based just outside Malmesbury and provide comprehensive estate maintenance services throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Our services include grassland and woodland management, fencing and boundary maintenance plus farm contracts to harvest and process your crops. Our range of experience is diverse - from security fencing for carparks, to footpaths and maintaining public areas, airfields and industrial estates.

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October Plans - Autumn Arrives...

October on the Farm

As the weather and days draw in, dairy herds will be housed indoors. This prevents damage to sodden fields and ensures that the stockman can keep a close eye on his stock during the dark winter months. Indoors, dairy cows will live on a diet of conserved fodder (in this case grass silage) and concentrates. Fodder is always available ad-lib

The period between late September and early October is generally regarded as the prime time for drilling winter wheat. By late October the crop should be reasonably well developed having two full leaves.

 Getting oilseed rape off to a good start is critical to avoid pest problems during the winter months - particularly damaging are wood pigeons which can decimate a weak crop. Pigeons will flock in their thousands to feed on a crop of oilseed rape during the winter months, however they do not like mature crops that have large leaves and a well developed canopy. 

Alongside our Estate Maintenance service, we offer a broad range of services available throughout the Cotswolds. We can mend stock fencing or supply and erect new post and rail fencing for horse paddocks; provide year round grassland management - including mowing, fertilising and topping. 

We also offer comprehensive tree and woodland management and can supply excellent quality firewood logs by the load. 

Check out our website here

Walking Right in ...

Hello  and a big welcome to the new Dirty Boots blog.

Based just outside Malmesbury and providing a comprehensive range of Estate Services to the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and beyond, we are a small, friendly and approachable team that you can trust to get the job done.

This blog will contain monthly hints and tips about estate management - so whether you are looking for a maintenance contractor for your airfield, new fencing for your fields or grassland management for your horse pasture, you'll find advice here, and a quote just a phonecall away.

Dirty Tyres..