August's question for our NSA Next Generation Ambassadors were...

I hope to have enough roots around to carry everything, maybe even some surplus for outwintering cows. 

Joe Emmett
Norfolk

We a have been very lucky to have made enough hay / haylage and silage off our ground this year. We will probably sell the surplus

David McMullan
County Antrim

We will be feeding our stock this winter with silage which we are short on bales this year due to the dryness of the summer. We feed concentrates every winter and this year we will have to increase there use as short on fodder. Fodder crops is just used for feeding lambs and cast ewes in the back end. 

Zoey Symington
Shetland

Luckily I was able to get some good early haylage in for the winter. However I did buy in extra hay for feeding through this summer. I was very proactive very early on in the dry spell. The use of extra concentrates will depend on what sort of winter we have I think but hopefully I wont need to use much more than normal.

Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire

The ewes here will be kept on a grass rotation for as long as we can keep grass in front of them. Paddocks are divided up and try and utilise every piece of grass available. Because of the dry summer and lack of growth we have direct drilled red start and appin leafy turnip into some of the paddocks to give it some bulk. Once grass runs out the ewes get silage. 

Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders

Throughout the whole summer I think and plan the winter fodder for my flock of sheep. This year I have made the best quality meadow hay ever of which 200 round bales I will keep for the ewes and 150 square bales I will sell. Just recently I have also bought some bales of pea harm of which I will try and finish some lambs on, as there is not a lot of grass coming. The rest of the pea harm I will feed alongside fodder beat closer to lambing to help cut out the concentrates. Just recently I have been ringing every arable farmer possible to try and get some stubble turnips in as my usual grower is not keen to grow any this year. It s very hard to persuade any farmer to do so and the ground type and field situation is also very important to keep them going through the wet months.  However time is ticking on and for every week the turnips aren’t drilled in August is half the crop they could be. It’s important that my ewes are off the grass for 6-8 weeks before lambing to help rest the permanent pasture and the turnips would allow me to do this, otherwise it could be a long winter!

Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire

Forage stocks for next year are lower than desired following a clear out of forage last winter but we are hoping for another cut before the end of September to correct the deficit. We are also looking to reduce over all use of concentrates on the farm we have planted turnips, forage rape and red clover lay for the lambs as well as forage rye to be sown for the suckler cows. Fingers crossed all goes as planned!

Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion

All the ewes here are overwintered outdoors feeding a little bit of beet cake. I expect they’ll require a bit more than last year, but I don’t expect it to be significant. All lambs should be sold as stores over August/early-September and ewes onto fresh grazing allowing time for the rest of the grass to freshen up.

Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire

Thankfully we got the chance to make hay early on with the grass that grew between April and June. We will have to use more concentrate on the fat lambs as with no grass for the last few months we haven’t been able to get them with the right finish on them. We will be using forage crops for running on rams and ewe for shearlings for the following year to sell.

Richard Rossiter
Devon

for preparing ewes it has been difficult we have put tupping buckets out earlier than usual. Thankfully with the rain we have lately the grass has started to grow hopefully will be enough to flush the ewes. Poll Dorset’s have been put to ram in the end of April for 5 weeks. January lambing flock of Suffolk’s/aberblack and poll Dorset’s rams will be going in this week for 3 weeks.

Richard Rossiter
Devon

The winter is going to be very hard with shortage of fodder in the form of hay or silage in particular. For us we feed very little of this to our sheep throughout the winter anyway, but always make just enough incase the snow comes but even then we only have half of what we d have in a normal yr so far !! But we have planted Extra green crop for any later finishing lambs. I think the majority of people will cull exceptionally hard and maybe not keep as many replacements this year. The rain has finally came on the island things are greening up and a lot of fertiliser has been spread trying to get last minute silage crops!

Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man

We are lucky as we should have plenty of silage, I put fertiliser on this year and we got twice as much as last year!

Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire

I'm unable to flush ewes in a normal year because of the poor quality grass, the best I can do is try and get condition back on the plainer ewes. Maybe have to drop some decent quality haulage out. 

Joe Emmett
Norfolk

Ewes are all dagged and bolused if they require a dose. Batches according to body condition score and then flushed. Once again oceans of grass to do this on at the minute. Tups are in with the pedigrees but we will hold lambing back a fortnight with the main crop. Just because we had such a scunner with February lambing last year.

 

David McMullan
County Antrim

For tupping, we are hoping for a late flush of grass but if this doesn't materialise then we will have to purchase High Energy Tubs to flush the ewes on. Again this would be an extra cost! Our tups don’t go to the ewes until the middle to end of November.

Zoey Symington
Shetland

i usually use mineral buckets at tupping time anyway and I think the grass might just come back in time for a good tupping. I am planning on lambing a few weeks later this time to hopefully get better use out of the grass. So moving from a late feb start to a late march lambing will help me to do this.

Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire

We will put the ewes on a grass rotation giving them the best quality feed available moving them often ideally daily, for 10 days before and 10 days after tups go out. The golden 20 days. 

Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders

In a normal year I don’t struggle achieving a decent lambing percentage at tupping, even when tupping on permanent pasture. Because I’m lambing outside I’m not looking for a high percentage so around 180/190% would please me. Generally with my breed of sheep and the Dallas Keith buckets I use during tupping I should achieve this in November I hope!

Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire

Ewes will be BCS and managed accordingly in the next week or so, as our rams wont be in until the end of October and with conditions as they i think we will have adequate grass to be able to flush the ewes. 

Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion

We don’t lamb here till May, so a little time left yet to see how autumn progresses. I'll put some fields aside to flush on.

Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire

Tups are ready for action it’s been a good summer for sheep seemingly even with very little grass about , they’re in good condition & feet have been sound with the dry weather, we use slow release vit min boluses (we believe ) they seem to keep them looking well with a natural bloom for longer, we always have a good amount of tups incase of injury or illness!

Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man

The tups won't go in till November so hopefully we will have some lambs away by then and the grass will have grown enough to flush on.

Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire

Falling asleep on the sofa with dogs

Joe Emmett
Norfolk

Spending time watching your 1 1/2year old toddler demolish the house always brings a smile to my face haha. A messy house is a happy home.

David McMullan
County Antrim

I usually wind down after a long day with doing something I enjoy, either playing netball or socialising with friends. That’s if I have enough time but very often it’s just home to bed, ready for another day!

Zoey Symington
Shetland

After a long day I like to unwind by telling my fiancee’ all about my day while having a beer or 2.

Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire

I unwind by training a sheepdog but can often wind me up too. 

Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders

The best way to unwind after a long day is to go to the pub with your mates and discuss all the sheep problems you’ve had that day with all of the other sheep farmers in there!  

Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire

I play rugby for my local side Newcastle Emlyn in the Welsh Championship and find that a great way to let off steam after a long day. It also allows me to communicate with human beings rather than just the dogs, sheep and myself! 

Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion

Most evening I spend training dogs.

Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire

Having a nice cold beer chilling out on the sofa in front of the tv. 

Richard Rossiter
Devon

cups of tea , a good home comfort tea like mince & onion pie with mash and Gravy , a sit on the sofa before falling asleep 10mins later 

Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man

Roast lamb, with gravy so thick it won't slide off a spoon

Joe Emmett
Norfolk

I love a good shepherds pie, although I have to say a traditional Irish stew ie made with lamb, is hard to beat.

David McMullan
County Antrim

My favourite lamb dish would have to be lamb chops, I think it’s the best tasting piece of meat and can be cooked in so many different ways!

Zoey Symington
Shetland

My favourite lamb dish is lamb steaks with mash peas carrots snd gravy ( oh and mint sauce).

Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire

I love a lamb roast on a Sunday it’s got to be the best. 

Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders

My favourite would be leg of lamb or lamb cutlets. Maybe not during lambing though!!

Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire

Lamb is such a versatile meat its hard to choose a favorite. Whenever an Indian takeaway is ordered Lamb rogan josh has got to be the go to meal but then its hard to overlook lamb chops and lamb burgers on the BBQ. But i think for me it will have to be a breast of Lamb rolled and stuffed and served with seasonal veg with plenty of gravy!! 

Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion

I like to bone out a shoulder and stuff it with pinenuts and mint then roll it up and roast it - delicious hot or cold!! Also I love crumbed lamb chops.

Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire

My favourite lamb dish is roast leg of lamb nice succulent and tender with mint sauce delightful. 

Richard Rossiter
Devon

A new one I found on holidays in Crete, I loved it ...Greek style crispy rolled lamb breast with feta , mint potatoes & Kos Salad was refreshing and delish.

Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man

Shepherds pie - with extra gravy on top!

Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire

I graze/work with a lot of ground in css agreements, with emphasis on wild flowers, bugs and beetles. No fertilisers or pesticides are used on this land. 

Joe Emmett
Norfolk

We are in a countryside management scheme which allows wild flower meadows to grow on parts that are deemed fit. We do all machinery work as efficiently as possible which will surely reduce our carbon footprint ha

David McMullan
County Antrim

We spread our muck on fields that we are ploughing straight away to try put the goodness back into the ground. It’s on a 7 year rotation so that every field is done! 

Zoey Symington
Shetland

On my farm all the water courses are fenced off to protect any problems of water contamintation. Also ditches are maintained to help with any flooding problems.

Thomas Chapman
Staffordshire

Our waterways and wet areas are fenced off here allowing a place for wildlife to thrive. 

Sion Morgan
Scottish Borders

Every lamb is reared as naturally as possible off grass in a natural environment. They are Cotswold born and bred and forage fed only having to travel 4 miles down the road to Stratford market afterwards !! Most of them drink spring water too !

Rollo Deutsch
Gloucestershire

On the farm we produce all of our lamb off grass which adds to the great flavour which has gained Welsh Lamb it's PGI status. We preserve and maintain all hedges on the farm, encouraging wildlife habitats. We also have a stream side corridor where all types of plants and animals thrive while protecting the river from over erosion and maintain water quality. Farming is more than just food production we maintain the environment allowing the public to enjoy the countryside in all it's glory.  

Bleddyn Davies
Ceredigion

On our Hill and Moor grazing we are undertaking a managed tree planting program to encourage Black Grouse Leks on the moorlands. 

Lauren Bird
Oxfordshire

On the farm we have 6 metre buffer strips for the insects to thrive in. Also we have low input grazing ground where very little fertiliser can be used on the grass leys. With the sheep managing cliff land and rough grazing to help keep the environment looking like it does for everyone to enjoy.

Richard Rossiter
Devon

We don’t use any chemicals on our grassland , only on weeds in the corn crops, we don’t particularly like using them especially when stock are to eat the pasture shortly after!! We only cut our hedges every 2nd or 3rd yr we are a very wind swept Farm and get a lot of benefit from good natural hedges , especially at lambing time, plus they’re good for blackberries not just for pies and jams but the birds are about in abundance enjoying their fair share too!!

Kirree Kermode
Isle of Man

The new environmental stewardship scheme has helped us to fund a field with pollinator mix in to help bees. We also have a lot of trees and hedges which provide habitats and food for birds as well as providing shelter for our sheep.

Catherine Sanderson
North Yorkshire