Interestingly, the month of August is very quiet for us in farming terms, but around us the big farms are working flat out. When we moved here some 20 years ago, we made all our own hay, with the help of our neighbours to bale it, but bought in our straw. Today, it is more economic for us as we are so small, just 46 acres, to contract out or buy in hay and straw.
It is such a lovely landscape here at Yellingham as we overlook 3 farms, some big, some small, but the 
good news is, the land is still being farmed. The weather is so up and down at the moment that my heart goes out to all who work the land. Making that decision to cut hay, silage, corn etc.is always in the hands of the Gods. We have all cut hay and it just needs one more day of sun and the heavens opens. Makes you want to cry. The longer the crop stays cut in the field, the more expensive it gets to harvest.
But back to Yellingham. For us, it is a pleasure to watch our lambs growing on strongly. The constant sun and rain means the grass is in abundance. We have a good trade selling the last of our Hogget meat locally and to B and B guests. I must admit that my preference is for lamb to be mature, Hogget is my favourite. There are many definitions of what Hogget actually is, depending on who you speak to, but for me I simply like lamb which is approaching a year old – good, size, excellent flavour. I do smile when I read that “grass-fed” lamb and beef is fetching a premium price – I can also understand it. Grass fed for me is natural, and what we practice at Yellingham, but it takes it time. In todays market, finishing livestock for many farmers is make or break financially, the quicker it is done helps the cash flow and 100% grass fed animals may not be an option.
With September approaching, the first of this years crop of lambs will be finishing ready for slaughter. However before selecting lambs for slaughter, we carefully select replacement ewe lambs to put into the flock for breeding. We don’t buy in any female breeding stock, we just rear our own. We do however, every couple of years we replace our rams to introduce a new bloodline as a means of continually trying to improve the flock. This year we are looking to buy in replacement Black Welsh Mountain rams. August and September is a very busy time for the sheep industry as Breed Societies hold their Annual Show and Sales. A time when top breeders display the best of the breed. Let’s hope we can find and buy a couple of good stock rams.
Janet East
