UNBELIEVABLE WEATHER.I'VE NEVER OPENED THE SILAGE CLAMP IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE

[@petetheresellerandscrapper849]

Your cows are lovely looking they look really healthy nice and clean nice shine on there backs and they are always very quiet you should be proud of them

[@ivgotballsofsteel4048]

quiet cows are happy cows

[@billabong9215]

Man I'm telling you something now. If I knew 20 years ago what was going to happen to the dairy industry in Ireland. I'd have set up my yard similar to yours with the cows self feeding. What a time saver. Low cost and then smaller silage pits that you move through quickly. Extra time spent on looking after the cows with no extra machinery or diesal bills. Feeding silage is one of my biggest jobs during the winter.

[@dogpaw775]

my uncle never bothered with exams, always knew he would be a farmer and knew more than most about it. Now that man was happy as a clam and much respected.

[@alicemariebuckler6931]

U r great u farmers ,dont think wedont appreciate what ye do ,Cause We Do very much,no lovely icream custard cakes buns n babies to feed ,list goes on,Thanks To u ,n all farmers,

[@joanneward9324]

Goodness me, farmers are heroes, especially this year.

[@mervynburnside3666]

If you laid the strip of plastic out on the ground and folded like a bed sheet you could squeeze the air out and less bulk to bag. Just a thought😂

[@elizabethmaybrown6715]

Hi Richard, I remember winters at Furlands before they started making silage there, it was hay, sugar beet pulps nuts and sometimes kale out in the field😳 mangolds too. Silage has changed that a lot, some would say for the better then others would say not. Water buffalo wouldn't be worried about the water under the grass😉 there are some near Yeovil and I know those fields flood.

[@MartinReade]

Morning RIchard, Oh the trials of being a dairy farmer. Sunny and bright one day, the next day,fields under water! It does make you wonder what is actually happening to our climate compared to 30 years ago for those of us that can remember.I also think that all these new housing estates and business parks created recently have a knock on effect with the drainage system. Its easy to just boot it further down the road or fields in your case. This is something that will no doubt get worse with all these new housing proposals and unfortunately the farmer will take the brunt of the excess. However at least there is plenty of silage in the pit. Just one observation,i m sure you are aware, the silage being so high in the pit cows may not be able to reach the high stuff and risk under cutting as they eat away resulting in slippage. I ve known cows killed by this, you may need to bring the top down occasionally for them

[@paulhoskins5050]

Richard I find if you roll the sheet up thn cut the fertiliser bag down the middle of the bag thn put 6 pen knife holes down the side and thn get some string and tie it up it’s easier crack on

[@susanlambert8164]

Your cows look in excellent condition Richard. Fingers crossed this winter isn't as bad as the last one.

[@paulwarrilow3427]

Fingers crossed that this winter won't be as bad as the last one! We don't have cattle but have horses (and a few chickens) and understand the work and worry of having enough hay in our case. Keep positive and I hope you get a dry spell so the water levels drop and you might get to graze the lower paddocks at some point. Your cows look in really good form and your yard looks great, the cows can get undercover in the worst of the weather even when eating (once they have eaten the clamp back a bit).

[@brianmarshall1637]

In 2018 some farmers had to feed Winter feed for the opposite reason ,drought,new grass was in short supply.

[@stephenscott4107]

Yes Richard being a dairy farmer myself I can fully appreciate what’s it’s like we had to bring our cows inside as the fields are so wet, it looks like we’re going to be in for a 7 month winter what’s worrying is not only the feed stocks, but also bedding supplies as well we’ve had to pay £120/ tonne because of the shortage of straw I shudder to think what price it will be later in the winter when perhaps there’s little signs of being able to turn the cattle out, we’ve been there before.

[@holsteincowboy]

September was the 2nd driest month of 2024 after June here in west Scotland - Slightly over 2 inches most of that fell in the 1st week

[@irvenrathburn9421]

Good morning, Richard, looks like the cows like the silage that's a good thing I hope the rain stays away so it will dry up so you can get the corn in.

[@simonlichcaterpillarpower]

Good morning Ricard, nice video!!!!! 😉👌👍

[@tonysargent7787]

Another great video has always Richard harry and jack and Sam CRACK on 👍

[@ronaldlucas5360]

This has been a difficult year for farmers.

[@geraldbeard856]

i would have just fed some bales for now i think.......it will probably dry out a bit again so you can graze those fields. thing is with clamp silage you have to use it away quite fast or secondry fermentation sets in. your cows are a pleasure to look at always looking well and clean........watched a video of some jerseys this morning that are robot milked and don't go outside at all, there getting trouble with lameness and there nothing near as clean as yours

[@thefunkyfarmer]

we're nearly out of grass so i think we'll be feeding from now on. bales are being kept for the heifers

[@adamcrane6306]

Good Moring The Funky Farmer

[@welshhomestead]

Great video as always! We've had another odd year for weather haven't we? Not as wet as last year here in west wales but no real heat in the summer either. I wonder how we're going to manage year on year with climate change - farmers need more support!

[@LTeppler]

Good reality check Richard, thanks :)

[@mattdoe7549]

Opinel knife best quality for a reasonable price 💪👍

[@derekmcguinness6916]

Richard how do you attach the electric fence wire each side of the silage pit up again the wall?

[@johndeere1951a]

Damn! dats a heck of a tyre collection you've got dar 🤣🐮✌️you must of learned your knife slashing technique from the Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho 🔪 🇺🇲🐮

[@KiwiJim13]

👀🙄🐾👍Interesting video as always ways no Harry? Will you getyoyr maize off? Opinel inox blades usually hold an edge well

[@harvest585]

The Future will take of itself Richard, all we can do is try to guide it a little, could yet be a dry warm October and they will be out all long Mild Winter prevailing 😎

[@seriouslyconfused1]

wow wow wow. your side of the river recycles silage plastic! ours goes to the landfill as its not feasible and never will be profitable to recycle silage plastic or bale string. wish we did that over here.

[@DANFORTHPAPE1]

Rich you may be lucky and find that October and November are mild and the grass continues to grow

[@sir243_simr]

But sure the ground will be wet anywat so no good either way

[@andymercer8092]

Bugger the rain!

[@lewisgreenwood9295]

Hi Richard, maybe if the milk cow came in now, fingers crossed it dry up, maybe put the dry and heifer back outside, so not as much work

[@bumpkinrocks]

We missed the heavy rain here in West Dorset. Is the maize clamp full now? Alot of maize is done here now.

[@s.m.1959]

I know its been asked before, and I think you've kind of tried to explain in the past - but why is the flooding happening every year (and looks like its getting worse)? Is it really just the amount of rain (and the ground just can't handle it), ditches the council isn't maintaining like they should - or another reason altogether? Anything that could be done about it? Cattle seem to like the silage though - but mind you don't develop the same problem as Farmer P, where the cattle seemed to develop a bit of a taste for "buffet lunches/dinners" and didn't seem all that keen on grazing after a while (not that I blame them at all - I mean, if someone fed me vs me having to cook, I know which one I'd pick 🤣)

[@s.m.1959]

@@abbiejones4222 I think he mentioned that before, yes - but also that it was down to the council to do it? Wasn't sure if that's still the case or if something's changed.

[@JohntyNich]

There is lots to it. Warmer air temperatures hold more water, so more extreme rainfall. But then you have lack of joined up thinking with housing estates and their runoff, rivers aren’t dredged for fear of disturbing newts and water hitting housing estates further down from faster flow. Just a few of the reasons why farms like these are flooding on an increasing regular basis.

[@richardwatts220]

Nice looking cows , Richard

[@johnkirkwood2839]

Hello if you want any sailge bales for feeding £120per bale . 900kgs plus if you want any more stay Dumfries.

[@johnwarwick4105]

£120 is that a typo or a joke 😳

[@johnkirkwood2839]

@@johnwarwick4105 no it not I joking about it ok

[@willyfindlay4398]

Chin up for the winter.😊

[@Ralph94967]

Oh bugger. Going to be. A long winter. If the cows are coming in. Rich hope things get a bit dryer

[@roymclean4763]

Cows will probably do better with a bit of silage to provide a bit of dry matter intake.

[@david-g8l6i]

not much of a summer again down in wales as well😞

[@DodgyFPV]

Hope your neighbours help out with bales next year

[@Sooty]

Sorry to say, but I think there is more rain coming over the next two days 😢 Wonder if it's the future for 24 / 25 season . Wet and cold 🥶 Regards to all at New House Farm

[@ethanashcroft6538]

How do you get the fencer to ground if it is onto of the silage

[@johnlyons5194]

Ah sure I'm a townie and only love the smells from farms silage slurry pig/cow doesn't matter as for what's mixed up in the forage wagon s I reckon I'd eat a sandwich made from that stuff 😂, sorry to all farmers that are affected by the floods

[@gowithbazza]

Your son's will probably do very good in your exams but the chances are baby quite happy doing farming so it's not all bad is it

[@Ralph94967]

Milk cows out side in the damp. Don’t do well. Milk goes down and the question. Is. How would you feel soaking wet all night. With rain coming down In the shed. They would be a lot happier. Down side to that the silage pits open

[@trevorsidley7697]

Silage should see yields increase. When I worked on a Farm (50 years ago) we measured yields by cow and I know Tom Pemberton does too. I'm sure you do but maybe it's confidential.

[@Gwril76]

Terrible sight, and only late September. Looking bad Sunday night, Monday 😢 hope things don't get too bad for you mate. Cow's seem happy enough though. Fingers crossed for better weather soon 🤞🏼

[@russellpetrie119]

are your ditches clear?

[@spiercephotography]

Oh my gosh, I knew you guys were getting rain, but that's absolutely horrid! Is there anything that can be done to help drainage? At least you've got the sileage option, but i do hope it dries out a bit so they can go back out into the field a bit longer!

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Oh my goodness the terrible weather is ruining everything

[@markoconnor1291]

👌

[@HughJanus-o3e]

7:25 this guy even sounds like Collin Furze. I’m convinced this is Collin Furze from 30 years in the future. He found a way to time travel.

[@malcolmmacdougall4130]

A electric drill bit that must be a prototype you have 😜😊

[@bryankeator8396]

I never understood why you let them eat on bunker like that. Not best for there health. And definitely save feed if you feed them what you think they need. Have a good 9ne Richard

[@shedlife1745]

I'm opening a ferry service between you and me. I'm going to make a fortune! You should consider packing in the farming and start a KZbin channel, Haunted farm! It'll be easier than trying to farm in the climate we've created, on to of the council not servicing the infrastructure like the drainage. Tod

[@Azureecosse]

My old Mathematics teacher at secondary school in the 80s was an arse and a bully he used to say to me you will never amount to anything in life. Seventeen years later I became his boss. I watched that man like a hawk until he retired early. I am a Farmer now steep learning curve.

[@williamhawks2372]

It looks like you’re gonna have to buy the cows. Safety fest for they don’t drowned your firm getting all that rain I don’t want them drowning maybe you’re going to have to do some digging it’s gonna keep raining like you gotta get the water off the back field

[@AndrewPaulK80]

do cows ever stop munching ?

[@dessiemaguire343]

Why didn't you feed round bales first

[@thefunkyfarmer]

we're nearly out of grass so i think we'll be feeding from now on. bales are being kept for the heifers

[@BerndFelsche]

Downstream drainage? Rain may be unusual due to Solar activity and Earth's magnetic field. Enough we can do about it but to take heed and make do with what the weather delivers.

[@christopherhinton6456]

try growing rice.

[@quickdraw155]

Feckin rain

[@DenisKeaney]

Your going to have graze them fields earlier every year going forward

[@ebxo269]

Now you are getting a load more,,, 30/9/24.

[@rjjeng]

Why have you got roof written on the tractor window

[@elmton.john.1961.]

If I remember correctly from a previous video, Richard explained that this tractor is to high to go under one of the sheds so he has it as a reminder so he doesn't end up with a cabriolet tractor.😊

[@HughJanus-o3e]

17:54 need some land drains

[@jamesthompson8865]

There has to be somewhere for the water to go

[@HughJanus-o3e]

@@jamesthompson8865 down the drain of course.

[@jamesthompson8865]

Not much point in drains if the outlets are under water

[@HughJanus-o3e]

@@jamesthompson8865 just needs more drains under those then

[@jamesthompson8865]

This could go on forever

[@farmer6861]

Floodplain doing its job and preventing flooding further down the line. Cattle have grazed water meadows for centuries Richard so no animal welfare issue really. One of the concerns over nitrates is Cows going to toilet in streams and rivers. Come down to a Salisbury Plain and see how we do it down here! Kudos to you for keeping going

[@HughJanus-o3e]

This guy looks like Collin Furze in 30 years

[@bencarter2334]

Funky farmer and Colin should meet up. They would have a great laugh together.

[@HughJanus-o3e]

@@bencarter2334 100%

[@RG-mk3ds]

Why don’t you roll the silage sheets up and use them for another year we do it all the time.

[@bumpkinrocks]

Think you probably do like we do and use a sacrificial under sheet and a heavy reusable top sheet. Richard just use a thin single layer of sheet it seems.

[@RG-mk3ds]

No we use the same two sheets and occasionally get rid of the top layer and then get a new bottom layer. With a good covering of bales on top you have a good layer as well.

[@BrianJensen-ym5gk]

Holy smokes, that is a lot of water at the end. It really has been exceptionally wet the last 18 months or so, and then a cool damp summer didn't really amount to a lot of soil drying out. Hope you get a bit of a break from the rain soon. Out of curiosity: Would giving up a bit of wet ground to plant with willow (or similar water hungry trees) alleviate the issue a little? Won't really fix the issue here and now, but potentially down the line. Take care, and keep cracking on.

[@robertwilson93]

Instead of cutting the plastic why don't you just roll it up,and save it for next year's crop,it must be expensive to buy each year.

[@cliffordmahood3446]

Why don't you ever spread slurry