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Workshop preparation & repair of machinery:
The
farm uses a range of different tractors and other machinery. In September
the students return to college and prepare the forage harvester ready for
maize silage. This involves servicing and checking it over to make sure that
it is ready to start the harvest at the end of the month. The farm is also
about to plant cereals at this time of year, and machines like ploughs, power
harrows, discs and drills have to be prepared.
Maize harvesting:
The
students do maize harvesting at the end of the month. The crop has been growing
in the fields since May and has reached around 2.5 metres in height. The college
has its own forage harvester, which is self-propelled, and the silage, which
it cuts, is collected in large trailers and taken to the dairy to be stored
in clamps. It will then be fed to the cattle during the winter.
Autumn cultivations:
Autumn
is the time when the land has to be prepared for planting crops for the following
year. The stubble from the previous crop has to be ploughed into the ground
and then the land is worked to create a good seedbed. The farm has a range
of machines that are used to do this. These include discs, power harrows,
cultivators and rollers. The students carry out a lot of this work using several
of the farm tractors to pull the heavy machinery.
Calving:
The
dairy herd starts calving in the autumn to ensure a good supply of milk during
the winter months. Each cow has one calf per year and milks for 305 days.
She has 60 days dry in which to rest and build up her reserves for the next
lactation.  |
