Friday May 9, 2014

Day 77..

plant, soil and agricultural crop production
first we were split in to groups to go off and research a specific harvester (combine etc) and my group were given a maize harvester. once back in class we gave a talk to the rest of the groups on our findings. we then watched one of the BBC's harvesting programmes from 2013 in which they followed a number of vegetable growers throughout their season - and we had to answer a question sheet along the way! we then had an introduction to good grain storage followed by selling grain on the different market places (yep, we have been given another assignment to do!!!)

grassland management
good trip today to sharmans dairy farm to have a 'field' walk to discuss grazing and field management. ian had a measuring tool and took field readings as we walked around and compared them to the analysis sheet for the previous week. The grass is measured on a weekly basis and the details entered into a computer program that works out where the cows need to be turned out after every milking. tracks have been put into reach almost every paddock as this enhances the welfare of the animals (less chance of slipping over) as well as better maintained fields (less poaching).

tutorial
access to computer facilities to carry on with assignment work!