The Farming Year - July

In July livestock farmers can finally take a bit of a break.  Apart from the obvious daily feeding, milking, and checking of their animals, there isn't a lot to do, especially once the showing season is over.

Lambs are given their vaccinations against worms along with footbaths.  Shearing will also take place.  Livestock auctions also take place and the strongest best lambs will be sold at auction or go to the abattoir.

Arable farmers however are just really getting started, with plenty now to do.  Haymaking and Silage continues.  Bailing is the key moment in the process.  There are different shapes of bale, and typically a square bale is used for horse feed and round bales for cattle.

Potatoes are still being watered and can be sprayed to prevent damage from pests.  July is usually the month where the combines first appear, with cereal crops such as barley and maize being ready for harvest.