Worcester dairy farm cutting grass to feed cows after dry spring
The warmest spring on record has left a Worcester dairy farm feeding grass to its cows in the sheds because of a lack of grass in the fields where they usually graze.Tristan Bennett from Manor Farm, Lower Wick, said the business had bought grass from neighbouring farms and used crops from its silage fields which normally provide food for the winter.It comes after the UK recorded its warmest spring on record and its driest in more than 50 years, according to provisional Met Office figures.The farm's website states 85% of the milk produced by the pedigree Holstein Friesian herd goes to a co-operative dairy, 10% to Bennetts Ice Cream and 5% to local customers and cafes.
Mr Bennett said there was no such thing as a typical year at the moment, but 2025 had been a challenge.Grass had started growing well, but the dry spring meant it "tailed off quite quickly" after the initial surge, he said.He added the situation now was that the normal grazing pastures were not being as productive as they should be, and the cows had eaten what there was more quickly than normal.
Last month, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board called on farmers to plan ahead for increased feed needs after the dry spring weather."At this point, it is worthwhile for farmers to assess both summer and winter feed requirements and start building contingency plans," said Katie Evans from the board."This might include reviewing silage stocks, being prepared to cut earlier than usual to prioritise feed quality over bulk and considering fast-growing catch crops for summer or autumn grazing."
Normally, Mr Bennett's cows graze twice a day and also at night, but farm workers have resorted to cutting grass from fields further away, and had bought supplies from neighbouring farmers.The farm had also used grass from silage fields, which would normally provide food for the winter, he said, adding: "We've been snipping that off and feeding that to them, green in the shed."The cows were being fed and were happy, he said, but it meant extra work on the farm.
Workers were "nervous" after using winter supplies, but Mr Bennett said: "It's still quite early in the season and the weather does tend to have a way of righting itself, so you never know, we might have a good autumn."He said a better autumn yield could allow the farm to fill sileage clamps, but the worst-case scenario would be having to reduce cow numbers in the winter if the farm did not have enough food.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
15 minutes ago
- Sky News
Thunderstorm warning issued across large parts of England and Wales includes risk of intense downpours and frequent lightning
A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued for large parts of England and Wales today. The Met Office warning covers most of southern England, parts of the Midlands and most of South Wales between 9am until 6pm. People in the affected areas are being warned heavy showers and thunderstorms may lead to some disruption to transport services. The UK's weather agency has also warned of frequent lightning, hail and strong gusty winds. Delays to train services are possible and some short-term losses of power are also likely. Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said Saturday morning will start with "plenty of showery rain around". "[There's] the risk of some intense downpours, especially across southern parts where there's likely to be some thunder kicking off, and this brings some hail and some frequent lightning with it as well. "It's across southern parts where we have the greatest risk of some disruption and that's because there's the potential for some torrential downpours with 10 to 15mm perhaps in just an hour or so. "We could see totals building up 30 to 40mm in some places if you get a few downpours one after the other... there could be some localised flooding as well." Mr Burkill also explained that next week could see further downpours. Potentially "some wetter and windier weather" could hit northwestern areas of the UK late on Monday and into Tuesday as a low-pressure system moves in, he said, adding that the position of the weather front remains uncertain. 2:31 The wet weather comes days after the Met Office said the UK had its warmest spring on record - and its driest for 50 years. Provisional figures showed spring temperatures surpassed the long-term average by 1.4C - with a mean temperature of 9.5C (49.1F). That beat the previous warmest spring recorded in 2024. Temperature records were broken in all four nations in the UK - with 1.64C above the long-term average in Northern Ireland, 1.56C above average in Scotland, 1.39C in Wales and 1.35C in England. Forecasters have also predicted the UK is set for a hotter than usual summer - with an increased risk of heatwaves over the next three months. In records dating back to 1884, the Met Office said eight of the 10 warmest springs had occurred since 2000 - and the three warmest had been since 2017, in a sign of the changing climate. Conditions were also incredibly dry this spring, with an average of 128.2mm of rain falling in the UK across March, April and May - the lowest spring total since 1974, which saw 123.2mm.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Shaftesbury Lido reopens after major refurbishment
An open air swimming pool is to reopen following a £100,000 refurbishment.A campaign also raised more than £30,000 of the funds needed to replace the filtration system and pool liner of Shaftesbury Lido, in Shaftesbury, lido was shut in March so contractors could install the new, larger water filter pumps to improve the water quality of the pool and reduce the running manager Harriet Green told the BBC: "It was a real logistical challenge to get to where we are but we'll be opening on Saturday." The fundraiser was organised by Friends of Shaftesbury Swimming and Shaftesbury Town Council. Ms Green said: "The people that have supported us have been incredible and we are so, so grateful."We cannot quite get our heads around how much support we've had and how much money people have raised for us."It's been overwhelming, and we couldn't have done this without them, so a huge thank you [to them]."The lido is one of the oldest pools still operational in the country, having been used since about 1890. A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office for large parts of Green said: "If there's a chance of lightning we would have to clear the pool, and then there's a certain amount of time before we can get people back in... so hopefully the thunderstorms will stay away tomorrow." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
'The grass to feed my cows just hasn't grown'
A lack of grass caused by dry weather could leave one farmer facing an extra monthly bill of almost £1,000 for animal UK had its driest spring in 50 years in 2025, according to the Met Office. For some farmers, such as strawberry growers, the conditions have led to bumper yields - but other crops are livestock farmers like Helen Griffiths in Ashleworth, Gloucestershire, it means having to spend more to supplement her livestock's food."The grass growth generally keeps up with the cattle grazing until mid to late-July," she said. "This year, once they'd eaten off the grass that was there, that was it - the grass just hasn't grown." Mrs Griffiths said the lack of rain means the grass her cows and sheep would normally graze on at this time of year is not enough to sustain a result, she has had to dip into her stock of forage - hay and haylage - which would normally be saved for winter, and may have to buy in additional supplies. "I was quoted £30 per round hay bale delivered to the farm, which is quite high compared to previous years," she said."That's nearly £1,000 a month extra just feeding them because the grass isn't growing."Mrs Griffiths said the lack of rain has also impacted straw harvests for winter bedding, as grains have not grown as high as hoped. She added one of her fields which "typically floods" in winter only flooded "a little" in the past year, which she believes also impacted the grass."The weather seems to be increasingly extreme on different ends of the scale and as farmers that's something we have to battle on the frontline for," Mrs Griffiths said she is unsure what the implication may be for consumers."We don't necessarily dictate the prices," she explained. "It's very much down to big supermarkets and the big buyers." Meanwhile, Paul Keene said the sunshine has been "positive" for his strawberries, as it helps them "swell"."It really drives the flavour and we get the best crop ever," he said."When the strawberries are ready and it's a sunny day, we'll be full of customers eager to pick." But Mr Keene said his recently-planted pumpkins are "desperate for water"."We have just irrigated them furiously and a drop of rain would be most welcome," he said."We've got a reservoir full of water that will keep us going. As long as it gets filled up in winter, we're happy," he added.
