Latest news with #sheep
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Barefoot Investor Scott Pape says his life has become 'bloody tough' after making a bad investment
Barefoot Investor Scott Pape has opened up on the worst investment he's made - livestock. On Sunday, Pape shared a story from his farm in regional Victoria, describing the financial struggles he faced during a drought. 'Life on the farm is bloody tough right now. We're in drought, so there's bugger-all grass, and I'm spending $250 a day on feed. Every. Single. Day,' he said in his weekly column. In particular, the sheep are draining the investor's pockets. 'As old farmers love reminding me, once you get to this stage, you're not making money. But, with heavily pregnant ewes, I've got no choice - I need them in good nick for lambing,' Pape wrote. However, Pape believed what he's lost in finances to the farm, his kids have gained in development. 'It's a blinding flash of the obvious, really. If you give kids the chance to roll up their sleeves and take responsibility, they grow,' he said. 'If you do everything for them, they don't.' A widespread drought is currently affecting Tasmania, Victoria, much of the east of South Australia and south-eastern New South Wales, and parts of the interior and the west of Western Australia. In May, Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino explained the dry-spell in some regions was beyond anything farmers had seen before. 'Parts of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania just endured their driest start to a year on record as a lack of early autumn rain worsened drought conditions in parts of all three states,' he said. 'Some areas in southern Australia saw their lowest rainfall on record during the first four months of this year. This included parts of South Australia, southwest Victoria and northwest Tasmania.' In response to the massive drought, the Victorian Government announced an extension of its Drought Package to farmers statewide on Friday. The package will be delivered in coming weeks and informed by a dedicated new Drought Response Taskforce. 'The increasingly devastating effects of drought aren't confined by postcode or region - its impacting farmers across Victoria. It's why we're expanding support statewide,' Premier Jacinta Allan said. 'The new Taskforce will bring together Victorians from different communities, different backgrounds and different political parties. 'Most importantly, it'll be focused on delivering real relief for farming communities.' For agriculture workers in need of financial help, Pape recommended the government-backed Rural Financial Counselling Service. RFCS provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related businesses experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship. 'Rural Financial Counsellors get what you're facing. They can help you apply for drought assistance, talk to your bank, and be a steady financial sounding board when things get tough,' Pape said.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Sheep take on landscaping at Minnesota solar farm
Hundreds of sheep are hard at work this spring in central Minnesota — not on a farm, but beneath solar panels. At the Serco Solar Array in Clear Lake, more than 600 sheep are being used to manage vegetation around the 1,200-acre site. "We have 600 mews and all of them are with lambs, by the end of the summer we will have 1500 adult sheep and by the end of the project 7000 sheep," said Briana Beck with Minnesota Native Landscapes. Part of a growing relationship between Xcel Energy and MNL. The sheep graze between rows of solar panels, keeping grasses trimmed and allowing native prairie plants to thrive –— all without using gas powered equipment or herbicides. "Its really important for the health of the prairie, to get rid of that vegetation build up and also on solar sights for fire mitigation," said Beck. The sight itself is home to dozens of native prairie plants and flowers, one of which is essential to an endangered species. "Sundial Lupine, that's a legume species. It is the only known host plant for the Karner Blue Butterfly – Which is an endangered species," said Beck. "Its fantastic to see the lupine blooming out here." "MNL provides the seeds for the pollinator mix that we are using at the Sherco project," said Luke Molus, Head of Operations at Sherco Solar Array. The goal of the cooperation is to protect vulnerable prairie lands and animal species. While also keeping the land fertile for any future farming uses. "The top soil is pretty thin. Restoring the native prairie back to this area," said Molus. "It's actually going to help the topsoil become thicker and more healthy so that if the solar project gets decommissioned in say 30 years – If farmers do choose to come back, they'll actually have better soil to grow on,=." In the meantime, the field is part of Minnesota's broader effort to move away from fossil fuels. The Serco site will eventually try to replace the energy output once generated by the near-by Sherburne County Coal Plant. "Serco solar one is the first phase of the Serco solar project that Xcel is building to replace the Sherburne County Coal Plant," said Molus. "All three Serco projects will be a full replacement for the coal plant that retired back in 2023. Molus says that Serco Solar Array one is providing energy for 150,000 customers. Xcel Energy could expand the grazing project to other sites across the state in the coming years.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dog attack on Dorking farm sparks plea for lead usage
A dog attack which left a number of lambs seriously injured has sparked a warning from Surrey's deputy police and crime commissioner.A lamb had its top lip torn away in the attack earlier this month at a farm in Dorking, which previously lost almost 30 sheep in a single visiting the farm, Surrey DPCC Ellie Vesey-Thompson urged dog owners to keep pets on leads."Surrey is home to many responsible dog-owners who deeply cherish their pets. But even the most trusted of dogs can behave in surprising or shocking ways," she said. Vesey-Thompson warned of the "traumatising" effects of livestock worrying, which is a criminal offence in the UK and includes barking, chasing, biting and said: "While I'm pleased that the lamb is recovering well, others that were more seriously hurt remain critically unwell, and, despite excellent care and treatment, sadly may not recover."This is an absolutely horrific incident that could so easily have been prevented by the simple action of putting a dog on a lead."The National Sheep Association (NSA) said it was also important to ensure dogs were secure in the home or garden."Dogs straying from their own homes is another common cause of devastating sheep worrying attacks, potentially leading to sheep prolonged suffering until the impact of the incident is discovered," a spokesperson said.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- CTV News
Sheep on the lam in Osgoode ‘impounded' by Ottawa bylaw
Ottawa Bylaw is looking for the owner of a sheep that was found to be 'at large' in the Osgoode area over the weekend. Bylaw and Regulatory Services director Roger Chapman says officers were called to the area of Stone School Road at around 11:45 a.m. Sunday because of a loose sheep that was running around the area. 'Our officers successfully contained the animal; however, efforts to locate its owner were unsuccessful. The sheep was subsequently transported to a local farm for safekeeping,' Chapman said in a statement. In a post on X, Ottawa Bylaw said the owner would be required to describe the sheep before claiming it. Chapman said a new home for the sheep would be found if its owner does not come forward. 'If the owner does not come forward, the animal will be surrendered for rehoming in accordance with the Pounds Act,' Chapman wrote.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Farmers work to get sheep pristine for Suffolk Show
Two farmers have put countless hours into washing, shearing and preening sheep ready for a county Cobbald, 80, is in charge of a farm at Acton Hall near Sudbury, Suffolk, and gets help from his farmhand Amy Byford, pair recently had to choose 28 of their 300-strong flock to present for judging in the upcoming Suffolk Show, but still have a few more days to ensure the sheep are looking year's event, on Wednesday and Thursday at Trinity Park in Ipswich, will be the 64th time Mr Cobbald has presented at the show. The pair explained they first started washing the sheep on Monday."We put them on the stand, Amy washes them and then you have to leave them two or three days. Then I start doing the trimming," Mr Cobbald explained."It's a big day - we've got 28 sheep to wash." Mr Cobbald and Ms Byford look after three breeds of sheep - Suffolk, Texel and Byford, who started looking after sheep four or five years ago, said she found the upcoming showcase "exciting"."I prefer doing the lambs because they're easier to handle," she said."I quite enjoy washing them, getting them tidied up. They look a lot smarter when they're clean."Choosing the sheep was a difficult task, the pair said, but they kept a close eye on the herd over the year to decide which ones to present. Mr Cobbald said the Suffolk Show was his favourite time of year."I hate to think about it, but the first time I went into the ring with a Suffolk sheep at the Suffolk Show was 64 years ago," he said."I've had a lot to do with the show over the years."It's a good show, it's a good day out for anyone who wants to come."Sometimes as farmers you forget that people can't get up close to animals and it gives them the opportunity... to see pigs, cattle, sheep."It's a great thing for them." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
