We’re officially OUT of grass—here’s what we’re doing скачать в хорошем качестве

We’re officially OUT of grass—here’s what we’re doing

“We’ve got NONE left—and we’re hanging on by a thread.” In one of the toughest months we’ve faced this year on the farm, Richard Wheelwright walks us through the real and raw reality of farming during a critical grass shortage, all caused by a dry spring and the long-lasting effects of the UK drought. There’s no glossing over it—we are completely out of fresh grass, zero grazing has stopped, and we've narrowly avoided opening the silage pit... for now. In this brutally honest update, Richard brings you right into the heart of his Yorkshire farm operation, showing how resilience, neighbourly help, and a bit of farming know-how are the only things keeping the wheels turning. From early mornings feeding the herd, repairing robotic milking systems, and transporting cull cows to market, to the deep frustration of missing mower parts and salvaging the last of the bruised grains, this episode gives you the unfiltered chaos and community spirit of August farming life. We tag along to Gisburn Market to reduce cow numbers ahead of winter, and pop into Guy Machinery to hunt for elusive cotter pins and explore shiny new kit—from white Valtras and massive Rolland spreaders to sealed show trailers and 3.2m conditioners. But it’s not all showroom sparkle—there’s bitter frustration when parts arrive half-empty and the silage disc repair is stopped mid-job. Back on the land, Richard lays bare the scale of the grass problem. Fields are stunted and seeded, only 4 inches of straw-like growth with no nutritional depth left. The desperate balancing act continues—cutting tiny paddocks, sourcing leftovers from generous neighbours, and trying to delay opening the silage pit while praying for a third cut in September. In classic Yorkshire Farming fashion, Richard keeps spirits up, cracking on with repairs, checking cow welfare nightly, and making sure the herd is never hungry. With neighbourly favours flowing both ways, there's still community spirit in farming even when the margins are tight. It’s a reminder of how much weather, planning, and luck intertwine in agriculture. By the end, we’re left reflecting on the harsh truth: this year’s early drought is echoing through every job we do now—and we’re not alone. This is happening across the UK. Richard’s candid update is a must-watch for anyone wanting to understand the real life of a working British dairy farm during hard times. It’s also a glimpse of what’s coming in September… a mystery project involving Richard leaving the country (yes, really)—a rare occurrence for a Yorkshire farmer glued to his land. So, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s truly like to battle drought, make do with broken kit, shuffle herd sizes, and push through fatigue all while running a busy working farm—this is it. Hit play and join Richard on the ground. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Morning trailer talk and flatbed dreams 01:10 – Where have we been? Explaining the drought's knock-on effects 02:05 – No grass left: zero grazing has stopped 02:30 – Loading up cull cows for Gisburn Market 03:51 – Robot milker issues and cow training 05:00 – Calving updates and checking fresh cows 06:50 – Brushes repaired and pushing up feed 07:30 – Cow welfare evening rounds 08:26 – Market visit & parts hunt at Guy Machinery 09:12 – White Valtras and giant edge trimmers 10:44 – Trailer inspections and sealed options 11:36 – Secondhand trailer spotting 12:03 – Comparing mowers: cloth vs. steel conditioner 13:04 – Rolland rear discharge spreader review 14:08 – Back to the farm and quieter markets 14:53 – Fixing mower discs and damage diagnosis 16:00 – DIY mower repairs & missing parts frustration 18:31 – Community spirit & neighbourly favours 19:44 – UK-wide grass shortages explained 20:44 – Feeding update and finding a few more loads 21:34 – Seeded grass explained and what it means for regrowth 22:39 – Zero grazing strategies and neighbour support 23:57 – Final sources of grass and trying to avoid opening silage pit 24:51 – Fertiliser and hopes for third cut before mid-September 25:38 – Finding the “farmer's way” through hard times 26:13 – Why weather makes or breaks a season 26:51 – Big news: Richard leaves the country soon… 27:14 – Closing thoughts and video preview 🔖 6 Top ~Tags: #FarmingInDrought #ZeroGrazingCrisis #UKGrassShortage #BritishDairyFarm #FarmRepairsAndMaintenance #YorkshireFarmingLife Murch: https://bit.ly/YorkshireFarmingMurch Ridgeline Clothing ( The Farmers Choice): https://bit.ly/Ridgelineclothing Beestonley Honey: https://bit.ly/BeestonleyHoney Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/YorkshireFarming