Clean the sheds - Forest futures

Get all cattle sheds on the farm cleaned out, power washed, and disinfected. Cleaned out and dry, they are exposed to the natural disinfecting properties of the sun over the summer.

This is widely recognised as one of the best practices for livestock farmers to reduce infections in cattle houses, well in advance of next winter’s housing. It also means there is less of a rush next autumn, and reveals what barriers, gates, troughs, etc, need to be fixed.

In order to prevent destroying birds’ nests, hedgerows cannot be cut from March 1 to August 31. Under cross compliance, birds, their nests or eggs must not be deliberately disturbed at any time, but particularly during the nesting season. It is also an offence under the Wildlife Act to burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated from March 1 to August 31.