UK Agriculture four seasons
Month - November
November
Many dairy units organise their herds to calve in the late autumn months and November is usually the peak month with freshly calved cows joining the milking routine on a daily basis. After calving the cow will remain with the calf for a couple of days to ensure that the calf gets a good dose of colostrum - the first milk that is rich in antibodies and which provides the calf with important immunity.
November
Young beef cattle are still at grass but now receive supplementary forage as the quality of fresh grass declines with day light and warmth reduction. Beef animals usually receive maize or grass silage - the use of hay is now limited.
November
A young piglet at an outdoor pig unit. Even though the piglets are born outside, most are housed for fattening purposes. This allows farmers to monitor their growth and health and ensure that they do not become too fat.
November
A late drilled cereal crop is being rolled to consolidate the ground. Rolling provides a good cultural control for slugs which are prevented from moving along the drill lines eating the emerging crop. Slugs can cause significant damage to cereals, especially where the crop follows oilseed rape.
November
Winter wheat receives a herbicide to control broadleaved and other grass weeds. Well established crops naturally compete with weeds and so farmers and agronomists can reduce the rate of applied herbicide significantly so that financial savings can be made.
November
Winter oats with striking tramlines through the crop. Watch out for the film industry's number one historic error - they didn't exist in crops before the 1960's! Tramlines are included in the crop when the crop is sown and provide a mechanism to ensure the accurate placement of fertilisers or pesticides in the field throught the year.
November
Fertiliser for next years crops is now being delivered. Fertiliser manufacture is energy intensive and so fertiliser costs are closely correlated with the energy market in general. In this image ammonium nitrate is stored inside a barn for security reasons - ammonium nitrate can, with chemical treatment, be made to act as an explosive.
November
Cauliflowers are widely available through October and November. The cauliflower is of Mediterranean origin although centuries of cultivation have produced many varieties. Cauliflower is a delicate, if flavourless, vegetable that goes well with cheese.
November
Parsnips are now in season. These sweet tasting root crops are now commonly used as a compliment to roast meats - however in the past they have been used in pies, bakes, cakes and as chips. Traditionally, parsnip fodder would have also provided a green feed to the farmer's beef and dairy cows.
November
A depleted reservoir at the beginning of November. The escalating human demand for resources cannot always be covered by nature and in the South East of England the situation is particularly severe. November typically marks the return of rising resevoir and ground water levels as soils become saturated and demand declines.
November
Leaf fall. Still cold conditions encourage the best of autumn leaf colour - usually short lived pending the arrival of an autumn gale.
November
Young branches of an Ash tree are heavily laden with winged seeds that will be spread by autumn wind. Ash is common tree that produces excellent firewood, is drought resistant and not susceptible to damage by squirrels.
November
A hedge that has been partly laid is being strengthened by continuous weave. With the advent of leaf fall, craftsmen can again see to practice the traditional skill of hedge laying - although like many country ways the skill is under threat.