Jack Fletcher 19 Norfolk
Jack may be the youngest member of the ambassador group this year, but the interview panel were positive his already impressive experience of the sheep industry, both at home and in New Zealand would be of value to the group as a whole. Growing up on a family sheep farm has given Jack a great skill set on which to build on. His ambition is clear, with the aim of growing his own sheep flock as well building on his already successful shearing business to offer dipping and scanning in the future. Jack comments: “I’m looking forward to becoming an NSA Next Generation Ambassador. It is important to take time away from the farm sometimes and if I can do this whilst achieving personal and career development with like minded people, mountains can be moved!”
Feb/March Update
February and March has been a hectic one, scanning ewes on the home farm, crutching and bellying in lamb ewes and lambs at home as well as on contract. This has taken place whilst commuting across the country to Reaseheath college to complete my level 3 final exams. We have also been busy selling fat hogg's at this extraordinary price, may well it continue.
The Highlander ewes scanned out at an amazing 206%, the best ever, showing us that tupping on dairy and AD ryegrass is worth the extra work of electric fencing. The home bred Highlander shearlings scanned at 177% and the Romney's at 160%. We tupped 200 ewe lambs as a trial, but had a campylobacter abortion problem on some wet ground, leaving a 52% lambing percentage. Nevertheless the empties have obviously been sold fat. We've still got 720 dry home bred ewe lambs running, so replacements shouldn't be an issue!
With 2632 ewes in lamb we have started the pre lamb worming, fluking, clostridial vaccinating mineral drenching, lice treatment and footbath routines. Lambing on the first batch of 1400 ewes is due on the 1st April, hopefully the weather will improve by then!
April/May Update
I have finally finished my level 3 in agriculture at Reaseheath college. Obviously lots of the assignments were left to the last minute, but all have been marked now. I look forward to graduation.
Lambing went well considering the diabolical weather. We lambed 900 highlander x ewes inside that will end up on public access river banks. The remaining 1850 Romney and Highlander x ewes lambed outside. I went on nightshift for a couple of weeks to ease the workload of the day staff which seemed to work well. This allowed me to sneak in a few shearing jobs in the day.
We are currently tailing, worming, vaccinating, mineral drenching and fly treating the lambs. Which has led to more contract work on neighbouring farms providing the same service.
We ran 2 British Wool Marketing Board shearing courses in mid May, shearing the dry ewe lambs, these were wormed, mineral drenched and fly covered before returning to the river banks and GS4 mid tier land.
I have started contract shearing earlier this year with a few flocks of Poll Dorsets in April. The season is now revving up as my phone seems to ring non stop.
On Sunday the 12th May, I managed to get down to the Southern Shears and enter the Junior sheep shearing competition. I was over the moon I came third in a group of very good shearers. I'm hoping to travel to more shearing competitions throughout the season.
At home we have entered into a mid tier stewardship scheme with GS2 permanent pasture and GS4 herb and legume mix. We are currently direct drilling the legume and herb mix into the grassland, hopefully the damp weather continues. Over 11000 meters of FG2 sheep fencing has been included in the mid tier, so this is going to be started as soon as possible.
We have also put in a FETF grant to update the sheep equipment and make the job easier for us all, especially dad, who is struggling more with his body from years of sheep work. An auto weigher/drafter will hopefully make the job easier on all our bodies. New sheep pens, bluetooth wormer and vaccinating guns and water bowsers will all make the business more efficient.
Jack may be the youngest member of the ambassador group this year, but the interview panel were positive his already impressive experience of the sheep industry, both at home and in New Zealand would be of value to the group as a whole. Growing up on a family sheep farm has given Jack a great skill set on which to build on. His ambition is clear, with the aim of growing his own sheep flock as well building on his already successful shearing business to offer dipping and scanning in the future. Jack comments: “I’m looking forward to becoming an NSA Next Generation Ambassador. It is important to take time away from the farm sometimes and if I can do this whilst achieving personal and career development with like minded people, mountains can be moved!”
Feb/March Update
February and March has been a hectic one, scanning ewes on the home farm, crutching and bellying in lamb ewes and lambs at home as well as on contract. This has taken place whilst commuting across the country to Reaseheath college to complete my level 3 final exams. We have also been busy selling fat hogg's at this extraordinary price, may well it continue.
The Highlander ewes scanned out at an amazing 206%, the best ever, showing us that tupping on dairy and AD ryegrass is worth the extra work of electric fencing. The home bred Highlander shearlings scanned at 177% and the Romney's at 160%. We tupped 200 ewe lambs as a trial, but had a campylobacter abortion problem on some wet ground, leaving a 52% lambing percentage. Nevertheless the empties have obviously been sold fat. We've still got 720 dry home bred ewe lambs running, so replacements shouldn't be an issue!
With 2632 ewes in lamb we have started the pre lamb worming, fluking, clostridial vaccinating mineral drenching, lice treatment and footbath routines. Lambing on the first batch of 1400 ewes is due on the 1st April, hopefully the weather will improve by then!
April/May Update
I have finally finished my level 3 in agriculture at Reaseheath college. Obviously lots of the assignments were left to the last minute, but all have been marked now. I look forward to graduation.
Lambing went well considering the diabolical weather. We lambed 900 highlander x ewes inside that will end up on public access river banks. The remaining 1850 Romney and Highlander x ewes lambed outside. I went on nightshift for a couple of weeks to ease the workload of the day staff which seemed to work well. This allowed me to sneak in a few shearing jobs in the day.
We are currently tailing, worming, vaccinating, mineral drenching and fly treating the lambs. Which has led to more contract work on neighbouring farms providing the same service.
We ran 2 British Wool Marketing Board shearing courses in mid May, shearing the dry ewe lambs, these were wormed, mineral drenched and fly covered before returning to the river banks and GS4 mid tier land.
I have started contract shearing earlier this year with a few flocks of Poll Dorsets in April. The season is now revving up as my phone seems to ring non stop.
On Sunday the 12th May, I managed to get down to the Southern Shears and enter the Junior sheep shearing competition. I was over the moon I came third in a group of very good shearers. I'm hoping to travel to more shearing competitions throughout the season.
At home we have entered into a mid tier stewardship scheme with GS2 permanent pasture and GS4 herb and legume mix. We are currently direct drilling the legume and herb mix into the grassland, hopefully the damp weather continues. Over 11000 meters of FG2 sheep fencing has been included in the mid tier, so this is going to be started as soon as possible.
We have also put in a FETF grant to update the sheep equipment and make the job easier for us all, especially dad, who is struggling more with his body from years of sheep work. An auto weigher/drafter will hopefully make the job easier on all our bodies. New sheep pens, bluetooth wormer and vaccinating guns and water bowsers will all make the business more efficient.
