Rare Breed Episode Guide
JANUARY:
A brand new year begins but on farms across Northern Ireland it’s just the beginning of another working day. The usual cold and wet weather means most livestock are indoors, so it’s a chance to plan and prepare for the year ahead. All our farmers will make crucial business decisions – choices that will make the difference between success and failure.
FEBRUARY:
As the weather improves it’s the chance for slurry spreading and hedging. It also means some new arrivals at our sheep and goat farms. They’re tagging young calves in Downpatrick. Plus there’s keen international interest in some of our livestock.
MARCH:
Severe blizzards and arctic temperatures cripple much of the country and plunges many farms into crisis. Thousands of sheep are buried in snowdrifts and other livestock is forced to spend weeks indoors. With rocketing feed prices this is a financial disaster. The unprecedented weather couldn’t come at a worse time for our sheep farmers – it is lambing season. It could take years for many farms to recover from the winter storm – for others it could mean the end.
APRIL:
Following the catastrophic spring blizzards many farms are now at breaking point. As the thaw begins it reveals a new crisis – the ground is too sodden for livestock and on many farms silage is running out. For arable farmers the typical calendar has been thrown into chaos, some are already a month behind sowing this year’s crop. The race is on to catch up for lost time and try and recover some of the huge losses.
MAY:
It’s May and it’s Balmoral – the largest agri-food event in the country. This year the show is making history, taking place for the first time ever at The Maze. With over eighty thousand spectators and around 500 exhibitors it is not just a shop window to show the very best of Ulster farming, it’s a great chance to do big business with buyers from across the UK and Ireland. Many of our Rare Breed farmers are here – showing livestock; selling produce or just catching up with friends.
JUNE:
June begins with yet more rain but it isn’t long before the sun starts to shine and at last warm weather returns. All farms are bursting into life with plenty of new arrivals. Livestock is finally being let out to graze and winter cabbage and sprouts are being planted. And across Northern Ireland silage silos are filling up.
JULY:
July’s record temperatures mean it is perfect weather for cutting silage the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. It’s also the time of year for spring lambs to go to market. Meanwhile there are new beginnings and ventures for many of our farmers. The summer heat wave comes to a sudden and stormy end.
AUGUST:
August and many of our Rare Breed farms are ready to harvest. The recent heat wave means some of our crops are ready early. Meanwhile calves are being born across many of our Rare Breed farms and sheep are being sheared. Planning ahead never stops and preparation for next year is in full swing with grass sowing and drainage work taking place.
SEPTEMBER:
The record-breaking summer weather continues and many of our farmers are flat out in the fields – harvesting potatoes, barley, silage and applies. While breeding season is about to start at the sheep and goat farms.
OCTOBER:
October. As the weather turns – it is also a time of change on many of our farms. Many are racing to get harvests complete and sowing started. Preparations are in full swing to get barns ready to house animals for the coming winter months. Meanwhile in Fermanagh 11 year-old Robbie Savage is beginning his own farming venture – a new flock of Suffolk sheep.
NOVEMBER:
Winter is arriving. On many of our farms pigs, cattle and turkeys are ready for the table. It is also a time for extra maintenance for farms and farmers plus there’s an amazing result for James Alexander at a prestigious show.
DECEMBER:
The run-up to Christmas and one of the busiest times of the year for many of our Rare Breed farmers. As the year draws to a close, it is the perfect opportunity for our Rare Breed farmers to look back at the highs and lows of an extraordinary 12 months. Last programme in the current series.
Rare Breed features two of our fabulous producers- Leggygowan cheese & Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil. You can watch their story by keeping an eye on the programme on Monday nights from 8:00pm. Show your support to local food producers!
Photograph 1 Source-Londonderry Sentinel
Photograph 2 Source- Newsletter
Photograph 3 Source- UTV
