To achieve early turnout silage ground is grazed in blocks during March before moving to the normal paddock area from 1 April. An extensive network of low cost farm roads have proved to be invaluable in providing good access to all areas of the farm. The dairy herd has been monitored for the past 6 years by the Milk Manager programme currently provided by Comprehensive Business Services. Soil analysis results are used to determine appropriate fertiliser use. For the past two years no inorganic fertiliser has been used from early August onwards.
Labour is mostly family, with a contractor used for silage.
This also minimises the need for a lot of expensive machinery. The Hurst's are well aware of future pressures on dairy businesses. To remain competitive in future they are committed to reducing the overall cost of producing a litre of milk - both variable and overheads.