Welcome back to another episode of Cultivate Contentment! In this autumn update, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at life on our farm during this warm season. With unseasonably hot weather, we’ve been dealing with everything from calving challenges in the shed to balancing family life as a busy sports mum. We’re halfway through autumn calving, with almost 600 cows coming through the dairy each day. I also share how we’re keeping up with crop sowing and managing the unpredictable corn harvest, all while trying to keep the kids' soccer gear ready for games.
In this episode, I also dive into a few tractor mishaps, the mental and physical load of being a rural sports mum, and how juggling it all is no easy task—but worth it. Whether you’re a fellow farmer, parent, or just curious about the daily hustle of farm life, you’ll get a taste of how we keep things running smoothly (most of the time!) despite the challenges that come our way.
Key Points Covered in this Episode:
- Dealing with Unseasonably Hot Weather on the Farm: With temperatures staying at 30 degrees, it feels more like summer than autumn. This warm weather has been affecting everything on the farm, from calving to crops, making it more challenging to keep up with both the animals and the fields.
- Challenges of Autumn Calving and Calf Care: We’re halfway through autumn calving, and we’ve got about 90 calves in the shed, grouped in pens of 12. With 600 cows coming through the dairy each day, we’re also managing the logistics of split herds. I discuss how we handle socializing the calves, the importance of vaccinations, and the steps we’re taking after last year’s coccidiosis outbreak.
- Sowing Ryegrass and Prepping for Winter Crops: It’s the time of year when we’re sowing ryegrass to get the paddocks ready for Winter and Spring. We’re doing a lot of oversowing, which helps fill in the gaps in the pasture without needing a full replant. I also talk about how we’re monitoring the corn crop with help from our agronomist, using moisture meters to make sure we’re irrigating efficiently and on track for a mid-April harvest.
- The Juggle of Being a Rural Sports Mum: As a sports mum, my weekends are spent juggling farm chores with the kids’ soccer and footy schedules. With games often two hours away, there’s a lot of planning involved—packing gear, making sure the kids have everything they need, and sometimes organizing the other kids to come along or stay back. It’s a lot to coordinate, but it’s all part of supporting the kids in what they love.
- Tractor Mishaps and Learning New Equipment: I share a few stories about my recent tractor adventures, from trying to use the GPS on new equipment to running into a few hiccups that had me circling the paddock in frustration. Learning new machinery can be challenging, but sometimes you’ve got to laugh at the mistakes and keep moving forward.
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Find the complete show notes here: https://www.groundedfarmwife.com.au/podcast-1/28
