AN AWARD-winning dairy farm had a disaster with its first 60 acres of cut silage last year.

It was lying in the field when torrential rain struck and the crop had to be left where it was for 11 days. "It was a bit damp and yellow so we gave it to the youngstock," said Mr John Thompson.

Happily, the rest of the two cuts from 100 acres were much better - so much so that the Thompson family won the Durham grassland society silage competition and was runner- up in the Northern region heat.

Softley Farm near Butterknowle is run by Mr George Thompson and his two sons, John and Andrew.

The land is all in grass production and supports 110 dairy cows which average 8,800 litres on a twice-a-day milking system. They are fed silage in a mixer wagon, along with straights and topped up in the parlour with compound feed.

All the Holstein calves are now kept either as heifer replacements or, as finishing bulls and beef calves, are predominantly sold.

A ewe flock of 720 is also run from the farm and housed for lambing in spring.

The Thompsons always use an additive on their silage to help with the fermentation.

Mr Frank Thompson, secretary of the Durham grassland society, and Mr Don Wilkinson judged the competition and found the best silages were all additive-treated.

"The overall standard was down a little on last year, the point scores were less on analysis but the competition was very close and attention to detail probably made the better ones stand out a bit," said Mr Frank Thompson.

It was the first time the better silages had all been treated with an additive, mainly owing to the poor weather.

In the past, if the weather has been good, the additives have not usually made much difference.

The Thompsons' winning silage analysis was DM 30pc; pH 4; ammonia nitrogen 7.4; me 11.1 and crude protein 14.3.

Other results. .- Rosebowl: 2 G Nixon, High Broates, Bowes; 3 J Heathcote, Forcett Hall, Eppleby. Nickerson trophy (first-time winners): Thomas and Heseltine, East Ketton, Coatham Mundeville; 2 (and beef and sheep trophy) B Luck, Milestone House, Barnard Castle. Big bale silage: 1 W Emmerson, Willow Green, Barnard Castle; 2 R Walker, Highwood, Langleydale; 3 K Jackson, Ripton House, Langleydale