The plant is native to Eurasia, but has been introduced across much of the world so that it now has a circumpolar distribution. The juice of the plant is semi-poisonous to livestock, causing blistering. aestivalis) is sometimes treated as a variety of this species. As with other members of the genus, the numerous seeds are borne as achenes. Unlike Ranunculus repens, the terminal leaflet is sessile. The leaves are compound, with three-lobed leaflets. It has numerous stamens inserted below the ovary. There are five overlapping petals borne above five green sepals that soon turn yellow as the flower matures. Ranunculus acris is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows to a height of 30 to 70 cm, with ungrooved flowing stems bearing glossy yellow flowers about 25 mm across. Common names include meadow buttercup, tall buttercup, common buttercup and giant buttercup.ĭescription Floral diagram of Ranunculus acris. The continuous feature will aim to spotlight our special agriculture sector through the next generation’s eyes.Ranunculus acris is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, and is one of the more common buttercups across Europe and temperate Eurasia. The Fulton-Smith family have nominated Herrick’s Danny and Bec Fenton to feature in the next instalment of the Advertiser’s Farming Families Feature. In the immediate outlook we hear Ben will be celebrating his 37th birthday today! Looking to the future the pair will be installing a new pivot on the home farm and navigating home life with teenage boys. “We are currently building new laneways and changing the paddocks to accommodate for the larger herd size now too,” Estelle said. “We but are going to milk about 60 through the winter as well as build a new calf shed and putting in water lines for water troughs. Over the next few weeks the couple will be working on getting their maize crops harvested into silage pits and then planning to dry off most of their herd for winter. “They are always in the tractors when we are doing the hay or silage and they both like to rake, disc, mow, cart bales and drive the excavator – basically all the machinery,” she laughed. “They are a good help, there is always a laugh or two. The variety of work changes every day for the family of four with the boys, Brooklyn (15) and Callum (13) both opting for the machinery side of farming over the milking. “I just love the animals and miss the interaction with the cows now we have rotary, but the girls are much happier spending more time in the paddock,” Estelle said.Įstelle’s love for animals is certainly evident with one of her cows even letting her ride it like a horse! “The swing overs were taking way too long in the end so in 2018 we decided to build a fully automatic 50 rotary, so it is now a one-person operation. The mixed dairy and cropping operation is fully run to benefit their dairy herd, growing crops like turnips, pea and oat silage and maize to feed the cows.Ī lot has changed since in the past twelve years starting in a 15 swing over milking just 120 cows to now a fully automatic 50 rotary. “Ben and I brought what we call ‘mums’ farm in 2008 which is named Garthowen on Legerwood Lane, it's 430 acres all up.” “I grew up on a hobby farm in Bishopsbourne and often helped my uncle tail lambs, shear sheep and pick peas,” Estelle said.īefore purchasing their own farm in 2008 the couple did a stint of share farming with Jeremy and Veronica Carins on the farm next door. The first-generation Legerwood farmers are no strangers to the country life with Ben growing up on a farm in Talawa and completing his first apprenticeship with Theo and Cheryl McCartie in Ringarooma. Watching their two boys grow up eating Weet-Bix covered in milk straight out of the dairy vat is just one of Ben Fulton and Estelle Smith’s fondest memories of raising kids on the farm.
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