Another Bank Holiday which fortunately brought some much needed rain. We have been increasingly concerned about the 80acres of Lupins planted two over weeks ago which got off to a bad start due to the parched earth, cold winds, lack of rain and frosty nights.
Those which do emerge are in danger of being ripped out of the ground by hungry pigeons, so the prospects for a bumper crop this year, due mainly to the weather, is looking increasingly remote. They are grown under contract for seed, but I should not lose sight of the fact they are a very effective break crop, and a good crop of wheat should follow next year.
The dry cold spell has virtually stopped the grass growing, and the winter cereals, although looking well, could be better. It all needs a really good soaking and some warmth.
At this time last year it had hardly stopped raining since the previous September, and we were desperate for it to dry up so we could get onto the arable fields, and turn the cattle out.
No two years are ever the same which is why farming is always a bit of a challenge. Our lives and businesses are deeply influenced by the weather and Mother Nature, but there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
Bank Holidays are disruptive for many businesses and national productivity. Anyone contemplating adding a further four Bank holidays must need their head examined. I think Boris was perfectly justified labelling a certain party leader a Mugwump, and that was before he made the suggestion which would totally disrupt the British economy.
As the General Election campaign gets into gear, it is certain that the crusade to determine ‘who governs Britain’, will not be pretty.
The reports of the four minute deliberation amongst the remaining 27 EU countries at the weekend, regarding Brexit, was insulting. The message that unless the British Government ‘rolls over’, there is no deal, is unacceptable.
This attitude only strengthens the realisation that strong leadership is crucial to ensure our exit from the EU is decisive and UK driven.
The reason that Mr Junker and his mates are so aggressive, is because they are fully aware that we have right on our side and hold the trump cards.
It is certain is that if Messrs Blair, Branson, Mandelson and Miller believe they can ‘buy’ influence by parading their anti-British, pro EU propaganda, and bully the public into turning our backs on Brexit, they are clearly mistaken. Between them, Mr Juncker and Donald Tusk, they will only intensify the public’s determination to support Mrs May in achieving a clean break.
It is hard to define their motives, but what is clear is that they do not have the best interest of the country at heart. If they and their sycophantic friends love the EU so much, they should move there permanently, while they still can.
The new fashion for wealthy city people wanting to wear jeans caked in mud, farmyard manure, tractor grease or paint, is an opportunity for hard pressed farmers to branch out into another type of diversification.
Instead of throwing jeans and overalls into the wash at the end of each day, we can now market them as authentic ‘British Farm Jeans’, ideally with the Red Tractor Logo guaranteeing that they have been produced ethically.
A nice little business, as the average price for jeans is around £30. We can produce at least seven pairs a week, and apparently the ‘dirty’ jeans are flying off the shelves at a staggering £300 a pair!
No doubt this theme could be expanded upon and we could also market our filthy 4 x 4 vehicles. They come naturally covered in mud on the outside and have interesting interiors having ferried muddy dogs, lambs, calves and dirty children on the back seat, and cans of diesel, milk and chemicals in the front. The range of ‘dirt’ could be customised which should surely add several thousand pounds to their value!
Those which do emerge are in danger of being ripped out of the ground by hungry pigeons, so the prospects for a bumper crop this year, due mainly to the weather, is looking increasingly remote. They are grown under contract for seed, but I should not lose sight of the fact they are a very effective break crop, and a good crop of wheat should follow next year.
The dry cold spell has virtually stopped the grass growing, and the winter cereals, although looking well, could be better. It all needs a really good soaking and some warmth.
At this time last year it had hardly stopped raining since the previous September, and we were desperate for it to dry up so we could get onto the arable fields, and turn the cattle out.
No two years are ever the same which is why farming is always a bit of a challenge. Our lives and businesses are deeply influenced by the weather and Mother Nature, but there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.
Bank Holidays are disruptive for many businesses and national productivity. Anyone contemplating adding a further four Bank holidays must need their head examined. I think Boris was perfectly justified labelling a certain party leader a Mugwump, and that was before he made the suggestion which would totally disrupt the British economy.
As the General Election campaign gets into gear, it is certain that the crusade to determine ‘who governs Britain’, will not be pretty.
The reports of the four minute deliberation amongst the remaining 27 EU countries at the weekend, regarding Brexit, was insulting. The message that unless the British Government ‘rolls over’, there is no deal, is unacceptable.
This attitude only strengthens the realisation that strong leadership is crucial to ensure our exit from the EU is decisive and UK driven.
The reason that Mr Junker and his mates are so aggressive, is because they are fully aware that we have right on our side and hold the trump cards.
It is certain is that if Messrs Blair, Branson, Mandelson and Miller believe they can ‘buy’ influence by parading their anti-British, pro EU propaganda, and bully the public into turning our backs on Brexit, they are clearly mistaken. Between them, Mr Juncker and Donald Tusk, they will only intensify the public’s determination to support Mrs May in achieving a clean break.
It is hard to define their motives, but what is clear is that they do not have the best interest of the country at heart. If they and their sycophantic friends love the EU so much, they should move there permanently, while they still can.
The new fashion for wealthy city people wanting to wear jeans caked in mud, farmyard manure, tractor grease or paint, is an opportunity for hard pressed farmers to branch out into another type of diversification.
Instead of throwing jeans and overalls into the wash at the end of each day, we can now market them as authentic ‘British Farm Jeans’, ideally with the Red Tractor Logo guaranteeing that they have been produced ethically.
A nice little business, as the average price for jeans is around £30. We can produce at least seven pairs a week, and apparently the ‘dirty’ jeans are flying off the shelves at a staggering £300 a pair!
No doubt this theme could be expanded upon and we could also market our filthy 4 x 4 vehicles. They come naturally covered in mud on the outside and have interesting interiors having ferried muddy dogs, lambs, calves and dirty children on the back seat, and cans of diesel, milk and chemicals in the front. The range of ‘dirt’ could be customised which should surely add several thousand pounds to their value!
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