Farm Diary

Most of the cows are back in due to almost four inches of rain in under a week turning the farm into a quagmire. The good work on the cow tracks with the vibra-roller has been undone; the fields at the top of the farm, where huge covers were being grazed have been abandoned as they are under water!

I have had to rethink my strategy, as grazing even bigger covers in these conditions was not possible, and we will cut and bale the last remaining few acres as and when conditions allow.

On the bright side (there is always a bright side), silage aftermaths have shot out of the ground and can be grazed 21 days after cutting, the maize has benefited from the large 'drink' of water and warmer nights, and the fertilizer, slurry and dirty water applied in the dry weather has been washed in nicely by the rain.

Tracks, gateways, and sheltered areas under the trees are all very muddy, but will recover swiftly as soon as the sun comes out. The forecast as I write does not look good, but as long as we do not have any more torrential downpours we should be alright.

Milk prices have continued to rise slowly in May, which is incredible considering that this is when peak production takes place and we are usually hammered on price.

This time it is different, very different. Supply is low, and buyers are very worried indeed. They are now starting to acknowledge that those of us, who have been warning them of this danger for the last four years, were right. Furthermore, they are beginning to understand what we were talking about; that the decline in production in the UK would not, and could not be turned around swiftly with a price increase.

They were surprised at first, but now reality is beginning to sink in, and the reality is that those who are expanding their herds and milk production cannot make up the shortfall caused by those leaving the industry. Luckily, the devaluation of the pound against the euro is giving them a better chance to recoup higher prices from the market. In Europe things are very different!

Farmers have produced plenty of milk over the last 12 months, and prices are falling. With increases in feed prices, fertilizer and power, the cost of producing milk has increased sharply, and protests are taking place, especially in Germany.

Meanwhile the headlines continue to talk about food increases in the shops, and the alarming cost of fuel. The government is in serious trouble, most of it is has little to do with their policies, and would have visited whichever colour occupied No 10 and 11 Downing St.

However, it's the little things that compound these issues, such as the threat of extra tax on fuel, or the backdating of car taxes, which removes the choice when buying a new car and instead punishes those who made their decision on the economics of the day, many of whom are driving larger cars due to the size of their families and are in a difficult financial position as it is with the rising costs of living.

This column has been commenting loudly for some time about the real meaning of addressing climate change, and here we are starting down that road.

There is a long way to go, and we must be prepared to face much greater hardships if real progress is to be made in lowering emissions. It was easy to talk glibly about saving the planet when house prices were rising, food and fuel were cheap.

Now is the test, and I can see the Prime Minister being thrown unceremoniously out of No 10 because people believe that he has made them poorer and times harder, and quite frankly they are not going to stand for it.

When I talk to members of the Conservative party, I find that they, in certain respects, are even greener than the present government, and I get very nervous about the likes of Zac Goldsmith having so much influence on Cameron's thinking on agriculture and the environment.

At the moment they need only watch and do nothing as Labour tears itself apart, but in due course they must come clean and I fear that there will be little difference in their policy on food production and climate change; unless of course the public demonstrates that whilst other countries carry on as normal, the standard of living in this country should not be sacrificed at the altar of global warming.