From Hertfordshire, Gordon writes: "it doesn't matter what scale your business is, flexibility is key. In a season like this, certain parts of my farm have had meaningful rain in the last ten days but some only 2 mm, this means that fungicide plans have had to be altered and, unless we get some sensible amounts of rain by the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, yield predictions for both grain and straw will need to be adjusted.

The global supply issues have caught up with us this week with Claas cancelling our new combine!! The slight issue is that they have taken away our old one and sold it!"

Meanwhile back here in Cambridgeshire: We have not seen a drop of rain until a drizzle this morning, but it did not come to much. My grass for the cattle is barely growing which could mean problems soon, luckily, I have plenty of hay left over from last year.

Just to prove that cattle farming is not as easy as some might think I must add that on Sunday morning (it is always on a Sunday) a cow had difficulty calving. I eventually managed to extract it but it had clearly been dead for a few days which meant it was not a pleasant job; fortunately the cow is none the worse but if it isn't obvious it means that she has been kept for a year with nothing to show for it, The original 'dead loss"!

Gordon refers to the Queen's Jubilee: "I am privileged to have met Her Majesty many times as I am a member of her Privy Council; she is a remarkable lady who is able to talk about anything with anyone. With reports of her mobility problems, I do hope she can be involved and enjoy the celebrations. They will pay tribute to her service to our people and our country. What a contrast to the actions of another Head of State! With the continuing tragedy in Ukraine, we should all count ourselves lucky, whatever we may grumble about, but the constant newsfeed about the cost of living is a reminder that no-one is immune from what is going on. Whilst not all is down to the war very much is and I fear that aspect will get worse as Russia prevents any exports of grain from Ukraine. The reports of Russian troops stealing tractors and other equipment from farms bring it closer to home. When it next is my turn to write this item I pray that the situation will have eased but I am not optimistic.

Stay safe and well

Sir Jim & Gordon Paice