Now that we have an ELS eventually in place, my temper has moderated somewhat, although the lack of two months’ funding does still niggle a bit.

Moving on, no RPA inspections this last month, just the reports from those earlier in the summer to contemplate. Does the £90 repayment imposed justify all that work?

I suppose that we need some system to check on how well we utilise the public funds passed our way. Could this month’s eleventh-hour Soil Association inspection or next month’s Red Tractor livestock and crop assurance inspection not incorporate an element of this? Common sense would say so. Maybe the Red Tape Task Force will help; let’s hope so for all our sakes.

One quango that I think in time will be missed is the Agricultural Wages Board, not all of it by any means, not the complicated formula, the prohibitive rules or the minimum wage in excess of the national figure. I find the guidance issued on pay rate increases, holidays and allowances are all very valuable. I see its demise as a recipe for unrest from employer and employee alike. We, the industry, must come up with a simplistic system.

Out on the chalk, drilling has moved on at a rare pace – conditions can only be described as ideal. All non-organic crops are in and sprayed, slugs are under control for now, and we are just waiting for the pigeon onslaught.

One or two accidental experiments have been introduced, some variable rate wheat drilling in one field and some oilseed rape did receive a variable rate of pick me up nitrogen – all in very obvious fields. Let’s see if the neighbours notice which ones.

Organic triticale is sown and a start has been made on the wheat. Fodder rape is moving on at a cracking pace. It may become the cows’ salvation in the depths of winter, if I can find some way of getting it from the field to the shed.