A couple of years ago wheat was heading towards the £200/t mark, with some pundits saying the price could go even higher and that we could look forward to that sort of level for five years.

Then a tonne was worth more than four times what I got for my lambs, and several neighbours and colleagues said I was barking to persist with sheep and should opt for the simple life.

In the latest stage of the “corn v horn” saga we have lamb prices exceeding those of a tonne of wheat. Needless to say I will be sticking with mixed farming.

We all have the opportunity to shape the set-aside debate by backing the NFU in the current consultation in which every NGO and interest group seems to have an input.

As things stand DEFRA could introduce a compulsory 5% rate with all its accompanying cross-compliance rules. This would be on top of any land currently in voluntary stewardship schemes and in addition to the estimated 4% of permanent set-aside remaining from the previous scheme.

DEFRA has been talking about a target area that would need taking out of production to achieve biodiversity gains. We all realise that if this was implemented there would be a massive exodus from ELS when renewals begin next year.

The only way forward is the voluntary one which can be achieved by raising participation in ELS from the current 56% of farmland.

The Game Conservancy Trust is to be applauded by stressing it is quality not quantity that’s needed to achieve environmental gains.

Its own research backed by in-house trials has shown that putting 1% of each farm’s land into correctly chosen, located and managed options can bring about the required biodiversity improvements and an increase in the farmland bird index.

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