Farmer Focus: I subconsciously define myself by the business

I’m aware the stress of increased costs and two poor harvests is weighing heavily on me. Once drilling is complete, I know a thorough business review and reset is needed.

With that in mind, I took a few days away with my wife, Flo, and little Harry to try to switch off. While we were away, I realised something I suspect many farmers can sympathise with: I subconsciously define myself by the business.

The farm has been my baby for the past nine years, and I find it difficult to separate my identity from that of the business. The two are so intertwined through time spent, money and pride that when arable farming is suffering, as it has, I carry that burden with me.

I’ve returned from our holiday determined to create some separation, mentally at least, and to be stricter with my personal time. Easier said than done, of course, but perhaps essential for a healthy farming future – for the business, and for me and my family.

See also: Post-heatwave nutrition advice for autumn crop success

About the author

Robert Scott

Robert Scott farms 1,450ha of arable in mid-west Norfolk for seven different landowners. He grows combinable crops and sugar beet together with cover crops, grass leys and extensive countryside stewardship schemes. He also finishes 2,000 lambs a year. robert@thscottandson.co.uk Instagram: @thscottandson

Read more articles by Robert Scott

After an unusually quiet August waiting for rain to soften the ground, the weather finally broke on 27 August, when 26mm arrived in just 20 minutes.

Frustratingly, the downpipes on one of our older grain stores couldn’t cope with the downpour, and the valley gutter overtopped, soaking my diminished heap of malting barley. It never rains but it pours, or so they say.

Since then, we’ve had a series of small deluges, making planting a stop-start affair for our new grass leys, turnips, oilseed rape and cover crops.

Turnips, direct-drilled between rows of stubble with the Horsch Avatar, established well and were up within five days. Newly planted grass seed, blown onto finer seed-beds, has been less fortunate, with some fields capping.

Our oilseed rape is all planted, having been delayed by a week or two while waiting for poultry muck deliveries.

We disc the muck in with a Vaderstad Carrier before drilling with the Horsch Avatar, using a buckwheat companion crop, and then rolling. Any compaction around gateways or field heaps was removed beforehand with a subsoiler.

We also had to apply a graminicide quickly this year, as volunteers have been more vigorous than usual.