Iain Green has a successful Royal Highland Show

We managed to complete the shearing just before leaving for the Royal Highland Show and first-cut silage was finished just prior to the show starting. We had a successful show, with our team of nine Simmental cattle gaining three firsts, four seconds, two fourths and reserve male champion with our home-bred bull.

After returning home with the cattle late on the Sunday night, I then travelled to Norwich the following day where I was given the honour of judging the Simmental cattle classes at the Royal Norfolk Show. I was very impressed by the display of cattle and the show.

This is the second time I have returned home from south of the border and suffered sun stroke – maybe I should just stay in the north. For once, I returned feeling good about our crops as we have had ideal growing conditions this season. Usually I am envious of the tremendous arable crops grown further south, but it was evident the lack of rain in the south-east corner of England has affected this year’s crops.

By the time you read this, second-cut silage at home will be finished and winter barley harvest should be started. Ewes and lambs have all received their preventative treatment against fly strike. This year I have kept the ewe hoggs at home and they have grazed the fields not usually grazed by sheep during the summer, making an excellent job of killing both docks and ragwort.