As I write our contactors are in action fetching in our first cut of silage. As soon as the clamp is full, the calculator will be out: how many tonnes clamped? What is needed from second-cut crops and maize crop to meet our winter requirements? What actions need to be taken if there is a shortfall?

As stocking rate has increased, the challenges of a heavy clay farm start to show up. It is slow to warm up and prone to water logging in the spring, which means our grass growth is two to three weeks behind lighter, free-draining land in the area. To counter this, planned start of calving for the spring herd is 20 Febuary, with a nine- to 10-week block and calving finished for 20 of April when growth hopefully exceeds demand.

Mating submission rate is on target to hit 90% for the springs. Mating on the spring herd is dovetailing with the drying off of the summer calvers, with the first 30 cows dried off this week. They will have a six-week dry period as body condition is not an issue. The first summer calver is due on 4 June, just when mating on the springs has finished and all attention is focused on calving again. This may sound complicated – and it was when the two herds were milked through the one parlour – but now the herds are on separate sites. Management has become very simple, with clear routines for both herds. Block calving is key to simplicity, whatever time of year you decide to calve.

We have just had our reminder for the six-monthly TB test as the herd went clear last Febuary for the first time in more than five years and restrictions were lifted. The thought of being possibly back on two-monthly testing does not fill any of us with joy if we fail again. TB does not only impose a massive management and financial strain of on a farm, it is also the loss of a working week every two months and the impact it has on team morale on the farm.

So fingers crossed and small miracles, we go clear again.