At last we see light at the end of the tunnel. After a long winter and late spring, which caused much of the workload to be equally delayed, it looks as if there may be time to actually draw breath and reflect on the past 12 months.

With the majority of the cattle now outside and spring, ground and fieldwork almost complete, the opportunity will hopefully now arise to catch up on the not-so-urgent work which has been left aside for the past few weeks and months.

There’s nothing I like better at this time of year than either an early morning or late evening stroll around the cattle as they graze contentedly, or round the crops as they motor through the growth stages, and to be honest both are looking surprisingly well considering what has been endured.

Spring barley was sown on 7 May and is now way ahead of any of the past few years when sown up to two or three weeks earlier. Experience proves time and again that seedbed conditions and growing conditions after sowing are more important than so-called optimum sowing dates: one field was challenged by leatherjackets but it appears that it has grown through the challenge with growing conditions since sowing almost ideal. It almost pains me to say, but the rain over the past couple of days has come just in time as both grass and the barley were starting to look very thirsty.

The transformation within the last week or two in May has been quite remarkable as ground conditions have gone from unpassable – thanks to softness – over to rock hard, with some patches even starting to burn.

The new reseed would also be glad of the drink. It may be hard to believe but with only three field drains over 140ac and a shallowness of soil, Balgray has a tendency to suffer in dry spells. One local character, now sadly departed, regularly commented that the farm needed a shower of rain once a day and a shower of something else (muck) once a week.

A drought-resistant mix containing tall fescue and cocksfoot with plenty of Timothy was used with Italian ryegrass and Westerwolds included so that a cut of silage can be secured off it this year.

Cows have all had their annual BVD vaccination, something we started doing more than 10 years ago, but with a replacement policy based on budget, it’s always a huge relief when the results of the annual screening test are returned and negative status retained. All tags were checked and replaced if necessary and 10 cows went through the vet’s foot-trimming crush.

Calves have all been de-horned, bull calves castrated and treated for cocci before turnout.

Turnout has been slightly later than wished again; although weather latterly has been favourable, just thanks to workload and desire to use up silage. Fortunately, not only had we enough for our own requirements but sold some aside. Silage from 2017 is all finished but some bales from 2016 and even a few from 2015 remained. Quality of this is now very poor and those bales not used will be disposed of.

With space round the yard very limited I see little point in sitting new-season bales in front of existing ones knowing that quality is such.

Grass has been very slow to come, not helped by the continued grazing by the majority of lambs that were purchased last September. It had been hoped they would be away long before they were, but at least it worked in our favour a little as trade has been very good with all but a few away by mid-May. Grass growth within the last few days has been quite phenomenal.

Silage will hopefully be tackled towards the beginning of July. I’m hoping before that to get a couple of days at the Highland Show and perhaps even squeeze in a family holiday after schools finish towards the end of this month.