It’s either one extreme or the other. The torrential rain over the last week has delayed our silage cutting and for the first time in quite a while, we have pools of water in the feeding passages of the slatted houses drenching the feed being given to the beef cattle still indoors.

We are gradually getting them off to the factory. I was interested to be visited by one of my factory customers with the offer of a modest loyalty bonus paid on all the cattle I might supply to them. Not a lot, but in a year like this a little help is better than a lot of sympathy.

On the crop side, we took advantage of one of the very few dry days to get an important head spray out on the winter wheat. The crops look well but with all the rain, an outbreak of uncontrollable septoria is one of my fears, especially with some of the most effective active ingredients withdrawn.

Meanwhile, real life continues with the associated paperwork that has become such a feature of modern Irish agriculture.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is really ramping up its surveys of the farming and agri sector.

The first form I received from the CSO wanted very clear details on what kind of cattle housing we had, when did we bring the cattle in and when did we let them out. It also asked for the kind of manure/slurry we produce, how long could we store it for, what land did we apply it to and what kind of slurry tanker was used.

We were also asked if we used artificial fertiliser and again where did we apply it.

In a separate envelope, we had another form – we had to supply details of who owns and manages the farm, what size it is, whether there are clear succession plans and whether agricultural contractors or non-family labour are used.

At the end of both forms, I had to give name, address, email and phone number.

In fairness, I have never heard of one instance where the CSO failed to observe absolute confidentiality and if my information helps in the formation of sensible national policy, then it’s a worthwhile exercise.

On top of all this, we are preparing for a full Bord Bia quality assurance audit.

This really requires a lot of preparation with details of everything from animal remedies, farm safety, bio security, imports/exports of slurry details as well as details of plant protection products (in line with the introduction of the Sustainable Use Directive).

All very commendable – if cattle prices were the same as last year, the level of irritation would be low, but this year?