While statistically August is the wettest month of the year in Ireland, this particular long, broken spell could hardly have come at a worse time. Our wheat was just about becoming ripe but there has been no question of beginning to combine for seed – normally, 20% is the maximum permitted moisture though in an exceptional year, I have been allowed go to 22%. Some years ago, the weather broke at exactly the same time as this year, 17 August and we did not get near a field for three solid weeks. By that stage, all the grain intended for seed had sprouting and was diverted down the feed route. I had to survive with zero seed bonus that year. This year? It’s still too early to say.

We have also to take our second-cut silage because of our late first cut. Normally, an early September date would cause no problems but this year, I am wondering if harvesters and trailers will do any damage.

As we have no maize this year, we need to ensure that we have enough good silage to get us over the winter without grain making up too much of the diet outside of the intensive final finishing period.

We are just beginning to put our foot in the weanling market. We took delivery of the first load last week. The routine is now fairly well worked out – in the shed for the first few days, then a full vaccination programme and out on good grass. Apart from a booster shot, they will stay out on the best grass possible until housing. Up to now, we have found weight gains on autumn grass disappointing. This year, we are going to give them more room and graze less tightly and measure the results. But the absolute priority is to get the wheat cut, though I am also conscious of the steep fall in fertiliser prices. I detect a willingness in some areas to sell fertiliser now for use next spring. I have never been tempted to go down this route before but the fall in price has been so large that it strikes me as irresponsible not to at least investigate the best offers.