With the fine weather forecast we took the decision to cut the strongest grass we had for hay. We could do with replenishing stocks as we got none made last year with the continuous broken conditions.

Despite the lack of a physical inspection for the beef quality assurance scheme, the photographic evidence of sheds, facilities, pages of records involving medicines and cattle movements were all accepted and we have now received notification that the farm qualifies for the beef quality assurance scheme for, I presume, the next 18 months.

The preliminary statement is clear that I have enough headroom but I await final confirmation before I can relax

At 20c/kg carcase weight on eligible cattle, it is an important element in the final price. Also, on the cattle side, I received an updated statement from the Department of Agriculture on whether I was likely to have reduced organic nitrogen for the year ending this week by the required 5%.

The preliminary statement is clear that I have enough headroom but I await final confirmation before I can relax that I will not have to return the cash I received. The third official communication was that a modest sum was being lodged to my account because of some refund under the EU financial discipline heading.

An official-looking letter arrived which, as usual, I opened with some trepidation

I remember a deduction under this heading was made from my basic farm payment last December but I am still not clear on the calculation behind either the reduction or the refund.

The role of officialdom in modern farming didn’t end there. An official-looking letter arrived which, as usual, I opened with some trepidation.

[...] there would be a new satellite monitoring system in place to ensure that the correct acreage submitted for aid was in line with reality

However, it simply informed me that the application to participate in the straw incorporation scheme which had been included in my BPS application in May had been approved and that I should observe rules of the scheme which was fair enough.

The final note was that my application to grow beans as a protein crop had also been received and that this year, there would be a new satellite monitoring system in place to ensure that the correct acreage submitted for aid was in line with reality. Again, I could hardly complain but the whole control regime around modern farming is really comprehensive or intrusive, depending on your point of view.