On Tuesday, the oilseed rape was desiccated for three weeks. That has become the normal interval between spraying and cutting.

This year, we are certainly being delayed but I am trying to convince myself that it is too early to panic.

A few years ago, we left a portion of a big field of oilseed rape that had poor weed control for well over a month and, with the pod sealer, which, as I mentioned, we put on again this year, the yield seemed to be unaffected by the delay, so we will just have to sit tight and hope for harvesting conditions.

The beans are also ripening but I reckon they have at least a month to go

The wheat and the oats, which is a new variety, are both standing perfectly, at least so far, but both crops look as if they will be ripe at the same time. The beans are also ripening but I reckon they have at least a month to go.

In wondering about the autumn plan, we have to work out how much of the feed wheat we will keep for our own use.

For the last few years, certainly since we switched from bulls to bullocks, we have kept very little of our own grain, though I should be clear, by keeping – I mean doing a deal with a neighbour with good storage, drying and rolling facilities.

Normally, we agree a fee for each tonne treated and he delivered it over as needed. However, feed wheat internationally is up about 40% this year and maize, its natural competitor under Irish conditions, is up almost exactly 80% on international markets since this time last year.

I have no forward view on what the beans are likely to be worth this year, but I assume at least €250/t

Coupled with that, maize needs to be supplemented with much more protein than wheat, so I could theoretically displace the soya and other sources of protein with my own beans, but at this stage, I have no forward view on what the beans are likely to be worth this year, but I assume at least €250/t.

With those kind of costs attached to finishing cattle out of the shed, it is clear at the most basic level that I should try for as much weight gain as possible from grass, but also that I should aim to buy cattle that require as little concentrates as possible to finish properly.

The contrast with my former bull beef system could hardly be greater as regard concentrate use, but with the steers, I have sacrificed both carcase weight and conversion efficiency, so a greater reliance on performance at grass during the grazing season and silage over the winter is inevitable.