I farm: “I work between my dad and husband, Alexander’s farms on South Ronaldsay, Orkney. The land is heavy clay, so we maybe get one cut of silage. Both farms grow barley, but it is quite weather dependent.”

Stock: “My dad has 60 Simmental coos and Alexander has 125 Aberdeen Angus. I also own 24 Texel-cross sheep. We have suckler herds, so calving starts now and we could have late-spring calvers into June. Alex always had Aberdeen Angus, and I made him get a Simmental bull. It’s been making really nice heifers, and now they’ve got a Shorthorn as well as the two Angus bulls. Like many farmers, my dad has tried different things. This last year he’s had two Simmental bulls and a Limousin. He’s been using the Limousin bull on his heifers and producing quite nice calves. He’s also bought a Charolais bull, but we like the Simmental best: they’re very maternal and milky.”

This week: “I started lambing last week and stuck them outside on Saturday. I try to lamb outdoors and take them in for two days, as they lamb. But today we had wind and rain all day and I lost a lamb.”

Other work: “I also work part time as a carer. It’s often as you’re leaving for work that a problem arises. It’s hard for a lot of people who work off the farm. You’re always spinning plates and trying to be in the right place at the right time.”

Staff: “Alex is in partnership with his dad, who is now in his 70s and has stepped back a wee bit, so I support Alex with that. And my dad underwent an operation in February, which has left him unable to bear weight, so we’re getting by with family and friends.”

Best bit of kit: “The calving machine. It’s the backbone of any beef farm.”

Quotable quote: “Look after the peerie [little] things, like making sure a calf is sooking. If you let those things slip you will have a lot of losses.”