This week: I am about to head up to Elgin for a beef reliance meeting to talk about the sector, Johnes, alternative bedding and making your farm resilient in the current climate. Then I am preparing for my beef demonstration on cow weight and calf size at Agri Scot. Plus I spend a lot of time giving advice over the phone to farmers getting in touch.

Intentional: Since speaking at the World Aberdeen Angus forum I have been asked to write articles for Portuguese farmers. They have many of the same challenges as we do in Scotland.

Events: I am heading out to marts to speak to farmers about the challenges this autumn. We are seeing a real shortage of straw. It’s like gold. We are going to see an expensive and early winter. Some farmers are housing seven weeks early.

Sales: At the mart we are seeing cattle which have been well fed through summer making the best trade. Anything with some condition on them is selling well.

Farm costings: Later on in the week I’ll be working on the QMS costings. We use around 180 farms for the figures. It is a popular booklet and important for providing farmers with a guide.

Brexit: We need to keep an eye on the other side of the deal such as trade with USA.

Quoteable quote: Where there is uncertainty we have to make sure we are always thinking ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah build the ark.