The highlight last week was a trip to the north Midlands for the First Milk AGM. This was held at the Welbeck Estate, which is an amazing place. Each of the 350 houses on the estate is an architectural gem of yesteryear.

The sum total of the walled gardens is bigger than my farm. The indoor riding school is in the style of - and bigger than - Paddington Station and a previous Duke of Portland was so shy, he had underground tunnels built so he could travel underground by horse and carriage to various parts of this enormous estate.

It is so good to announce in farming circles with great pride that I am a supplier of First Milk

The AGM itself was a report of the business which is now an amazing success. While other milk prices have fallen like snow in the sun over the summer months, First Milk has held its price and has moved from the lower end of the milk price league to the top of the non-aligned.

This is all due to the governance and inspiration of the chief executive Shelagh Hancock, of Irish origins.

It is so good to announce in farming circles with great pride that I am a supplier of First Milk.

Satisfaction

I have to admit to some satisfaction when I hear of other milk producers who left First Milk for an extra penny and are now getting three pence less.

When they enquire about rejoining First Milk, they are surprised when firmly told: “We are no longer the buyers of last resort for distressed milk of distressed milk producers, but will only recruit in areas where we need milk.”

“The market is broken” they wail. “Who broke it?” I reply.

The visit to Welbeck dairy farm was a fascinating experience. We watched the Dalek-shaped robot unplug itself from the shed where it was charged and move around the various buildings, pushing up the silage in the mangers.

Two-hundred-and-fifty-cows; 20:40 swing-over; 9,000 litres; 2t of cake.

We were able to spend 30 minutes with the world-famous Stichelton cheese maker and admire his equipment through the window.

We were overjoyed to find a complete set of British Friesian journals in the farm office and were allowed to spend an hour researching the history of our Brinkworth Herd.

Calving

At home, calving continues at a great pace - 75% heifers, 25% bull calves. This is without sexed semen.

The parlour computer is still not behaving; 350t of maize delivered at £35/t and the new 140-cow cubicle building is 14 days away from completion – which is alarming given the current torrential rain.

Cows are on silage and brewers' grains in ring feeders and are reluctant to eat the last remaining grass.

Party

Every year, we try to have a party in the calf-rearing shed. This year it was my 70th and 150 attended. It’s a good excuse to really clean out the building before it is needed for the autumn calves.

When we gutted out the old 52 concrete tie-up positions, we created a series of 10-foot square pens, each holding three calves. All the posts are able to lift out, so we have a clear floor space.

Calving continues at a pace and last weekend I had to call upon the assistance of my normally glamorous daughter to help me with a twin with a head back. A true family farm.

Brexit

Brexit has become like a bad toothache and the sooner it’s pulled the better, whatever the outcome.

Will Boris Johnson be the shortest-serving PM in history? He is showing a complete lack of sensitivity and is forcing the role of parliament to be scrutinised and judged by the legal system.

This is opening a whole can of worms, which will do nothing to increase the power of parliament, only decrease it.

I find it disconcerting that the Red Tractor has just upped its standards. It claims increased standards will give us an advantage at point of sale.

I see increased standards as an increased cost of production and am convinced that when the Aldi housewife is faced with Red Tractor beef or South American beef at two-thirds of the price or less, her purse will rule her heart.

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