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Sales season is in full swing and it is great to be experiencing some of the best trading conditions that I can remember.

Over the past few months that I have been writing in this section, I have mentioned several times what lovely regular customers we have and I am sure most farms which sell direct to consumers will say the same.

Unfortunately, due to the current situation, we had to cancel all our on-farm courses this year but, as the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade or even better, make cider.

The recent dry weather has been a godsend. Combines have been flat out here in the North West over the last two weeks. Grass silage harvesting has been equally as busy and we noticed the drills are coming out.

The rollercoaster that is 2020 has changed again very quickly.

Kids are back at school, the nights are really drawing in and, thankfully, we’ve finished harvest.

Despite the Met Office’s ninja showers, we have now completed our harvest.

Finally, the grass is recovering. It is at least an improvement to see our fields at home green again, having just spent a week in the Highlands of Scotland and north of England and seen grass galore up there.

A thread on Twitter about British wool recently, got me thinking. There has been lots in the farming press and social media about the very low price of wool most years, but particularly this year.

Writing this as we enter the last week of August I am reminded of how our industry is at the mercy of the weather.