Who would have thought we could be sowing beans in early February after that wet winter. Storm Ciara may bring an end to this in Sunday

No need to panic buy - £2.50 for a 10kg bag of ‘horse carrots’ and one egg, come on hens try harder

Finishing sowing grass in a dust bowl, praying for rain for crops and grass. Floods seem a long time ago.

This Friday we will be 'In Conversation With...' Henry Dimbleby, who leads the National Food Strategy. He will be speaking to Country Land & Business Assn President Mark Bridgeman about all things food, farming, #Covid19UK & more. Register for this free webinar here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… #CLA MIKE VALENZIA

Recommended viewing Mark Bridgeman Henry Dimbleby. Thought-provoking questions, thoughtful replies. National Food Strategy in light of COVID-19.

Interviewed new Farming Minister Victoria Prentis. See link for recording. A good open and honest discussion about the future. She may be new but she understands farming, it is in her bones, she is bright and engaging and her legal background will help cla.org.uk/events/CLA-Web…

Calling for the need for clarity for farmers in the transition away from the CAP in opinion piece for Conservative Home conservativehome.com/platform/2020/…

Making the most of a short break in the wet weather with Bamburgh castle in the background. Always forget that August is frustratingly one of our wettest months of the year.

Afraid I don’t agree with the Sec of State, that sheep farmers can get around a no deal BREXIT by diversifying into beef. It is not that simple. What we need is both sides to compromise and get a free trade deal over the line

Explaining to Sky news why an EU trade deal is so crucial for the farming sector and why a now deal would be so damaging. Trade deals elsewhere provide opportunities but 70% of our food exports go to the EU and we would face tariffs of up to 100% on some products.

CLA Rural Powerhouse Week starts at 10am tomorrow with George Eustice interview. Over 4 days we will look into the future of Agriculture, Trade, Climate Change and Planning. Expert advice and member case studies- register online cla.org.uk

For those that missed it, you can watch the interview on the CLA website. Should be uploaded later today. Interesting answers to ELMS delivery and SFI as well as no deal contingency, research/science and farm profitability. Lots of relevant material for life after BPS on website

Day 2 (Tuesday) Join me & Greg Hands (Trade Minister) talking about UK trade plans - US deal, standards, how to promote exports. If you missed future Ag policy events today including Eustice interview - all on CLA website #RPW2020 ⁦Country Land & Business Assn⁩ cla.org.uk/rural-powerhou…

I have 4 v happy and confident children ⁦Ampleforth College⁩ & have NO concerns about safeguarding please note ⁦Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP⁩ ⁦Department for Education⁩ ⁦Kevin Hollinrake MP⁩ ⁦@annietrev⁩ an extraordinary school that teaches children to think of others first

I am interviewing Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, at 2pm on Thursday on Zoom. Join me and ask your questions about the future of nature recovery - portal.clahosting.org.uk/MY-CLA/Events/…

Nice view from the office today

1974 meets 2021

5 days after devastating storm this amazing team have managed to get all our power back on after repairing various breaks around the estate. A lot of grateful households. Living without electricity is not great in December when we are all SO dependent on it

The main road to the farm on Saturday with two cars stuck in the middle of it abandoned in the storm

Pleased to have the right kit when it is needed. Bought the massive saw second hand years ago. Hadn’t anticipated quite so much work for it. So sad when magnificent 300 year old trees go.