This week from Farmers Guardian editor Olivia Midgley (September 15)

Defra Secretary Therese Coffey made it clear she did not agree with her predecessor’s ‘arbitrary deadline’ on ending the badger cull

Farmers who have secured Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements by the end of October will be paid a proportion of the monies by December

Kate farms alongside her husband Jim on their farm near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. Farming 122 ha (300 acres), the main enterprise consists of 800 breeding ewes and cider made on site from their orchards. She is a Mum of two, runs ‘Kate’s Country School’ on farm and is the Woodland Creation Officer for Stump Up For Trees. 

Mid-August and the weather continues to challenge us; in our case for silage making. Sneaking odd days is the best we have managed but quantity and quality have been surprisingly good for late summer.