In your field

Not only do I trade on farmers’ markets, I am a director of the community interest company which runs our village market.

Well, the back end of the year is definitely here and it is cold and wet. We are currently trying to finish off tailing and dipping the ewes, but the weather here is playing havoc with our plans by bringing what must be the wettest stretch we have seen since February.

I do wonder if ‘Cheshire maize’ isn’t a perfect illustration of the eternal optimism of farmers.

The full effect of Covid-19 hit us hard when Jim’s mum had a nasty fall and we were not allowed to travel in the ambulance or visit her in hospital over the next week or so.

After a truly fantastic September that felt more like May, the seasons have definitely changed here in Dorset.

This month’s column takes the the form of an open letter to MP Lucy Frazer, who represents south east Cambridgeshire.

Autumn is always busy for a sheep farm and with the onset of some very heavy rain and strong winds the season has definitely arrived in a hurry.

The first weekend in October saw us at the farmers’ market in Huntly town square, despite continuous heavy rain the customers turned up in their usual good numbers and good spirits to provide us with a good day’s trading.

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.