The Year Round: Frosts brought land into condition

We began spring work on March 15 drilling sugar beet. The task was completed on March 18 for the land worked very well following severe and protracted winter frosts.

Most sugar beet growers in the area have also made a start. March has been dry and draughty, although with little sun.

When we were setting out the markers to guide the drill skylarks were singing above, out of sight in the low clouds. I thought how lucky to hear them; in an office the music would have escaped me.

Nitrogen fertiliser has been applied to the oilseed rape and including sulphur. Fields of winter wheat have had their first dressings of nitrogen and we are ready to begin potato planting when the weather allows.

Poultry on free range have only six or seven weeks left to complete their laying cycle. We don't expect many eggs this season, but they have laid well.

We stick to guidelines to meet contract terms. Pop holes for the birds must be open in daylight hours, no matter how severe the weather.

Inspectors may arrive at any time unannounced and recently we had four in a short period.

They were the RSPCA, British Egg Council, Tesco and a fourth, whose name escapes me. One inspector could have done the work readily enough for all four firms, which farmers have to pay.

One egg dealer was caught importing eggs from Europe and selling them here at free range prices.

He got a heavy fine. That money should have gone to British free range producers, whose receipts have been hit by this large scale fraud.