51AVÊÓƵ

We are only a few months into our venture and after setting up the milk hut in a morning, I get on with my regular farm jobs, such as calf feeding and the like.

Harriet Lyon, 19, from North Yorkshire is about to embark on her second year at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Here she shares her latest blog with us on what life as an agricultural student is like, in a somewhat different year to what was expected.

Calves from the 320-head British Friesian herd at Thornington 51AVÊÓƵcontinue as the farm’s own heifer replacements, go for dairy beef or to other suckler herds.

We had a bit of excitement in the garden last week. I had a text from my wife to phone the local farmer after she heard a moo which sounded too close. It was, and 75 cows and their calves had got out and were walking down the street.

As I write this article on July 16, I am delighted to report that the MacLeod family managed to fit in a ‘staycation’ having just returned from a four-day trip to Wester Ross and a stay in my uncle’s chalet.Ìý

Edward Dungait, 27, from Morpeth, Northumberland, is an arable farmer and owns 263 hectares (650 acres) of land under 51AVÊÓƵBusiness Tenancy and the Agricultural Holdings Act in partnership with his parents. He is also the current National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs vice-chairman of council.

Nearing the end of an extraordinary season, we can count ourselves lucky Covid-19 has affected our working lives much less than many. But then again, we have the weather to contend with.

With no oilseed rape or winter barley in the ground I was not expecting an early start to harvest and that is how it looks at the moment.

The Neill family from Thornington Farm, Northumberland, milks 320 British Friesian cows and has invested heavily in the dairy enterprise over the past decade.

As I write, combines in our area are making their first tentative starts into this year’s harvest.