WHAT a wonderful June! The farm was suddenly filled with birdsong in the mornings as nests were built and the first tentative flights took place.

Silage-making is done and hay-making is under way. Grain stores, driers, trailers and electrics are all being sanitised, checked and readied in anticipation of harvest.

Our crops are developing fast with little disease, thanks to the fine weather. Unfortunately we and neighbours have been victim to people roaming either with or without dogs off leads through crop fields. We have had fences pulled down and a neighbour had her barbed wire boundary cut in several places on several occasions.

There must be a misconception that the “right to roam” means you can literally roam anywhere, anytime. However, there is the stipulation that you can only walk in areas defined as open access and not where crops have been sown or animals are grazing.

It truly isn’t rocket science and I cannot understand how people do not associate farmland with the food that goes on their plates and the time, money and effort that goes into growing those crops or caring for the animals. Who else would put up with such vandalism in their workplace?

As always a few spoil things for everyone. If in doubt, don’t – a good resource for finding out where you can roam is ramblers.org.uk.

If you have seen or been a victim of rural crime, the National Rural Crime Network has launched the biggest-ever survey of rural policing and crime. They want to know our views on a variety of crimes and policing throughout the countryside, from threats to wildlife to the impact of crime on your community. You can take part anonymously by visiting nationalruralcrimenetwork.net.

I read of bTB genetically-resistant bull proofs which could be launched by December thanks

to Scottish researchers. What potentially wonderful news. After seeing an image of a farmer’s two-year-old cow with her green tag of doom this morning and the statement that she will be dead by midday following an “inconclusive” test, we need some action and an end to the slaughter of tens of thousands of cows.

We can all debate how and why some animals are more protected than others but I just want to reiterate that tens of thousands of cows are slaughtered every year and something must be done.