Mrs Down's Diary

The auger then takes the corn up into the dryer and fills it ready to shoot into the big articulated Lorries as they draw up alongside. John then fills another trailer ready to repeat the process once the first load had been emptied.

We are selling 60 tons this week but there is a huge heap in the shed to go at. Despite the harvesting conditions being so atrocious this year, the yield was surprisingly good, but, as ever with these things, when the quantities are up, the price comes down.

Corn is back virtually to the price it was two years ago. Fertiliser and fuel costs have risen dramatically and one of the reasons for selling this load of corn is to pay the fertiliser bill.

The bullocks, whose yard is close to the dryer, have been keen observers of all the comings and goings with the tractor. The weaning that created such a furore recently has been forgotten: absorbed into the day to day life of the herd.

The calves that were separated from their mothers last week are all far more interested in when the next load of rolled barley is being tipped into their trough or if a big round bale of straw is to be rolled out.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette December 10