John Bainbridge tackles rent negotiations

At the moment I’m selling fat lambs every week using both live and dead markets depending on which I think will give the best value. It’s good to get lambs away at this time of year with the best of the weather well behind us.

Twelve heifers are due to calve at present. As can be the case we got off to a bad start, pulling out a dead calf that had never set off coming, and detached its navel. Inevitably the calf was one of our better end, though it’s best not to dwell on it too much.

The Swaledale ram sales are well underway and the flock books have reappeared from their hiding place to assist in purchasing rams of which we need several. This year I have the honour of judging aged rams at Kirkby Stephen. To help, my lads have given me a crash course on the finer points of a Swaledale ram. I only hope I don’t upset anyone!

I can’t believe we are once again tailing out ewes and giving them their usual treatments. I usually try to dodge this job, but with Reuben away on a football tour to Switzerland for a few days, I was roped into helping. If only my legs were more mobile I would have gone to Switzerland instead.

Like many other tenant farmers I’ve just negotiated the rent for the next three years, and as the agent said we’ve struck a deal that benefits both parties. With CAP reforms in the pipeline I hope this proves to be right.

Farmer focus: John Bainbridge