I AM penning these thoughts in our sun lounge on a perfect summer night – the sun has been shining all day and the cattle are lying flat out enjoying lovely conditions and grass blowing in the wind.

This is the first Sunday in May, following an April with the lowest rainfall I have ever recorded, at 0.75 of an inch. That has given us farming conditions in this part of the world that historically we could only dream about.

Hopefully, I will see many more week-ends like this first one in May, which is traditionally our turn out time for cattle.

I have to admit I am a bit worried that after having enjoyed one of the best spring farming conditions in my memory, we do not pay for it in a few weeks’ time.

Unsurprisingly, the farm income figures published a few days ago showing £12,600 average earnings for farmers. Little wonder, then, that farm borrowing is at its highest ever and those two facts do not make good reading for our industry. It all places Scottish farming in a totally unsustainable position.

This industry has always been cash poor and asset rich. The latest figures give rise to grave concern because, in order to sustain a reasonable standard of living, the industry is increasing its level of borrowing in the hope that down the track the situation will improve, so that over the course of time, these figures will be reversed.

One could be optimistic in hoping that with the change in the currency values, almost every sector, as we move through this next financial year, will show slight signs of a little light at the end of the tunnel. Milk, beef, pigs and wheat may all give higher returns than they did 12 months ago.

The downside is, of course, that the costs are as always on a rising trajectory. Reversing that is easier said than done.

Since Brexit and the impending EU ‘divorce’, the vibes from many directions are that we are likely to see reduced producer support.

The ever increasing number of articles mentioning or from New Zealand, tell us how their farmers coped with the sudden removal of government aid.

I have never been to New Zealand to find out first hand what actually did happen and how they managed, but I have always been suspicious that the number of bankruptcies were much higher than that made public!

An article I read recently by a Kiwi farmer who came through the trauma said he survived by being lean and mean!

I have also been told by a farmer’s wife who had just returned from visiting relatives that farming in NZ was in a poor state, with no new tractors or machinery and the pick-ups were at least 10 years old, with no money being spent on any of the farms she visited.

I called in at Stirling bull sales last week and I have to admit I hardly saw a pick up that was anywhere near 10 years old!

It would be interesting to see a picture of UA car park last week in comparison to a similar one in NZ. This might give us an insight as to what ‘lean and mean’ looks like, with little or no support.

If you live anywhere near the Central Belt of Scotland you will be aware of the constant traffic chaos that takes place every day, compounded by the massive road improvements taking place, particularly on the east side of Glasgow.

I landed in one of those road jams the other day so with Kiwi thoughts in my head, I set about to count the number of vehicles over 10 years old. Out of more than 100, I could only count a handful.

When I started driving, I hawked (sold) tatties and eggs in our local village with a population then about 3000. One street is about a mile long and, back in 1957, I would have to avoid no more than 10 cars parked on it when going from house to house.

I drove down it recently and to my amazement I do not think there would be space left for 10 cars in that mile – even though the majority of gardens had now been turned into car spaces.

Based on their number plates that were not private, I could only find three that were more than 10 years old.

If one were to measure the affluence of our country by the number of new and young cars on our roads, then it sure has changed dramatically over a relatively short space of time.

Another statistic I received the other day was that the number of people eating out during the month of March had gone up by 12%, compared to the same month last year.

Hopefully, that is one of the reasons why beef is becoming somewhat shorter in availability, which takes me on to the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) – the body responsible for the future of meat production in this country.

They elected a new president at their recent agm so I look forward to meeting Frank Clark in the near future. His message to we producers was clear – we need to get more of the cattle into spec’ that we send to abattoirs!

The rate at which cattle numbers are decreasing, maybe his message should be: ‘what do we at SAMW do to help increase the numbers coming forward for slaughter in the future?’

Two months ago this column asked SAMW to give the industry some guidance as to what the future might look like in both the short and longer term.

I am afraid it will need more than just having cattle up to spec! How about what you are going to do about the grading system after Brexit?

Just when we thought we were going to have a rest from referendums and elections, along comes Theresa May with another.

I was not totally surprised, because I said after Corbyn was re-elected as Labour leader, with such low ratings, here was Mrs May’s chance to bury him. By the time I write again, I hope she is returned by a landslide majority! Not that it will be good for farming, but it will be better for the country.

In my lifetime, I have only met two Prime Ministers who have shown any interest in farming – Jim Callaghan and John Major.

A big win for Theresa May would also put any more nonsense of Nicola’s referendum into the back burner for a long time.

Someone asked me if I had changed my allegiance from SNP. I reminded him that since I fell out with Mrs Thatcher over the ending of the milk boards, I had become a floating voter.

So it is whoever I think will be best for the country and, hopefully, farming that gets my vote!

Finally, Scotland’s cattle show season is upon us, with several in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire having already taken place, all having enjoyed good dry conditions.

The largest early county show takes place at Ayr Racecourse this weekend where I am sure the organisers will be hoping the weather holds.

As usual it will be a day for catching up with old friends, watching and no doubt criticising the judging (mine!) and enjoying some hospitality. Hopefully, yours truly will satisfy the majority, but will certainly suit himself and please the winners.