I HAVE had several requests these past few days to make this month’s column more upbeat – why?

But I knew full well what the answer would be – every one is depressed with this weather. Little wonder when I tell you that my rain gauge from June 1 up to August 21, measured 12-inches – not quite so bad as 2010 yet, when 15.5 inches fell in the same time-scale. At that time, all cattle were re-housed by mid-July.

This year, with only a few still grazing as I pen these notes, 2017 is almost as bad and giving us all cause for concern.

If I do not use a certain two words on the rest of this page, then it can only be upbeat and these are 'Brexit' and the 'environment'.

I am sick and tired of both. Added to Trump's goings on across the pond, one would not want to hear from any politician again.

However, I think there is quite a bit of good news around. Take the start of the store lamb sales, with one of the largest in Scotland still to come at Dingwall.

After last year’s hammering that lamb finishers experienced, you might have expected a drop in the value of store lambs this time. But, so far, that has not happened and hopefully this will be maintained.

It's being influenced by currency changes moving in favour of exporters. If you are milking cows, it is not wonderful but a great deal better than 12 months ago, especially for those who have their cows housed 12 months of the year. It means they have not needed to endure November-type weather in July and August.

I am hearing of some very high yielding robot milked cows these past few weeks where they are enjoying the comfort of dry cubicles, a total mixed ration, balanced to perfection and they visit their milk station on average 2.8 times per 24 hours, which, for these cows it is like 5-star accommodation!

Several excellent outfits with their cows on, what we now call, the New Zealand system, where they all batch calve in the early spring, have a super roadway through out their paddocks on mostly free draining land, are all delighted with the performance of their herds. Though they give a lot less milk, it's at a much lower cost and less capital istied up.

That is dairy farming in Scotland today – we go from one extreme to the other and the majority in between!

Another brighter sector than 12 months ago has to be beef finishing, with gross margins nearly as healthy as they were after horse-gate. The down-side is the reality that the cost of producing that beef is on an ever increasing rise.

Added to that is the fact that beef cattle at grass this year have not thrived as well as expected, especially where no hard feeding was available. Where cattle have been fed since mid-June, weight gains have been better than non-fed cattle at grass.

One thing I am seeing at auction markets this past couple of weeks, is some very weathered cattle that have either had no weight gain or, at best, less than a kg per day. That does not bode well for even covering costs, let alone leaving a margin!

Store cattle values are up a little but with finishers trying to recoup the losses of last year, they are reluctant to pay any more than they have in the past. There is certainly not many finished cattle coming off grass, nor is there going to be.

Most of them this year will have to come inside for a period of hard feeding before they are ready for slaughter.

Another aspect of the beef sector that is moving in the right direction is the research now under-way to have a replacement for the EUROP grading system for cattle once the divorce takes place from the EU.

In the August 5 issue, The SF's business editor, Patsy Hunter, had an excellent article on this subject, explaining how four other countries classification systems worked. Fortunately, AHDB is leading the call for change, with Laura Ryan asking all with an interest, to submit their views by September 8 – by e-mail to carcase@ahdborg.uk

Even Ireland, which is still going to be a member of the EU, is looking at changes to the grading system, by investing around £8m in research, co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and meat companies, ABP, Ashbourne Meat, Dawn Meats, Dunbia, Hilton Foods, Irish Country Meats, Kepak, Liffy and Slaney foods. The research is being headed up by Dr John Colreavy, director of Meat Technology Ireland. He is going to research six areas, the most important being tenderness and carcase grading.

The results of this research will be extremely interesting. I believe there are three reasons why we need to change away from the EUROP system.

• If we are to stop the continual decline in suckler cow numbers, we need a cow that costs less to keep. We need a cow that the next generation of suckler cow keepers do not have to sleep with them in order to procure a live calf. To do that, we have to move away from extreme shaped cows.

• We need to increase the tenderness of our beef and aim for a more consistent product.

• If we do not make these changes, then the countries with whom we will be competing after we leave the EU, (which Patsy Hunter highlighted), will be away ahead of us in the market place. The opportunity for change is in our hands.

If we do not take up this challenge and get our house in order to enable us to compete with the world’s beef producers, then Scotland will be left with a small niche market.

Briefly, I am going back to a subject I touched on last month and John Elliot covered last week, ie tree planting. It seems we share similar thoughts.

There are vast tracks of Scotland that could be planted in trees, so if you want to get all the relative information about trees and government assistance, call Andrew Kennedy on 01387251253 who will be able to help you in every way.

Trying to keep my upbeat theme, I have to admire all who participate in our vast number of local and county shows, encouraging great community spirit. It is a credit to all concerned.

We have attended a number this year, seeing all kinds of stock, disagreeing now and again with the judges, even to the extent of wondering if they were presenting the rosettes from the wrong end on one occasion! Probably the most important aspect has been the banter or craik with folks you have not seen for some time.

It does become a bit concerning when one speaks to four generations on one day, which tells me something I do not like!

However, I am sure those summer shows will survive, having seen the enthusiasm by the parents and organisers. One of the highlights was at Craigie Show, in Ayrshire, when there were 12 children in a class, all leading calves, so good luck to all.

In converse to my last paragraph and straying from my upbeat theme, a few stalwarts at the mart over a cup of tea, were discussing the future of farming. Between us we came up with 20 farms that, after several generations, would have no successors farming in 10 or 20 years – mainly because the families were not interested and had chosen different careers.

We were also reminded that historically farming families usually had two to six children, whereas today it is one or two, meaning fewer successors to carry on the tradition.

Finally, let us dream for a moment. By the time you read this, there is going to be a high pressure right above Scotland and it is going to stay for six weeks – so all the forage still to be ensiled will be completed in the best condition possible, and all the harvest, in near perfect condition, is securely gathered in.

Dream on!