Some will go willingly. Some will be pushed. But most will have to be dragged. Into what? ... into accepting the massive changes that are now inevitable as part of climate change initiatives.

But farming is and can remain at the forefront of confronting change by embracing new ways of thinking that will make a difference. Whether these changes will have, as Groucho Marx once put it, a 'sanity clause' inserted, cannot be relied upon and so buckle up, batten down the hatches, for this is going to be a bumpy ride to the Utopian idyll of carbon neutrality.

Not that there has been much neutrality about some of the arguments being used to barrack the farming industry. The blind cynicism of it all has been breathtaking ... as if eating a soya-based 'chicken' steak from crops grown in South America is better for the planet than eating a steak or cheese from a locally sourced farm. In this respect, it's time for politicians and some from the science sector to start to argue back against the zealots on behalf of livestock farming. Farmers cannot do it on their own as it will always be rightly argued: 'Well they would say that ... wouldn't they.' So we badly need some neutral champions to stand up on our behalf.

But farming can be pro-active too. It will have to embrace new technologies – like the electric telehandler featured on page 33 – and move to minimum tillage methods (page 5) to reduce its carbon footprint. It is so frustrating, though, that farming's eminently sensible plans for a 'green' future – as espoused by the recommendations of the Farmer-led Groups (FLGs) – has been so frustrated by the obfuscation of those charged with implementing them.

That the tail is wagging the dog on this one is fairly evident, but it should never be forgotten that even in these 'woke' times, you can still have the doggie's tail docked if it is deemed to be a sufficient irritant.

Plus, we suspect that all the anti-farming huffing and puffing from the vegan brigade – not those who choose to be that way, but those who choose to vilify the red meat eating majority while maintaining a lily white facade – is not much more than a fart in a bottle. Now, how appropriate is that!

Lovely weather

Certainly climate change has been playing a big part in farming life this week!

The hay balers have been out making some rare, quality hay, second cut silage has been moving on apace as accelerated by a mixed bag of weather followed by heat and humidity; and the winter barley has turned a golden sheen in the sun.

Now that we are 'allowed out', a quick run around the countryside will show anyone just what a green and pleasant land we stay in and contribute towards.

There is no better farming subsidy and aid to profit than when the weather's kind. Long may it continue to what, at the moment, looks like a fruitful harvest.