I can’t believe we are almost at the end of yet another year – they say it’s a sign you’re getting older (which we all are) when you say that, but I’m not so sure.

These days we all pack so much 'business' in to our lives, so time seems to pass in a blur. Talking of business and buzz, the last few weeks have certainly been full of it. AgriScot, quickly followed by Live Scot, rounded off the show year.

AgriScot is recognised as one of the best shows of elite dairy cattle in the UK and Scottish breeders were certainly to the fore, although the 'Super' titles eluded our 'native' breeders, with both heading south of the border. The ringside – as ever – was packed to capacity, especially for the SuperCow judging.

Not everyone agreed with the judge – Kevin Wilson, of Warnelview, in Cumbria – but the man in the middle is chosen for his opinion and, as at any show, other opinions don’t count when it comes to making the names for the trophy! So, well done to Mark Nutsford for making history when he took home the SuperHeifer and the SuperCow titles – the first time this has ever been done by the same person with the same breed. And, well done, too, to all Scottish exhibitors.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you show, everyone puts in a lot of hard work. Mungo and Calum Bryson paraded the reserve SuperHeifer with a red and white and also the Ayrshire champion.

We’ll need to watch that Ayrshire lot though – they were determined to take it all back to the West of Scotland. Not content with being in the running for a leading lawyer's award, Margo Scott, along with her husband Robbie were reserve in the red and whites and had champion and reserve Jersey heifer.

I don’t know about other areas, but farmers in this part of Fife have had letters informing them of impending HSE visits between January and the end of March. We were all invited to attend workshops, which urged us to take more care as HSE figures show Scottish agriculture has the highest fatality rate in the UK.

Some 34 people were killed in agriculture in the last five years and those figures don’t include some of the latest tragedies. This is the riskiest industry to work in and though some of these fatalities are simply accidents, many others are preventable.

On another tack, I’m always interested in articles relating to calf rearing as that’s my job at home. It’s always good to learn how others do things and what works for them.

One thing in that department though is giving me cause for concern. There’s talk of feeding calves just once a day on a skim-based calf powder.

The thinking is that low heat skim milk forms a curd in the stomach and is slowly released throughout the day. High heat skim or whey is released within 90 minutes of feeding and not ideal for feeding once-a-day.

There are plus points to low heat skim. It can reduce stomach upsets and feed refusals as it acts as an emulsifier, and among other things it can reduce rotavirus infectivity. It also significantly reduces labour and cost associated with calf rearing. I’m all for reducing costs but are these false savings? Feeding calves twice a day means you see them twice a day and are more likely to spot a problem. As we all know, prevention is better than cure and pneumonia in particular has to be caught early. Twenty-four hours is a long time between shifts.

As 2019 beckons, I’d like to take a look back at some of the topics I touched on in 2018. Most importantly, we are all responsible for looking after our industry, whatever sector it might fall into. We need to tackle this growing criticism from pressure groups and in a bid to do this British dairying has been tasked with rendering every anti-dairy message as null and void.

We must keep promoting our industry and remind the public of the health benefits of dairy products, without ramming it down their throats – if you pardon the pun!

This has also been a year which has seen a significant rise in sheep worrying. Please continue to lend your support to The Scottish Farmer/NFUS/NSA campaign to enforce responsible dog ownership and its aim for tougher laws for those whose dogs are caught worrying farm livestock.

And, on the dreaded Brexit – which is getting ever nearer, or is it? – I don’t want to ponder on it too much as things are changing every day. But, like it or lump it, we voted out so out it should be!

Theresa May's decision to delay the Commons vote earlier this week on whether to accept her Brexit deal with the EU doesn't mean things have gone quiet. As I write this, the PM is on her way to meet leaders, including Germany's Angela Merkel. Mrs May says she, needs 'further assurances' on the Northern Ireland backstop issue before attempting to gain the backing of MPs. So, yet another delay to this ongoing drama.

What now, though? The very act of postponing the vote has been another knock to the PM's credibility. As things stand at the moment, it seems unlikely Mrs May will be able to return to Parliament with anything that's very different to the agreement as negotiated.

So, it’s still a waiting game! ... no change there then.

I hear also there's still a black cloud hanging over dairy farmers in Argyll following the announcement earlier this year that First Milk’s is to close its creameries on Arran and Kintyre. I’m told that there are 'interested parties', deep in negotiations with a view to buy. It certainly wouldn’t be viable to ship milk the hundred or so miles up the road.

So, fingers crossed that the good folk of Kintyre will find out that there really is a Santa Claus!

Staying on the subject of milk buyers, we will find out next year if one of the biggest shake-ups in retail history will go ahead. Sainsburys and Asda want to merge, but if they get the go ahead these retail giants will control 30% of the market and this is a worrying prospect which can only be bad for producers. The price will be driven down and no points for guessing who the fall guys will be?

May I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019. May all your eggs be double-yolkers and may the milk price rise (at least in line with inflation).

Lang may yer lum reek.