It’s hard to believe we’re almost at the end of September – someone tell me please where has this year gone!

As they say 'the nights are fair drawing in. It seems absolutely no time since we were worried about the amount (or lack) of grass that had grown to make first cut silage.

But now, the vast majority of us have two, three or more cuts under our belt and first cut is a mere memory! Hopefully, this weather will continue and we can house livestock later than last year.

Arla was chastised last month for cutting its milk price, however fair play to it, it has now announced a price rise. The increase of 0.32p per litre takes the co-op's conventional milk price to 32.62p, plus 40.98p per litre for organic milk.

The UK’s biggest cheese manufacturer said high demand and lower availability during August resulted in pricing for all European dairy commodities, especially cheese, significantly increasing. Board director and farmer owner, Arthur Fearnall, said a shift in global demand from China, Asia and the Middle East was supporting positive development in global milk powder prices.

The news will be very welcome and even more welcome if other processors follow suit?

Going back to that phrase … 'high demand and lower availability' … it would appear that milk isn’t the only commodity not meeting demand. If you follow the markets, you’ll know dairy herds are being sold off in their droves, more than one a week in some areas.

Beef also appears in short supply. Coupled with that and dare I say it – the countdown to Christmas – there just doesn’t seen enough to go round. Markets, butchers, wholesalers et al are crying out for more product.

No-one wants to see a food shortage, or rationing, but if it did happen, it might make the country's population sit up and appreciate exactly where their food comes from and how much it actually costs to produce it! Food is cheap … too cheap!

So, would someone please tell me why UK ministers have been told to push for a public reduction in meat and dairy intake by 20%, this is to be achieved by 2030, to keep the country on track to meet climate change targets.

This recommendation by the Climate Change Committee was first made to the UK Government almost two years ago but has been reiterated as part of a series of 200 recommendations made to Parliament recently.

Apparently, we’re lagging behind in our reduction of greenhouse gases by some 78%. In a bid to combat this, some radical recommendations have been put forward.

These include planting 2% of farmland with trees and extending hedgerows by 20% over the next 15 years. Meat and dairy consumption needs to be cut by a fifth in that time and by a further 15% by 2050, said the report.

It stated that 'progress in agriculture and land use has repeatedly failed to meet the indicators'. Perhaps someone needs to explain that this just might have something to do with the fact that we’re farmers, not scientists.

We do what we’re meant to do and that’s keep the country supplied with food and drink. If nothing else, the last 18 months should be testimony to that.

Maybe if politicians did what they say they’ll do when they’re touting for votes, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in today.

The UK Government haven’t yet confirmed or denied whether it will call for a reduction in meat and dairy consumption. Both of these foods are part of – and essential – to a healthy and balanced diet, alongside fruit and vegetables. Such issues aside, livestock was, is and always will be, crucial to Scotland’s economy.

While I’m on my soap box, locally reared, high-quality produce, creates far less of a carbon footprint than imported stuff does. Just say we didn’t produce any of our own meat or dairy items, that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be a demand for it.

Then what would we do – we’d bring it in from abroad! It’s not rocket science that transport isn’t climate friendly, especially planes. The phrase 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' springs to mind.

Now, let’s dispel some myths:

* Livestock farming is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases. The truth – agriculture’s net GHG is significantly lower than many other industries, especially transport.

* Livestock are to blame for climate change. Rubbish. UK cows and sheep account for only 5.7% of nett UK emissions – and that figure is constantly reducing!

* UK farm methane emissions are responsible for global warming. Pardon the pun, that's crap. Methane is a ‘flow’ gas that breaks down and disappears from the atmosphere

* Farm animals use too much water. Wrong! Almost all water used to produce UK beef and lamb is rainwater.

* Land used to graze livestock could be used to grow crops instead. Not true – around 65% of farmland in the UK is best suited to growing grass, rather than other crops.

* Cows and sheep eat crops that humans could eat. No they don’t. More than 90% of beef and sheep feed is grass, silage and brewers’ grains, meaning the industry at large isn’t driving global soyabean production

* Cutting livestock numbers is a straightforward way to reduce our environmental impact. Untrue – without livestock, we would increase our reliance on chemical fertilisers, which are produced by using non-renewable energy, further contributing to our carbon footprint.

* Livestock farmers are doing nothing to help the environment. Actually, the industry is doing lots to help the environment. Now who’s the scientist!

We have an industry to be proud of which provides high quality food, not to mention the employment aspect. We can and are playing our part in tackling climate change.

We don’t need a bunch of scientists and politicians with an axe to grind telling us what to do and how to do it!

I should add the vegan fraternity into that mix as well…apparently livestock farming isn't 'natural'. Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous in your life?

If that’s true I’d love to know what their expectations of 'natural' are. The crap they spout never ceases to amaze me.

None of you can have missed news of the lack of labour, particularly lorry drivers, in recent weeks. Some suppliers are looking at how they can alter their business to take account of labour shortages.

Now this is a very serious issue across the country generally and is affecting all businesses. But, I have to tell you a true story which made me chuckle taking the crisis to a different level.

My husband was out in the yard at milking time recently when a Transit van rocked up and two guys jumped out. A lot of quad bikes and other farm equipment had been stolen around here recently and naturally it makes you suspicious of strangers and 'the dreaded white van man'.

“Mate … we have a parcel for you." They duly opened the side door and there – sitting on a pallet – was a tonne of dry cow feeding from For Farmers. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!