Another gloomy and damp week has brought with it some fog and even a frosty morning.

The temperature is mild for the time of year, which can cause problems with stock and crops.

Kevin has had to spray his oilseed rape with a fungicide, as the crop was showing signs of phoma stem canker, a fungus commonly known as blackleg.

Phoma is one of the most damaging diseases of oilseed rape in terms of yield loss. It is, however, strange that one of the best seasons for the establishment of oilseed rape has changed to conditions favouring its spread.

There is a forecast produced for farmers, to warn them of the likelihood of the crop becoming infected with the fungus, which takes into account rainfall and temperature data.

The symptoms show first on the leaves, as spots from where the disease spreads to the stems. That spread is accelerated by warm weather and wet leaf surfaces. It is when 10 per cent of the plants are showing symptoms that the crop is sprayed with a suitable fungicide.

On Manor Farm, Ian has been continuing with hedge-cutting, while Ryan has mucked out the loose bedded pens, used for calving cows or sick and lame cows under treatment.

We have started putting the dairy cows and maiden heifers in calf using artificial insemination. The bulls used on these animals have been carefully selected, following a visual assessment of the conformation of each animal, when each trait is scored and fed into a computer programme.

This programme will help select the right bull for each cow. We have also had a routine visit from our vet, to do post calving checks. He spent time in the milking parlour, particularly checking the condition of the teats, which he said looked good, and as assessing the cattle’s general condition and milking routine. These checks help us keep focused on the health and welfare of our animals.

Kevin helped Richard dehorn the first group of weaned calves. They were helped by Charlotte, who is studying veterinary science at Bristol University. At a few weeks old, the horn buds are just starting to develop, so removing them involves a simple procedure. A local anaesthetic is injected around the site of each horn bud, much like in the extraction of a tooth. Without horns, adult cattle are far less likely to injure each other and the people looking after them.

Something we do not see often is a case of milk fever (postparturient hypocalcemia), but we did this week. It is caused by reduced blood calcium, most commonly in the first few days after a cow gives birth. At this time, the demand for calcium can exceed the body’s ability to use reserves, which interferes with muscle function, causing weakness, loss of appetite and eventually heart failure.

A cow with the onset of milk fever looks wobbly and once down is usually unable to stand. A subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injection of calcium boroglucanate usually enables it to recover quickly. Dietary management before calving is important, with the right balance of minerals and fibre.

I collected wheat, barley and oilseed rape plants to show a class of children from Tregoze Primary School in Swindon. Fortunately, the weather was dull but dry and the pupils enjoyed seeing the cattle, sheep, donkeys, pigs, ducks and other animals. They even saw a roe deer while on their tractor ride.