A second week with plenty of sunshine, but accompanied most days by a rather chilly breeze. We mustn't complain because it has been a treat to welcome weather just a little more spring like. However farmers, like ourselves, would probably like some warm spring showers.

We have now planted two fields of spring barley, but if doesn't get a drink soon we are wondering what it will produce at harvest. One field was ploughed before it was cultivated to produce a seed bed, the other was direct drilled. This is usually referred to as a minimum tillage method of crop production, when seeds are planted straight into the uncultivated stubble. The drill Kevin used to plant the barley in one pass also covers the seeds and gently rolls them in. We will have to wait until harvest to judge the outcome.

The spring barley sown on both Manor and Chiverlins Farms this year is a variety called Propino. Propino is a malting barley and has been on the recommended list since 2010, performing well in all regions, soil types, matures early and is disease resistant. It also yields well and is still one of England's varieties supported by end users, it also has a good export market. The barley grains for malting need to be plump and uniform, with special properties for the production of a number of enzymes, when the malting process is instigated. I am now going to explain the malting process in simple terms. As long as the sample grades for malting and there is always a question influenced by a number of factors, including the weather. First of all the grains are steeped in water for five to eight hours. This is to increase the water content of the grains to initiate germination. The second step is the germination, done under controlled conditions to get maximum grain modification (with the production of some enzymes), with minimum root and shoot growth. This will take four days.

The last stage is the kilning, which dries the grain and promotes colour. The higher the temperatures used in kilning the darker the beer will be.

Roll on the time, when we will be able to socialise once more!

At the end of the week, apart from planting some of his spring barley, Kevin managed to do some rolling and spraying. The spray was a herbicide used to kill all the germinated weeds and volunteers (cereal plants germinated from grain shed at last year's harvest) before planting his peas and forage rape.

On Manor Farm, Ian spread manure stored in a heap over winter, onto a 20 acre field to be planted with forage maize. Ian then ploughed the manure in before both he and Jenny used our large cultivator to break up the soil.

Due to the way the ground has dried since the rain stopped , they did two passes across the field in opposite directions.and were still not sure if they had achieved the required effect?

Ian, with Jenny's help finished putting a stock proof fence around the field where our Angus x beef cattle will soon be grazing.

I am happy to be able to tell you that Annabel and Natasha's pet sheep Palini, Rosie, Buttercup and Daisy have all successfully given birth and Annabel's new pet Blackberry is progressing well with her halter training.

I have been making the most of the sunny weather, going for my one walk a day. I have been curious about a flock of small birds which fly into the air and down as I walk along one of the farm tracks. They are very well camouflaged, flying up when disturbed and quickly back down making a noise all the time they are in flight. I did however, with my little camera, manage to get one good photo after many unsuccessful attempts . After studying my bird books they turned out to be Meadow Pippits.