In my last article I spoke of how we’d manage to plant our spring barley crop in a fleeting 10 days of dry weather in March.

It was a considerable relief to have done so, with a huge amount of work squeezed into a small window.

I was slightly taken aback by some of the online comments my article received.

Highlights included: “He’s a big-headed show off, never does less than 15t/ha” and “shows Farmers Weekly journalists are completely out of touch”.

About the author

Robert Scott

Robert Scott farms 1,800ha of arable in mid-west Norfolk for seven different landowners. He grows combinable crops and sugar beet together with cover crops, grass leys and extensive countryside stewardship schemes. He also finishes 2,000 lambs a year. robert@thscottandson.co.uk Instagram: @thscottandson

Read more articles by Robert Scott

My immediate reaction was: How does a Northamptonshire farmer know my average yield? And could I really make it as a full-time FW journalist?

See also: Farmer Focus: A rubbish crop review and a lost phone

I am aware that I was in the lucky minority in March, while the rest of the country was suffering a much wetter spring than Norfolk.

Equally, it’s healthy to celebrate the small wins as they are few and far between.

Perhaps my little taster of online trolling is what comes with the territory of writing articles.

As an industry, we speak regularly about mental health and wellbeing, and yet people are still quick to put the boot in online.  

The reality is, especially within the broadacre arable sector, most of us are under enormous strain and paddling furiously below the surface to keep afloat despite everything seeming like business as usual. My business included.

So next time you’re online please try to remember; treat others as you’d wish to be treated.  

Typically, April has not been as kind to us as March. A painfully wet and cold outdoor lambing preceded high winds making nitrogen applications nearly impossible without scorch or delay.

We still have the last bit of sugar beet to drill behind some very wet pig fields.

The little successes this month include Wildfarmed wheat looking picture perfect by luck rather than judgement, and our direct-drilled spring beans are up and looking even, despite a hailstorm. 

Lastly, my assistant manager Sam leaves later this month to become an agronomist. He has given me two great years of hard work through some very challenging periods.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him for his time, and wish him every success for the future.

CVs are welcomed to my email below.

robert@thscottandson.co.uk