JUNE has brought some lovely dry weather at last. We have been able to finally plant the maize crop for next winter's feed and take the first cut of grass for silage. The smell of freshly cut grass always seems to signify to me that summer is really here. The cows are settled out at grass and are milking well, it's a pleasure to milk now they are all clean and dry.

The FMD crisis seems to have abated, or has it? Am I being too cynical in believing outbreak statistics have been massaged a bit in the run up to the election. Rumours abound of a further upsurge in the cull. Only time will tell.

The election over, well it was a foregone conclusion wasn't it? And Mr Blair has a 'Mandate to Rip on Regardless'. With the demise of the Ministry of Agriculture, MAFF no more, our industry is now governed by DEFRA. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, not a mention of Agriculture, maybe that's not so subtly telling us farmers something. Where on earth do they think food comes from for God's sake, if not from agriculture? Politically very tough times ahead I fear for our industry.

For the farmers in Herefordshire, getting fat stock off farm has become a major problem. Prices quoted by abattoirs inside our infected areas are up to 60p/kilo less for lambs than abattoirs in clean areas, which we cannot use due to restrictions. This can equate to almost £10 a lamb. The old saying kicking a man while he is down springs to mind.

As I write this, I have just heard that an announcement is imminent on the status of Herefordshire regarding FMD restrictions. Maybe we will soon have access to the abattoirs in clean areas. This will be a real boost to everyone and force these abattoirs on the band wagon to compete in the market place.

Once restrictions are lifted I thought we should organise a "SOD Farming Party", although I am told we would never find a venue big enough at the moment to hold everyone who would want to come.

PAUL THOMAS (Herefordshire deputy vice-president of the NFU).