Country diary: There's only one topic of conversation among farmers at the moment

Tebay, Cumbria: While we scan the females, we discuss the post-Brexit payments for farmers, how it will affect hedgerows, barns - and our local breed of sheep It's well after teatime but we are working late, scanning yows. There is a regular clunk as the scanning crate doors open to let one yow out and another in. I have to juggle my spray cans so I use the right colour on the yow to show if she is carrying a single lamb, twins, triplets or is geld - empty. The scanner works quickly and shouts "twins" or "empty".The barn is full of activity. The scanner and myself by the door, but also my son and the scanner's son dashing about in the barn moving animals around and making sure the "race" is always full of yows so that there is no delay. The scanner sits in an old car seat on the floor, concentrating on the screen. Continue reading...