By Ian Dillon, Hope Farm Manager

As we enter the autumn it is time to reflect on the harvest and breeding season at Hope Farm. Farming is always a challenging business. Not enough rain, too much rain, too cold, crop damage from woodpigeons or rabbits, cost of fertiliser – the list of events that can seriously impact on how much wheat, oilseed rape or field beans is grown is endless.

This year was definitely a tale of two extremes. Conditions in the winter were more akin to those expected in northern Scotland: prolonged snowfall and heavy frosts. This was followed by an official drought with only 36 mm of rain falling between February and May.

The lack of rain in particular can have a serious impact on the crops. Low rainfall leads to poor growth of the seed heads. However, our soil type is heavy clay. We often bemoan this for a multitude of reasons, but this year it was our saviour.

The clay held on to moisture long after sandier soils had dried up, allowing the crops to develop better than expected given the lack of rainfall. Considering the drought our yields were very acceptable, but still markedly lower than three years ago – the last near-perfect growing season.

Normally our wheat is grown for animal feed. This is primarily because these varieties tend to be resistant to infestation by harmful insects and fungi. Recent advances though have allowed biscuit-grade varieties to be developed which show similar resistance. This allows us to avoid using particularly harmful pesticides and fungicides. So, when we dunk our biscuits in tea this winter we can be happy with the thought that this biscuit may just have come from the farm!

Birds have also done very well. I am constantly amazed at how bird numbers have increased since we bought the farm in 1999. For instance, we recorded 10 skylark territories in 2000, but 43 in 2011. That is a remarkable increase. Other species, such as linnets, have responded even better.

What is even more remarkable about these increases is that we have managed to achieve this without impacting on our core cropping and while these same species are declining drastically elsewhere in the UK.

Simple, well-targeted management providing safe nesting habitat, an abundance of feeding opportunities during the breeding season so that chicks can grow rapidly and plenty of winter food through wild bird crops, have clearly delivered substantial rewards. The increase in bird numbers has been a really fantastic success story.

But Cornish Dumplings? One of the species which has declined most in number and range across UK farmland are corn buntings, colloquially known as Cornish Dumplings in Cornwall. There are 80% less now than in the 1970s. A very sad and worrying state of affairs.

However, for the first time since 2001 we managed to attract two pairs to set up territory on the farm, around one of research areas. We were really pleased to have attracted them and hope that they will return for many years to come.

As I sit in the farmhouse kitchen having my mid-afternoon cup of tea I am looking at my biscuit and at the corn bunting photo on the wall. For me there is only one winner - Cornish Dumpling, please!

Photo: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)