A glimpse of old Dunboyne and new co-existing side by side as Connor and Andrew Clarke start next year’s crops off in the middle of the local industrial estate not long after their Claas Lexion 650 combine had devoured a crop of OSR in the same field.

At work are a Deutz Fahr 6210 with a Kvernland 5-furrow plough and their brand new Fendt 718 with mounted Amazon one-pass and Heeva furrow press.

Meanwhile, a few hedges over, the McCann team are hard at it in a John Deere and Lemken sower combination. Sincere thanks to my good mate Rory ‘Furry’ Rushe of Irish Tractor Photos (check him out on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook) for use of his footage.

Many people will know that missing out on farming action at any time breaks my heart, but, this year that pang is hitting even harder for more reasons than the obvious. Therefore, I owe my profound thanks to people like Rory and the Clarke family and indeed all the local farmers who keep me very much in the loop. It means more than any of you will ever realise. I’ll be back!