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While agricultural support and subsidies are of personal interest and importance to me looking to the future of our family farm, it also makes up a large proportion of my working life as a chartered surveyor and land agent.

Christmas has come and gone once again and, like many families, it was very quiet this year, with family celebrations put on hold.

James Lacey is managing director of a Lincolnshire-based horticultural and agricultural business. A specialist in growing and packing flowers, James also grows potatoes, winter wheat and sugar beet. The farm covers about 1,000 hectares of rented land in South Lincolnshire. Follow him on Twitter @hortijames

As 2020 began, who could have forecast what was about to hit us and the rest of the world.

This is the time of year for reflection after we get the last of the Christmas orders out of the shop.

I find myself writing my final In Your Field article. There is a lot of change on the horizon for 2021 in farming and in my own life and, although I will miss the writing, it is time for someone new to stretch their grey matter after a Christmas to remember, if possibly not for the right reasons.

The period between Christmas and New Year has always been a time of reflection for me. I am sure that I won’t be alone in feeling that much I had hoped to achieve during 2020 was somewhat derailed.

I suppose it was always on the cards that I would end up being a tree hugger, especially being rather alternative in my youth. However, now the Government is encouraging us to be tree huggers I no longer feel such a rebel.

As 2020 draws to a close it is fairly natural to reflect on what the last year has dealt us; but that could get a bit complex.

There is great joy in our household as the twins are in the depths of mock exam revision and the pressure is on as the gaps in our home-schooling caused by lambing, calving and silage become apparent.