A fascinating book arrived on The Dealer’s desk this week – A Touch of Grass, by Alan Kyle. The Tyrone man reflects on his lifetime in farming, including the progress of his sons Michael and Kenneth, who have ploughed their own successful furrows in Scotland and New Zealand.

Wonderfully illustrated with farming images and documents, it uses his dairies to provide an excellent account of a vibrant lifetime of progressive farming.

With all the current talk of contract-rearing dairy heifers as a new enterprise, it is interesting to note that the Kyles commenced the practice in 1967. Furthermore, on 31 October of the same year, Alan Kyle attended his first meeting of the Omagh discussion group.

The Dealer has no hesitation in recommending this book to farmers young and old. A Touch of Grass, which will be launched in Omagh on Tuesday, is available from Carlisle Bookshop, Omagh, for £20 plus post and packaging of £4/€7. Telephone 028-82242011/048-82242011.