IT is 7am on a cold and wet Thursday, most people are still probably in bed, but work has already started for Steven Booth.

The 52-year-old runs Broad Oak Farm on the outskirts of Lymm, which is helping youngsters learn more about farm life.

Today, I'm joining Steven to follow him during an average day for a 21st century farmer.

When I arrive at the farm, he is already at work getting the two lorries ready to take out the family's potato merchant deliveries to chip shops across the north west. Once the lorries head off under the cover of darkness, thoughts turn to the next day's orders.

Steven said: "I'm always thinking a day in front. In terms of spuds I'm thinking about tomorrow."

Then it is off to the office with a warming cup of tea to get rid of the February chill as Steven contacts tomorrow's customers to take their orders for delivery.

The straining shelves full of files reveal the changing face of farming as paperwork and red tape takes over every aspect. When Steven first started working on the farm, the amount of paperwork was limited to three books.

He said: "You spent half a day a month doing paperwork that was it. Now it's six to eight hours a week to comply with various bodies."

Farmers are strictly governed on just what they can use their land for and are given advice on how much of each crop they can grow and how many animals they can keep.

After completing the paper work, it is off to check on the animals.

Broad Oak Farm is home to a col- lection of traditional breed animals including saddleback, Gloucester Old Spot and Berkshire pigs, Galloway cattle and Southdown sheep.

These are a major draw for educational groups and the farm has just been awarded a certificate through Defra's Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme for its standard for education.

There were plenty of piglets of different ages, with the youngest born just three weeks ago.

The pigs are bred to make sure that they give birth as close to January 1 to show them at competitions. The age advantage helps.

"We do a lot of showing with the pigs and sell them on as breeders," Steven added.

A wide variety of groups visit the farm, although the vast majority are from schools. The number of school visits is about to rise as the farm approaches lambing season, with the first lambs expected next week.

The rest of the day is taken up by carrying out last minute checks for a school visit the following day.

I leave Steven when he heads into a meeting to discuss how much of his land he can use for crops this year. A farmer's work ...