If you believe that a challenge is a problem for which the solution is not yet apparent, then the CLA faces plenty. The process of how Policy emerges within the CLA is one of the greatest strengths of the Association. It is a judicious blend of the enormous professional knowledge and hard work that goes on with the staff, tempered and refined by the practical knowledge and hands-on experience of the members.

The common thread of all CLA Policy is to protect our property rights as landowners and our ability to earn a living from our rural businesses.

Consequently, CLA Policy covers a wide range of subjects and in a wide range of ways. There are the long-term, strategic, positions that deal with subjects such as the Common Agricultural Policy and others which are more immediate, such as the broadband campaign.

The provision of Broadband to the remaining areas is critical to their ability to make their businesses survive let alone prosper. So much is now only available on line, including VAT forms - and have you tried to let an office or even a cottage without access to broadband?

Many CLA policies are ongoing because, like painting the Forth Road Bridge, the job is never finished.

Planning remains critical to most rural businesses and we have been closely involved in the debate on the delivery of planning policy in the future. Closely allied to Planning is the work the CLA does on Heritage. Members own something close to a third of all the Heritage buildings in the country and this makes us the largest stakeholder group dealing with this subject.

Since 2007 we have been arguing the case for Food and Environmental Security and it’s a message that has been heard - but very few farms are profitable without the Single farm payment which makes up 80% of the CAP budget and the need to keep the budget for Agriculture is paramount.

The Environmental side of the equation has always been important to landowners and unless you actually agree with Groucho Marx when he said: “What have future generations ever done for us?’’ then we owe it to the planet and to our descendents to take the greatest possible care in how we produce our food.

The cuts in Government spending will become apparent when we know the result of the Comprehensive Spending Review on October 20.

There is a clear worry that the Agri-Environment schemes, particularly HLS, will take some of the pain and this would be disappointing as such schemes are funded 60% from Brussells and so any cuts would be fairly inefficient compared to cuts in purely UK expenditure.

The schemes are part of the RDPE, a £4.3b programme which runs through till 2013 currently administered through the RDAs and the Government Offices in the regions and both of these are being reorganised. It is simply not clear how the remaining years of the RDPE will be administered, but the CLA will be lobbying hard to make sure our voice is heard and the schemes get their money out into the rural community.

Coastal erosion and coastal access are both important issues for the CLA and the spectre of Blight is now affecting businesses in the South West because of the Marine and Coastal Access Act. Lobbying will continue to get the situation changed. There is much important work going on for the provision of Renewable Energy from the countryside and, given that Governments are now subject to legally binding targets regarding CO2 emissions, this area is only going to increase in importance.

There are issues such as HS2 and the shadow of compulsory purchase and inadequate compensation plus the rise in tree diseases which is also set to become an increasingly alarming issue.

It seems to me that this is an impressive list of CLA policies that are relevant to those owning land. The list may be exhausting, but it is not exhaustive. There are plenty more areas to worry about. But if the worry kills you, then rest assured that the CLA has been championing the reduction in Capital Taxes, with considerable success, over the years.

It is still raining outside my window. My only hope that it is not still raining by the time you read this.