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The year draws to a close, and the farmers race the fading light as they prepare for the worst of the winter.

Disaster strikes for crofters Helen and Graham in the remote north west Highlands as they discover one of their Highland cows has contracted a chronic, contagious wasting disease.

In the Northumberland National Park on the edge of the vast Harwood Forest, tenant farmer Emma and her husband Ewan are preparing for a regional nursery sheepdog trial, being held on their farm. Emma runs her young rising star Meg against a field of 25 competitors, including rookie husband Ewan, who surprises everyone with his less experienced dog Jed. Later, a letter arrives from their landlord that threatens the future of their farm.

In Cumbria, father and daughter Frank and Georgia prepare a new winter home for a recent addition to the farm – a small herd of pint-sized pygmy goats. At the local Christmas market, Georgia outshines dad Frank with her sales patter.

Joyce leaves the farm and the Highlands behind as she travels south to give a speech to mark the launch of the Women in Agriculture report at the Royal Highland and Agriculture headquarters in Edinburgh. Later, niece and nephew Frances and Mure return home to the farm for the Christmas holidays.