The farming year is different to other, less northerly, upland areas in England. Important periods are:
| Activity | Period |
Notes |
| Calving | March to April | |
| Lambing | April to May | Lambing is earlier at the lower, southern end of the valley than in the moors in the north. |
| Marking and clipping | June to July | Clipping hoggs (1-year old sheep without lambs) through June and ewes (mother sheep) in July |
| Silage and hay making | July to August | Very long days when the weather is good. |
| Calving | August to September | Back-end calving |
| Shows | August to September | Sheep shows and autumn cattle sales begin |
| Lamb sales | September to December | |
| Calf sales | October | Also housing of cattle for the winter |
| Tupping time | November | Hill tups (rams) are put to the ewes |
| Feeding | November to March | The poor quality vegetation means both cattle and sheep being fed silage, hay and concentrates |
| Scanning | February | Ewe pregnancy scanning, dosing and inoculating |
| Moor burning | March |