2023 Drought thread #1

[Farmer Roy]

Out of interest. What would a typical land rent charge be for a cropping farm in your area?

to be honest, I really have no idea

traditionally, it used to be around 4% of land value, but I have no idea of commercial rates now

most “rental” properties here are large areas, owned by entities such as North American superannuation funds or such like corporations & generally leased by very large family farming businesses or corporate Ag

I know one bloke near Narrabri who was leasing a block ( 100 % arable ) from Westchester & paying $1million a year for it, but I can’t remember how big it was, so that’s not much help
I do know he had at least 3 years in a row where he didn’t plant a crop, because it was too dry

 

[Farmer Roy]

Most farm land here is owned by the farmer ( either family farm or corporate agriculture ), not absentee landowners with massive estates & multiple tenants

 

[David.]

You chaps certainly seem to have big balls.

 

[som farmer]

DD is a bit pointless if you’re just doing it into bare ground. Just doesn’t work long term in a dry environment. Trials here in the 80’s proved it was worse than full cultivation in our environment. Zero till only works long term if retaining max ground cover, & I can’t see any UK machines ( apart from maybe the weaving GD & definitely Horsch Avatar ) planting into our straw cover.
As you say, horses for courses, but I was responding to a question about cropping in a dry environment & it is something I have a bit of experience with.

we have a vaderstaat drill, small acreage,

but we keep pushing the boundaries of dd, drilled game cover into sprayed off weeds, 12/18ins high, only because picked up some wire in the topper ! No problem, went in fine.

Nothing we have tried to dd with the drill, has failed, admit its trial and error, and small acreages, but we seem to get on well. WWheat dd behind maize, s barley dd into grass, and grass to grass.

We need to stop listening to those who say, that won't work, and get on and try it.

But, non inversion tillage, and ground cover, are crucial to retain moisture, in a dry time.

 

[Steevo]

Raining here again this morning...

Ended up with 15mm in the end. Pleased about that.

Certainly turned warm again now though.

 

[soapsud]

Finally some decent rain here in Dorset!
Northern Europe not doing so well.

But veg growers in Spain and Morocco are reportedly to be recovering nicely:

EDO map

Europe is facing drought with more groundwater being lost than replaced by rain

According to the European Drought Observatory, more than a third of the continent is currently under a drought warning, with 10% experiencing severe drought.

news.sky.com

Italy drought: Lake Garda water levels at just 38%

Italy’s drought caused €6 billion in losses last year. What’s the outlook for 2023?

www.euronews.com

 

[som farmer]

doing nicely here, another 25ml today, so far.
everything greening up nicely, and will have another 50 acres to silage, of quality young grass, a mixture of 2nd, 3rd and 4th cut, depending on grazed, or not.

just need it to dry out for the crimped wheat, and bale the straw.

 

[Wombat]

the last 3 weeks are what happen when people complain its too feckin dry

 

[Steevo]

the last 3 weeks are what happen when people complain its too feckin dry

I hope you are not saying it's too feckin wet.....just think what trouble that would cause!

 

[Wombat]

I hope you are not saying it's too feckin wet.....just think what trouble that would cause!

no but we have had about 70mm in the last 3 weeks and it can bugger off now..............................................................................................................till April

 

[robs1]

no but we have had about 70mm in the last 3 weeks and it can bugger off now..............................................................................................................till April

Mid November would do me, not sure which year yet though

 

[som farmer]

no but we have had about 70mm in the last 3 weeks and it can bugger off now..............................................................................................................till April

we have had 102mm in 14 days, don't complain !

 

[David.]

Full Inch yesterday, on top of the one over the last week; officially the moistest drought that I can remember.

 

[soapsud]

Full Inch yesterday, on top of the one over the last week; officially the moistest drought that I can remember.

A lot of our grass was starting to burn off down here. We're glad of the recent rain. France and Germany are still dry. Grain prices may well reflect that come harvest time.

 

[Andy12345]

Can it (the rain) stop now please!! Combine is getting itchy feet !!