A month without rain?

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
They've no idea what weathers going to do further than 7 days ahead. Wouldn't worry too much. I'm holding off with N on spring barley until looks like rain. Its had 30 units when sown. Same with grazing grass.
 

T C

Member
Location
Nr Kelso
They've no idea what weathers going to do further than 7 days ahead. Wouldn't worry too much. I'm holding off with N on spring barley until looks like rain. Its had 30 units when sown. Same with grazing grass.
No point worrying can't do anything about it.
Jan 2019 was the driest month in the last 80 years at a local weather station, think it was 6mm.
 

Northern territory

Member
Livestock Farmer
What affects these weather patterns when there is nothing in between very dry or very wet. Think we had a bit more of a mix last year leading to good yields.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
We had rain last weekend. Not much, mind.

Rain forecast for tomorrow down South. Hopefully gets up here Sunday.


We aren't critical, things are nice, but I'd happily take a few days of warm drizzle to keep the green stuff motoring (and wash in all the fert I've just spread)
 

Wombat

Member
BASIS
Location
East yorks
Not unusual at this time of year.
Every year since TFF started there has been a drought thread around now.
We do seem to get stuck months on end in the same weather patterns in a way we never used to though.

Yeah it’s not the 8 weeks of drought that’s the issue it’s the 5.5 inches of rain we had in 3 weeks in Feb that’s been the problem
 

Happy

Member
Location
Scotland
They've no idea what weathers going to do further than 7 days ahead. Wouldn't worry too much. I'm holding off with N on spring barley until looks like rain. Its had 30 units when sown. Same with grazing grass.

I think up until the past month the northeast of Scotland was getting much dryer weather than the rest of the UK so I can imagine any drought now will affect you guys worse:(


Yeah it’s not the 8 weeks of drought that’s the issue it’s the 5.5 inches of rain we had in 3 weeks in Feb that’s been the problem

Agree, the continual wet from October prior to that didn’t help us cope with it either.

Got a field of wheat on clay that I was sick of looking at every time it rained. Took it out and sowed spring barley in it 10 days ago and now got the opposite problem:banghead:
 

Wombat

Member
BASIS
Location
East yorks
I think up until the past month the northeast of Scotland was getting much dryer weather than the rest of the UK so I can imagine any drought now will affect you guys worse:(




Agree, the continual wet from October prior to that didn’t help us cope with it either.

Got a field of wheat on clay that I was sick of looking at every time it rained. Took it out and sowed spring barley in it 10 days ago and now got the opposite problem:banghead:

Yup had a field of stubble I couldn’t get in last autumn that I drilled 3rd April that lies ungerminated

That’s life though
 

Northern territory

Member
Livestock Farmer
I think up until the past month the northeast of Scotland was getting much dryer weather than the rest of the UK so I can imagine any drought now will affect you guys worse:(




Agree, the continual wet from October prior to that didn’t help us cope with it either.

Got a field of wheat on clay that I was sick of looking at every time it rained. Took it out and sowed spring barley in it 10 days ago and now got the opposite problem:banghead:
I know it’s the Jet stream that affects it but we seem to get stuck in a sort of a northeasterly airflow which stops any potential rain ever getting into the north or east. Not complaining as this dry spell is brilliant in some ways but some kind of balance would help.
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Been bouncing about on rock hard tramlines putting the last of the fertiliser on with that feeling that I am just going through the motions again. Don’t know if this years crops will make use of it. It just sits on the surface. Yes we can get things done but it would be nice to see the crops making real progress rather than just hanging on. Actually feel happier working in the shed than being out on the fields looking at poor and struggling crops. The beet in particular sits there at the size of a small wing nut for what seems like eternity taking one battering after another from strong easterly winds.
It’s often been like it though, but it’s the reduced potential and waste of effort and inputs that bugs me. That’s farming all round though. If it wasn’t for the scenery and the independence it wouldn’t be worth doing.
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
On a more optimistic note I have been pleasantly surprised by the success of later direct drilling on heavy land of spring barley. It looks better than the ploughed and worked stuff obviously because we didn’t lose moisture. How it finally yields is yet to be seen as the seedbed was extremely hard but it’s come up well. The direct drilling worked because I waited till the surface was just on the turn between fudge and concrete all the while wet underneath. I would say it was a two day window here. Then rolled it twice to close the slots. Bingo. Nearly 100% establishment where some of that land ploughed is close to zero in the worst patches. Didn’t roll that enough though and left too long between ploughing and drilling so direct comparison unfair.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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