A month without rain?

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Here we are the stage that comes after worry. I don’t know what you call it, maybe resignation, maybe couldn’t give one, but not bothered actually as if you have done all you can, you can do no more. While there was potential I was on edge wondering which way the balance would tip. Now the potential has largely gone due to complete lack of rain there isn’t much left to worry about on the cropping front.
For the sheep we now have very little grass but thankfully plenty of hay and barley still in the shed.
Another blazing hot day without a cloud in the sky. Might as well just enjoy doing a bit in the garden and forget everything else for a few days.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Here we are the stage that comes after worry. I don’t know what you call it, maybe resignation, maybe couldn’t give one, but not bothered actually as if you have done all you can, you can do no more. While there was potential I was on edge wondering which way the balance would tip. Now the potential has largely gone due to complete lack of rain there isn’t much left to worry about on the cropping front.
For the sheep we now have very little grass but thankfully plenty of hay and barley still in the shed.
Another blazing hot day without a cloud in the sky. Might as well just enjoy doing a bit in the garden and forget everything else for a few days.
Don't want to like that post but that's how i felt 2018. Lessons learnt.
 

jd2013

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Elgin
Don't want to like that post but that's how i felt 2018. Lessons learnt.
Can not remember the last time I had an enjoyable farming year, not talking about breaking records or having enough money to buy cars and expensive holidays , but just an average year with a decent return and not thinking at one point the is a total farce. It is not from lack of trying, but low prices to wind blow , wet springs not allowing to crop growth to the last few years being uncommonly dry and cold in the spring and not forgetting flooding every four years on average. Not fun!
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Can not remember the last time I had an enjoyable farming year, not talking about breaking records or having enough money to buy cars and expensive holidays , but just an average year with a decent return and not thinking at one point the is a total farce. It is not from lack of trying, but low prices to wind blow , wet springs not allowing to crop growth to the last few years being uncommonly dry and cold in the spring and not forgetting flooding every four years on average. Not fun!
Last year was pretty good for us. Never grown so much grass and loads of straw. Polar opposite of 2018. Spot price of malting barley was poor but extra tons made up for it.
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
Can not remember the last time I had an enjoyable farming year, not talking about breaking records or having enough money to buy cars and expensive holidays , but just an average year with a decent return and not thinking at one point the is a total farce. It is not from lack of trying, but low prices to wind blow , wet springs not allowing to crop growth to the last few years being uncommonly dry and cold in the spring and not forgetting flooding every four years on average. Not fun!

I'd agree on this to much of an extent.

Doesn't make taking on any extra land seem an inviting proposition.....but there seem to be plenty of people still wanting to climb the tree a bit further.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
how are things looking now? aberdeenshire got a fair dumping of rain the other week there?
Everything holding on well. Sounds like we have been lucky compared to others. 2mm last night and more forecast this afternoon. Definitely no surplus at moment. Will do first spray on early drilled stuff next week. Getting a good dose of trace elements to try and keep it going.
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
Here we are the stage that comes after worry. I don’t know what you call it, maybe resignation, maybe couldn’t give one, but not bothered actually as if you have done all you can, you can do no more. While there was potential I was on edge wondering which way the balance would tip. Now the potential has largely gone due to complete lack of rain there isn’t much left to worry about on the cropping front.
For the sheep we now have very little grass but thankfully plenty of hay and barley still in the shed.
Another blazing hot day without a cloud in the sky. Might as well just enjoy doing a bit in the garden and forget everything else for a few days.
A small heap at a big price is better than a big heap at a small price
 

capfits

Member
Just had a wee look in diary
9 mm for April
9.5 mm for May so far.
Last double digit rainfall 10 April.

Stuff looks ok in main, wheat feeling it for not getting fert washed in.
Spring Barley ok
Grass feeling it at rock heads, more the last few days cold getting it now.

Forecast going forward. A little rain on Sunday and then nothing.

Could get tricky.
 

T C

Member
Location
Nr Kelso
10mm in last 8 weeks, not much in the forecast. It is costing yield wheat short of tillers, cant get N into crop without rain.
Spring barley on cloddy land just emerging lighter parts now has 2 tillers but will run out of moisture!
 

Fish

Member
Location
North yorkshire
Checked our records yesterday, 4mm since mid March, which will be almost 9 weeks ago.

crops are still hanging on, just, but if we get some heat, things will start to go down hill fast.
 
Just had a wee look in diary
9 mm for April
9.5 mm for May so far.
Last double digit rainfall 10 April.

Stuff looks ok in main, wheat feeling it for not getting fert washed in.
Spring Barley ok
Grass feeling it at rock heads, more the last few days cold getting it now.

Forecast going forward. A little rain on Sunday and then nothing.

Could get tricky.
9.5mm for may?u cant argue with that
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

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

  • 1,292
  • 1
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/
Top