Drought

[Clive]

I’m starting this thread in the hope it might make it rain !

Desperately dry here and nothing forecast, crops will loose a lot of potential if we don’t get a bit soon

Any other areas the same ? Feels like we have all been talking about rain for so long this year !

 

[CornishTone]

Perhaps @Farmer Roy would like to comment on what a drought actually looks like rather than a slight dry spell.

 

[DeeGee]

So often seems to be the same in May as far back as I can remember.
At a time when crops need showers or a good soaking once or twice a week we invariably get hot dry weather.

We had a good night’s rain earlier in the week but we definitely need more now to get things moving and growing properly. No sign of anything in the next ten days from any forecasts I have seen.

 

[Clive]

Perhaps @Farmer Roy would like to comment on what a drought actually looks like rather than a slight dry spell.

If it costs yield it has the same effect no matter where in the world you are

Crops holding on ok now but another week without rain and it’s going to start dropping significant potential

The joys of light land farming - you spend and grow a crop full of potential just for a dry month to destroy it

 

[Yale]

If it costs yield it has the same effect no matter where in the world you are

Crops holding on ok now but another week without rain and it’s going to start dropping significant potential

The joys of light land farming - you spend and grow a crop full of potential just for a dry month to destroy it

If you’ve done your best for the crop and its best placed to survive the dry spell then there’s no point navel gazing.

You DD your crops in so this helps moisture retention and structure so in a way there’s no more you can do.

The only other thing is better drought resistant varieties or crops.

Surely we are not really that dry compared to maybe areas like Southern France,Italy etc.How do they cope?

 

[4course]

The areas of our winter grain crop that suffered in the winter/spring wet waterlogged and cold are now taking a hit re the dry and heat, however that is really helping the better bits atm . Having already written the earlier problem bits off a good few showers would be welcome in the not too distant future to ensure the rest performs reasonably

 

[Surgery]

A very lucky and welcome 12mm of rain last Saturday and everything looks well , another fortnight without rain things will look a lot different but hopefully the WB and OSR will be seen through now

 

[davidroberts30]

I’m starting this thread in the hope it might make it rain !

Desperately dry here and nothing forecast, crops will loose a lot of potential if we don’t get a bit soon

Any other areas the same ? Feels like we have all been talking about rain for so long this year !

All i can say is after 7 wet months just dont wish for any thing

 

[franklin]

Considering it only dried up to drill spring crops a fortnight ago, and we have had a nice inch of rain in two half-inch chunks since then, I think we are way away from a drought. Perhaps the lighter land farmers have just enjoyed the wet that bit more, and their overly lush crops are feeling the strain a bit?

Even if I wanted a bit of rain, I have learnt to NEVER, EVER wish for it to start raining.

 

[Clive]

Considering it only dried up to drill spring crops a fortnight ago, and we have had a nice inch of rain in two half-inch chunks since then, I think we are way away from a drought. Perhaps the lighter land farmers have just enjoyed the wet that bit more, and their overly lush crops are feeling the strain a bit?

Even if I wanted a bit of rain, I have learnt to NEVER, EVER wish for it to start raining.

Think the east had a good soak last weekend ?

3-4 weeks sinse meaningful rainfall here now and it’s been hot sunny bbq weather everyday

 

[franklin]

Yup. The east has had a complete turd of a spring - more like what the west usually gets for rain, but with added cold. I dont see any rain on the forecast for a fortnight. Will give me chance to roll the spring oats a couple more times.

 

[Wombat]

Think the east had a good soak last weekend ?

3-4 weeks sinse meaningful rainfall here now and it’s been hot sunny bbq weather everyday

We had 12mm last sat, been glorious since.

Making up for the fact it was rubbish from Oct to April

 

[Fiveospades]

Rainfall last weekend varied locally from 3mm. for us to 12mm. in west Norfolk. Things still looking ok but a few light showers would not do any harm. Countryside has gone from looking cold and uninviting to gloriously green and picturesque. How are we going to be able to improve on this when our subsidies will be environment led?.

 

[Boohoo]

All i can say is after 7 wet months just dont wish for any thing

You're lucky you only got 7 wet months, we had 11. If I'd didn't rain for a month I'd be happy.

 

[bobk]

A drought will do more good than harm , we're waterlogged the ground needs opening up.

 

[Wellytrack]

You're lucky you only got 7 wet months, we had 11. If I'd didn't rain for a month I'd be happy.

It’s only two weeks ago I got on grazing ground with fertiliser. Only a few days ago I got on to roll the same ground. Its hardly ideal the roller closing up the brand new 6 inch deep ruts

Personally whenever I hear anybody wishing for rain I want to headbutt them. But that’s just me.

 

[Still Farming]

Stay like the clay here soon dries out and caps and you have had it .

 

[Y Fan Wen]

The last of the puddles disappeared yesterday.

 

[Kidds]

The last of the puddles disappeared yesterday.

They haven't here yet.

 

[Boohoo]

It’s only two weeks ago I got on grazing ground with fertiliser. Only a few days ago I got on to roll the same ground. Its hardly ideal the roller closing up the brand new 6 inch deep ruts

Personally whenever I hear anybody wishing for rain I want to headbutt them. But that’s just me.

No, it's not just you...