Getting dry

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
0.4mm, forecast up to this morning was 12mm. Slightly disappointed 😢
Sister in law at Ely had an almighty downpour.

We had less than 2mm. First rain in 8weeks should think for me.

Crops don't look too bad. Wheat not really taken the N up particularly well but other wise ok.

I'm looking at hay mowers.

When I get one. It'll start raining 🙈

I even got the baler out. That normally guarantees rain 😄
 

Adeptandy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
PE15
Sister in law at Ely had an almighty downpour.

We had less than 2mm. First rain in 8weeks should think for me.

Crops don't look too bad. Wheat not really taken the N up particularly well but other wise ok.

I'm looking at hay mowers.

When I get one. It'll start raining 🙈

I even got the baler out. That normally guarantees rain 😄
Ely is opposite side of the wash from me, I look straight across at the Cathedral, Littleport didn’t have much either and that’s next to Ely 🤷🏻‍♂️
 

robbie

Member
BASIS
H
Sister in law at Ely had an almighty downpour.

We had less than 2mm. First rain in 8weeks should think for me.

Crops don't look too bad. Wheat not really taken the N up particularly well but other wise ok.

I'm looking at hay mowers.

When I get one. It'll start raining 🙈

I even got the baler out. That normally guarantees rain 😄
Had an almighty down poor at 5/5.30 when spreading fert, it was coming down the road like a river. Igor back to the yard and we hadn't had enough to wet the concrete. Carried on spreading till 8.30 and then the heavens opened and we got a very welcome 6.5mm I recon the other farm got 10.
My mate at shropham had bugger all yet his mum in law at garby said they'd had a good soak.
 

Nick.

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Kenilworth
Well we managed another feeble 2mm over the weekend. 😨
There’s another 3mm forecast Tuesday/Wednesday if it gets here, combine that with these ‘drying’ winds it’s not looking good.
 
Things are growing here but a good drink would make them look so much better. Winter cereals are a mixed bunch with some wheats really suffering now and winter barlies not over thick. Spring barley is looking poor right now probably because the nitrogen is yet to get down to where it is needed. Planted some vining peas last week into some stiffish land as instructed by pea group, no chance of germination until a good soaking comes along. Our little micro climate very often dodges the showers.
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Things are growing here but a good drink would make them look so much better. Winter cereals are a mixed bunch with some wheats really suffering now and winter barlies not over thick. Spring barley is looking poor right now probably because the nitrogen is yet to get down to where it is needed. Planted some vining peas last week into some stiffish land as instructed by pea group, no chance of germination until a good soaking comes along. Our little micro climate very often dodges the showers.
Interesting, pea groups here wont drill if it isnt in moisture, even if they have to be 8" down!
 

Iben

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fife
Rained off planting today again, getting sick of it now, 2 planting days in the last 3 weeks

When would you normally be finished?

I usually found that later planting never made a lot of difference other than pure frustration. Soils are always warming and they come through the ground a lot quicker.
 
When would you normally be finished?

I usually found that later planting never made a lot of difference other than pure frustration. Soils are always warming and they come through the ground a lot quicker.
Usually 10th May but the annoying part is that the sprayer tractor does the destoning, so I like to have it cleared up so that the sprayer can stay on until October instead of having it off and on to spray weeds in early planted potatoes.
 

Iben

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fife
Usually 10th May but the annoying part is that the sprayer tractor does the destoning, so I like to have it cleared up so that the sprayer can stay on until October instead of having it off and on to spray weeds in early planted potatoes.

I feel your pain, been there many times before.
Are you close to finishing?
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
Things are growing here but a good drink would make them look so much better. Winter cereals are a mixed bunch with some wheats really suffering now and winter barlies not over thick. Spring barley is looking poor right now probably because the nitrogen is yet to get down to where it is needed. Planted some vining peas last week into some stiffish land as instructed by pea group, no chance of germination until a good soaking comes along. Our little micro climate very often dodges the showers.
Why do you put N on the top of sp barley?
 
Why do you put N on the top of sp barley?
Good question.Which made me think a bit. Inexcusable answer is laziness. We always drill first then put fertiliser on as soon as we have time because we can drive by the pre -em marks. I guess you are saying why not fertiliser in the seed bed prior to drilling. We still get reasonable yields by doing what we do in a normal year. With these continued dry springs we seem to be having it may require a rethink.
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
Good question.Which made me think a bit. Inexcusable answer is laziness. We always drill first then put fertiliser on as soon as we have time because we can drive by the pre -em marks. I guess you are saying why not fertiliser in the seed bed prior to drilling. We still get reasonable yields by doing what we do in a normal year. With these continued dry springs we seem to be having it may require a rethink.
I would never do that, and i am in scotland
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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

    Votes: 4 2.2%

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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