Rainfall.

[texelburger]

Just looking at our recent rainfall and we have had over a third of our annual rainfall in 5 weeks (1st Sept -6th October)
When will we ever get drilling I wonder.Patience is a virtue.

 

[Wombat]

Just looking at our recent rainfall and we have had over a third of our annual rainfall in 5 weeks (1st Sept -6th October)
When will we ever get drilling I wonder.Patience is a virtue.

Better than last year anyway here, we had a quarter of our annual rainfall in the last 10 days of October

 

[farmerm]

Just looking at our recent rainfall and we have had over a third of our annual rainfall in 5 weeks (1st Sept -6th October)
When will we ever get drilling I wonder.Patience is a virtue.

April…..

 

[robs1]

Not sure whether we are better off than last year or not, we drilled all we wanted to last year but most drowned or seriously damaged by the pre em, this year we intended to drill less but only have done half of that and that only a week ago, no pre em on it yet, lots more BG emerging on the non drilled area so not all bad

 

[Hillside]

For a change our bit in central Scotland only got 52mm of rain in September but we did get 304 mm in August

 

[Steevo]

Soils started off a lot drier here by the time the rain started on 23rd Sept than they were at the same time last year.

Much more capacity to absorb the rainfall, and summer cracks to allow it to drain through faster too.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

A other deluge this morning ....that wasn't forecast!!

 

[DrWazzock]

Are we adapting to it though or are we just doing what we always did and hoping it will go away?
Big stacks of preems for example aren’t looking so clever now from a point of view of crop damage, pollution and being washed away are less effective.
And yes, over cultivated soils slump badly but no till won’t go as late as ploughing or will it.
Many more wet autumns and we will be forced into 100% spring drilling into over winter cover crops if we are to keep it “sustainable”. But then we risk the late spring drought which seems more prevalent now. Challenging times, but I think the cropping models of the late twentieth century are a bit busted.

 

[Fubar]

A other deluge this morning ....that wasn't forecast!!

I know. Was meant to be a dry weekend. Lined all the harvesting staff up last night for an early start this morning and is pizzing down.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

.....why do they get it wrong ...the wrong way !

Very rarely do they say its going to be wet ....and it ends up dry but it's so regular that they say its going to be dry and it pours with rain

 

[britt]

.....why do they get it wrong ...the wrong way !

Very rarely do they say its going to be wet ....and it ends up dry but it's so regular that they say its going to be dry and it pours with rain

Because if they get it wrong the other way, anyone putting on an event or has an attraction open to the public complain that the forecast has put there costumers off.
Forecast right or wrong, it's still rain.
The one thing that's more annoying than being rained off is not starting because rain's forecast, then it doesn't turn up.

 

[Tarw Coch]

.....why do they get it wrong ...the wrong way !

Very rarely do they say its going to be wet ....and it ends up dry but it's so regular that they say its going to be dry and it pours with rain

Maybe on a wet year, but on a dry year when you’re in need of rain, they seem to promise a lot that never materialises

Of course, when it’s wet, it doesn’t take a lot to keep it wet, when it’s dry it needs a lot to do any good

 

[Grass And Grain]

Got rain late morning that wasn't forecast. Got some beans ploughed in and was going to power harrow today to level it over. No such luck. Wonder what the chances are now.

 

[texelburger]

Just had heavy rain for about 20 min,not forecast by anyone.

 

[DrWazzock]

Well we are learning : probably old lessons that we have previously unlearned.
If ploughing is your system like ours, then it’s absolutely essential to cultivate as little as possible post ploughing pre drilling and to avoid any kind of “wheeling” or rolling of it post drilling other than tramlines if you have to spray and that’s debatable. Even on the cloddiest land here the rain has battered it well enough round the seed where 5 years ago we’d have rolled after the drill. There’s also a case for drilling round and round to avoid headland over cultivation and poaching where it has obviously been very detrimental here.
The plough, power Harrow and MF30 has done a reasonable job again though the power Harrow would be best replaced by some kind of less intensive spring tine implement as even one pass is too much. Not sure about a furrow press as it woyld have left no plough furrow tops to dry in the wind. One problem we face as a result of this strategy is under consolidated seedbeds particularly on Sandy areas of the field but I hope to roll these areas post drilling if conditions allow.
What concerns me is the lack of effort generally being put into coping with climate change or adverse weather. The industry and particular the trade doesn’t seem to be adjusting its strategy still insisting on 4 way stacks of preems and well consolidated fine seedbeds. These requirements don’t have good outcomes with high autumn rainfall.