Insight Focus
High temperatures and dryness affect UK farm yields. Aphid risks and crop conditions are concerning. Farmers face budget pressures and government policy uncertainties.
What’s Happening on the Farm?
Although not quite true, since I last wrote it hasn’t rained and air/soil temperatures have been notably above normal. What was really very wet land is now surprisingly friable which has allowed us to rush round drilling things.
I’m not so sure it has been as kind elsewhere and with later drilling comes lower yield.
The high air temperatures do cause an aphid worry. The sunshine, however, allowed us to harvest the maize. Afterward, I sat quietly for a while, just listening to the silence.
What Stage are the Crops at?
Wheat/Rye/Spring Barley
Rye drilling is complete and pre/post emergence herbicides have gone on. An insecticide has also been sprayed, to address the aphid worry. Apart from not really being able to see them, aphid damage doesn’t become obvious until the spring and so I’m neurotic about it as, by then, there is nothing we can do to undo that damage.
The photos show the effect of herbicides, I’ve always been told that you cannot grow two crops in the same field at the same time. The UK government holds a different view.
Herbicide used
Herbicide not used
I’m finding this year’s wheat particularly interesting, as we’ve taken a more aggressive approach to boosting yield. Weirs statement, I accept. However and for lots of reasons, planting dates have slowly drifted into mid October and beyond.
Last year (harvest ’24), this really hurt us. As a comparison, when I was a young and an enthusiastic farmer planting wheat in August was considered fashionable. We’ve brought planting dates forward and now must address the issues that this raises, but not into August.
OSR
In the main our crop is huge, we planted early to reduce the risk of CSFB. I really don’t know….. I am assured that leaves will be lost over winter and there is nothing to worry about. Nitrogen used in growing these leaves will be returned to the soil ready for the new growth in the spring. On another positive note, we have not seen phosphate shortage in the leaf, purple leaves. But I don’t see much OSR grown locally.
Sugar Beet
Harvesting with vigour, in case my processor is reading this. The season began poorly, with dry conditions, and worsened with heavy rainfall. I have to worry about soil conditions and the effect on worms now-a-days.
Deliveries are underway. My fellow haulier cheerfully commented to me that I was about to enter the “Wissy public showers”, as he explained that the “public bath” was a thing of the past. Saves on water, apparently.
Whether true or not, it’s said the grower has completed about three weeks’ worth of deliveries. Given what we faced last year, it seems reasonable, but if that’s the case, sugar levels are likely to be lower.
The neonic argument continues for harvest ’25, a ban seems likely. It would be helpful if before they ban something they have a solution for the problem that is about to be made worse.
What are your Biggest Concerns?
My worries on farming get worse. Our new government has published its first budget which is not farmer friendly. They have put to bed the old adage that “farmers are always better off under a Labour Government”.
It doesn’t matter which period of time I look at, short/medium/long, we are under attack. And that is before I get onto my favourite topic of government incompetence.
For reasons I cannot explain, I have taken to listening to BBC’s “Farming Today” radio programme. It appears to be against cows, unless you are a regenerative farmer.
I am trying to decide which will be extinct first, the cows or me.
