FARM DIARY BY REG HAYDON

ANOTHER week has gone by with very little progress with the harvest and although West Sussex has once again missed the storms, constant heavy showers have prevented any appreciable progress with silage or hay making and the prospects for winter fodder look grim for many livestock farmers.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jul 2007, 16:40 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:26 BST

This week is the start of Glorious Goodwood, which normally coincides with a spell of fine weather and the end of combining for oil-seed rape and winter barley, but there are still many acres uncut.

The few farmers who have started on wheat are facing many problems, with grain moisture contents up to 27 per cent, which will cost a fortune to dry, and many combines being stuck in the mud; but the pressure is on to harvest wheat within the next week as there is an early premium to be paid because of a market shortage.

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But what of the farmers in the Midlands who have been under water for the past ten days? Damage to their houses, buildings and machinery will have been covered by insurance, but growing crops, grain, potatoes, ground fruit and grass, together with livestock, are uninsurable and in most cases will represent a total loss.

In the affected areas there will be many businesses facing bankruptcy, through no fault of their own, so what help can they expect from the Government or EU? In a nutshell, virtually nothing.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette Aug 1

Related topics:Glorious GoodwoodGovernmentWest Sussex Gazette