While coronavirus might be the last thing on your mind right now, if you have fertiliser to spread, acres to plant and herbicides to apply, you must be conscious of where these jobs might be if the country is plunged into shutdown.

The ongoing wet weather has added to the risks because growers have been afraid to order seed of crops that are time sensitive for fear of not getting them planted. While none of us know what the exact consequence of a total shutdown would be, it would be advisable to have essential inputs on hand.

Supplies

Things like diesel and parts might seem irrelevant but what would happen if you need them during planting and the supplier is closed? As of now, we cannot guarantee that they will be there.

Seed and fertiliser are much more pressing.

Will you have access to what you need during the planting season if your local suppliers are closed? As things look now, it would be sensible to have those essential inputs on hand and inside the farm gate.

There may be a risk that beans and spring wheat might not get planted but most likely they will. We need to get those planted to have enough spring barley seed available.