Its been a year of extremes for us. The constant wet over the winter caused issues and is now being followed by constant dry. This sort of weather isn’t an issue if it’s the new norm, but it’s the lack of predictability that is making it tricky.

Crops in general are looking OK, only OK. The dry weather has split the emergence of a lot of the root crops, which has been an issue for weed control, but we are starting to come out the other side of that.

We bought a Bateman RB35 self-propelled sprayer this spring and it has paid dividends as she has been on the move constantly. There’s no comparison in spraying with an SP machine versus a mounted or trailed – it's therapeutic going.

Spring barley is brutal, there is no other way of putting it

Having been late going in, our spring barley after carrots has hoovered up clomazone, which is a carrot pre-em herbicide, and has striped all over the place. It’s a sorry looking sight. Barley after parsnips in the same field has no issues.

Prime slot barley isn’t a lot better, you’d have no problems walking the crop anyway with awns out. Straw yields on cereals look to be poor. For the first time ever, we are having issues sourcing straw for covering carrots, so we will have to wait and see.

You’d wonder where it will end with straw becoming increasingly valuable and grain bouncing along to the world market, albeit it looks like 2018 may have a decent grain price. If you had decent cereal crops this year with straw, you’d be in a decent situation.

Irrigating grass

With the drought taking hold and a heatwave on the way this week, it's all gone a bit serious again. In my area, all slurry umbilical systems are full-time irrigating grass, something many thought they would never see. The feed situation for the stock men near me is quite serious, you’d have to imagine some will look to reduce numbers before the winter to fit their available feed.

Costly exercise

We are trying our best not to irrigate as it’s a very costly exercise and once you start you reduce the plant's need to go down for moisture, therefore making it more susceptible to dry conditions. Irrigation is like drugs to plants, once you start you really can’t stop. I’m sure the novelty factor on grass is exciting but when you have spent any time irrigating the excitement at the prospect at a summer pumping water isn’t mega.

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