Still no let-up

The past week certainly brought no weather reprieve for any farmers. Land remains at field capacity, at a minimum, with lots of flowing evident across the country, but particularly across the west. As things stand, currently it is difficult to see much or anything being done on the land until well into March.

That forces growers to have to think twice about beans and spring wheat because there is little prospect for planting opportunities in the next few weeks. That said, the calendar can never be definitive on planting dates and there is always potential for hope where previous planting opportunities have not occurred. We can only work with nature and not against it.

This prolonged spell of incessant wet seems unprecedented. The only good thing is that it is generally so wet that there is nothing that one can do – no opportunity to take a half a chance or a risk. And for the optimists among you, the fact that we are getting so much rain now opens the possibility of getting some decent spells of dry weather at other points in the season.

2020-sown crops

We have no real idea of how much planting has taken place since the year began, but it could well be at or in excess of 5,000ha. It would seem that a lot of growers got in 100 acres of more (some much more) but now this cannot really be regarded as planted or safe because some of it has virtually been in water since it was sown.

However, it cannot be judged until it gets up or fails to get up. The only consolation is that the generally cold conditions can slow or prevent growth and if it is not trying to grow it should be at less risk from the water.

Winter crops

There has been a little growth in recent weeks which has helped emerged crops to look a little better. But it has not made the blank patches miraculously reappear, nor will it. Some of these bare patches may have some weak plants present but they won’t be visible until we see some real spring growth. That is why you can’t really judge crops yet.

As we get closer to March growers are asking if crops, or parts of crops, will have to be replanted. In the main it is too early to make this decision. You can’t do anything now anyway and you may well get fertiliser on to judge growth before you can get back in on any of these failed areas or patches.

That said, experience over the years would indicate little net benefit from trying to stitch-in such patchy crops. Areas that were already stitched in during early February may well fail again. Hold your judgement until April when all of the outstanding work has been caught up.

Fertiliser

This job is certainly getting closer and more urgent but you can’t do it until you can travel. But with so little fertiliser purchased, there could well be logistical issues if you get caught waiting for a delivery when everyone else is waiting too. There is some urgency at the moment in getting farmers to take delivery of product and it may be better to have it than to be waiting for it.