Farm Diary

There was talk of failed crops and dramatic reductions in yield and quality across a range of cereal and root crops if it did not rain soon.

Now that the weather has turned, it seems set to remain unsettled for the time being. After such a dry spring, it was bound to balance out very soon, or it would turn into a drought, which many were beginning to fear in the worst-affected areas.

Temperatures have dropped sharply and with the windy conditions, it certainly feels quite cold, but the grass aftermaths are responding to the moisture, which has washed the fertilizer in nicely.

The silage operation went without a single glitch last week and after carting until midnight on the first day, it was all in by 9pm the following night, so we could get it sheeted before the rain; another brilliant effort by our contractors, Glebedales.

We had a very good crop of mostly newly seeded grass and clover, and the quality should be superb; conditions were excellent, and the grass wilted well in the wind.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette May 20