Suddenly, 2011 is off at a gallop, the struggle with the snow and severe frosts in December a distant(ish) memory and Snowdrops are showing shoots through slumbering soil. Once again, though always missing our cows, I am so relieved that we are no longer dairy farming, and struggling with frozen water pipes, (150 cows producing […]
Global Wheat Prices Read More »
If you walk along the top of Crackle Hill and then downhill towards Polehanger you will notice a big difference between the wheat crops on view from the top of Crackle Hill, which are more advanced than the crops in the fields between the track and Nuns Wood, together with those ahead and beyond around
Oakley: a month in the life of a wheat plant continued Read More »
As promised, I am going to try to outline the process that a grain of seed wheat (and the plant that it becomes) is undergoing at the time of any particular issue over the coming year. Please understand that I am not an agronomist so my explanations may not be perfect! An arable farming year
Oakley: A Month in the Life of a Wheat Plant Read More »
It’s Saturday morning,11th September, and it’s not hot; not even warm. What a contrast to the start I made to my article two months ago! Two big events have occurred since last I wrote, in the personal, local context. The terrible floods in Pakistan and Niger, for instance, are another matter and in another league.
Seasonal Conditions and the effects on Yield and Harvesting Read More »
Rainfall ( lack of ) Everywhere around here is dry. The weather pundits say the first six months of this year are the driest for 80 years or so. The country is split at the moment with rain in the north and west but it is hot and dry in the south east. Even so
As I write on March 13th, the influence of the long cold winter is still very evident. There are no daffodils in bloom down our farm drive yet, no leaves breaking bud in hedgerows generally, no bumble bees looking for nesting sites, only occasional seasonal birdsong when the sun breaks cover. We do have a
Spring-time musings Read More »
One bright and breezy day, right at the end of September, someone remarked to me that it was “another beautiful day”; not hot, not cool just a lovely sunny early autumn day . . . . but there was no rain. I got to thinking what about was said and what was meant. In our
Weather Perceptions Read More »
Which is your favourite season ? Spring with the bursting forth of waking nature and the expectation of the sun on your back in days ahead. Summer with long lazy warm evenings and holidays to look forward to Autumn with its field and hedgerow harvest complete and the wonderful tinted trees. Winter with snow, frost,
Seasonal Favourites Read More »
There is nothing more that we can do now. The rape and winter wheat crops are starting to ripen and lighten in colour and harvest will soon be upon us. The rape should be ready to combine at the end of July / beginning of August, the winter wheat by mid August and the spring
Pesticides: Prevention or Poison? Read More »
I’m writing this on Saturday 6th June and at last we have some desperately needed rain, with more forecast over the next couple of days. We have had some very warm sunny days over the previous few weeks and everyone (understandably) has been remarking on the lovely weather. It all depends on how you define