As I watched the weeks weather forecast last Sunday I was full of hope that the two periods of rain experts thought would cross the country - one on Tuesday and one on Thursday - would give our land the soaking it so desparately needed. Nitrogen applied to wheat weeks ago had never been washed in; the sugar beet had not all germinated and skylarks had been biting off many of those that had; spring rape drilled to replace failed winter crops had never had enough moisture for even germination either; and crops generally were beginning to look very ordinary.
But the rain on Monday evening amounted to about 3mm and never did more than dampen the surface of the soil. Tuesday was hot and dry and by lunchtime all signs of it had disappeared. Wednesday was another lovely day for tourists but equally unsuitable for farmers. And today, Thursday, the sun is shining brightly again here in Norfolk with hardly a cloud in the sky. That rain the forecasters promised may have helped farmers west of Cambridge but has not reached this part of East Anglia and we are becoming steadily more parched with yield potential for this year disappearing like dew off a dyke.
In London yesterday I met farmers from Northern Ireland, Wales and the west country and most were complaining about too much rain. On average, therefore, the UK is probably having a wonderful spring! But averages are misleading as the above illustrates. If only the weather gods could give us all the appropriate amount we would be happy. But when did that last happen?