Three weeks ago I complained about the cold weather and how it was holding back autumn drilled cereals. I then went off to South America to look at farming and have just returned. I was optimistic that this farm would look a lot greener when I got back.
Well, it doesn't. And I am disappointed. I really thought temperatures would have perked up while I was away. But apparently it was wet and cold for the first half of my absence and dry and cold for the rest. Land was only just dry enough to start top dressing as I landed back at Heathrow a couple of days ago.
One of the reasons I often choose to go away at this time of year is in search of better weather. As it happens we had floods in Argentina and an earthquake in Chile. But it was warmer than the UK and by the time we reached Patagonia the sun shone every day. Further north in central Chile (not too far from the quake) farmers were combining wheat.
So, it was a nasty shock when I drove round the farm yesterday to find winter wheat still looking brown and frost damaged and showing little sign of spring growth. By mid March they should look a lot better. Ours certainly won't "hide a hare" by the end of the month. Spring drilling looks some days away, not least because the soil is so cold. And the period during which crops can grow into profit is reducing by the day.
I think I'd rather be in South America.