Ian Bird (left) and Paul Summerbell have had few chances to get on the land recently.
Field work at Catchgate Farm, Castle Eden, County Durham has ground to a halt since Easter.
"I'm really not sure whether it's April or January," said Ian Bird. "We had 4in of snow on 7 April, heavy rain since then and it's been snowing again today. We've had quite a few white frosts too.
"Last year at this time it was already too dry.
"The oilseed rape is extending, 2ft tall and in desperate need of its anti-phoma Charisma and growth promoter spray.
"Our T0 on the wheat, which we always try to get on, is now totally out of the question, so we'll have to use something a lot stronger at T1. But this won't be until mid-May given the speed that crops are growing at the moment."
Fortunately the wheat appears reasonably disease-free. But he is concerned at his inability to give it a growth regulator. "It's also due for another 70 units/acre of N - it's only had 30."
The final 300t of last harvest's wheat left the farm at the end of March sold for £183/t. "But the weights aren't back yet so I can't tell what last years final yield was.
"The moon's due to change in the next few day, so hopefully we should be in for some better weather."
To comment you must first log in (top left hand corner of the screen).
More diary entries in our Barometers' Over the Hedge series