crops in ukraine under 50% good , under 80% sprouted  osr also bad

I am hearing similar stories here. Possibly OSR a total write-off.

Is it dry everywhere? We have not had a significant fall since mid November - most unusual. The last measurable rain (3mm) was 17th Dec. There is some forecast within the next week. 

we have had very little rain since late october. today was like a spring day. considering sowing more  winter wheat.

currently draining a swamp, its as dry as a bone.

We are due for some very cold weather in the next few days. If it gets too low and we do not get any decent snow cover first....!

Glasshous, often curious as to exactly where you are given your lairds comments about the size of their estates, my guess is that it is somewhere in the Borders region, possibly on the Tweed?

not in the borders, but close!

Glasshouse, I just read a piece in the papers yesterday that said we are now in the worst drought here for 25 years - and this is worst in the main cereal areas down south.

thanks for that info stuart, i will watch the markets with interest!

 What is the current situation around the "known" world of forum users?

Following our 3mm on 17th Dec we had another 3 on 16th January, and that is it.

news today said eastern england on course for drought worse than 76

We have had some snowfall but I doubt if it will have been enough. In much of the country the damage was already done by the autumn drought. We are seeing some very dramatic pictures down south of entire villages buried under snow. The overall depth is probably enough to have protected the crops from the worst of the cold but I doubt it will account for much in moisture terms. The villages are buried under drifts not snowfall. The issue down south, as it is in summer, is wind exposure, either the snow or the soil blows. Massive 19th Century deforestation followed by the socialist era cutting of the remaining windbreaks. Major reforestation is required.

why did the socialists cut trees?

To make more room to grow crops. The same reason they levelled villages and replaced them with a rural tower block. All to create more farm land.

i rememberthe village clearances, reminded me of our history.

Interesting comparison. Here they did not drive them out of the country, just into the city apartment blocks. It was not until the last few years that they actually managed to drive them out of the country itself!