By mid June, following the deluge in the last week of May, mid Canterbury had received more than one-third of its average annual rainfall. Needless to say ground conditions are far from perfect.

I had to grin when I answered a phone call from our irrigation service engineers who required assistance, having become stuck fast alongside one of our lateral irrigators during its winter service. It was hard to believe that this beautiful silt loam could become so saturated.

Store lambs have become difficult to finish too, the adverse weather forcing them more into survival mode rather than putting on condition. We had budgeted to have sold 2000 more than we have by the end of June simply because of the weather.

Trying to “kick start” cash flow in the wake of that has not been easy. Grain traders, once again reluctant to move grain for reasons known only to themselves. It’s a case of the “squeaky wheel” getting the oil, so I’ve been squeaking! We’ve managed to move a reasonable tonnage of Claire wheat along with a line of Morph wheat for seed so that’s something.

Dairy farmers are starting to show an interest in maize silage once again after the recent increase in the price of milk solids. We are negotiating with them via a broker, but it’s hard going at the moment as they seem reluctant to commit themselves. It basically comes down to $0.03/kg of dry matter (1.3p/kg), the difference between what they are prepared to pay and what we are prepared to accept as growers.

Finally, as of the first of July, New Zealand has an emmisions trading scheme in place. Has that caused a rumpus? – I’d say! However, we’ve signed an international agreement and our government consider that the cost of breaking this agreement would be much greater than the cost of compliance.

• To read more from Bill Davey click here, or see our other Farmer Focus Arable writers here.