Finding the best words for saturated crops without sounding like we’re exaggerating is difficult. Surely the whole world knows that Lancashire was under water for a time. Cheshire fared better, as always, and has only been saturated for one month as opposed to two.

It’s just as well that we got sown and sprayed-up in good order and the majority will have survived the floods; only a relatively small number will need ripping up completely, though many have large dead patches through puddles which have not yet gone. With spring just round the corner, there is a lot of drying required before we can get on and sort out some of the mess.

Many crops still look green because they’ve got big canopies and it’s been so mild. However, soils must be devoid of any nitrogen reserves, so they are going to turn yellow as soon as they try to grow. Very small doses of nitrogen will be required as soon as its fit to kick-start growth. Don’t worry about advanced growth stages – they don’t really matter because they are not going to be in a position to advance further until the factors for growth are in place.

Disease levels are desperate – but whether or not that becomes a serious problem depends on what happens next – and how you manage them. Mildew and rusts are rife, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be rushing out and throwing money at them. Times are tough and there is no need to waste money – don’t be suckered-into unnecessary fungicides, which will only enrich those selling them.

Cereals will mostly benefit from some cheap manganese and any cheap weed control top-ups. Then there is also the decision to make on further barley yellow dwarf virus control, given that there has not been enough frosts to stop the aphids. Oilseed rape crops may soon present a problem controlling weed if they are too advanced, so that might become a priority for treatment once it dries up.