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Floods dampen crop prospects

- 09 February 2001
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9 February 2001



Floods dampen crop prospects

By FWi staff

THE winter crop area could be 50% less than planned, because many crops already in the ground look destined to fail, predict industry observers.

Advisers say unprecedented waterlogging across much of the country means few crops drilled into frost in early January are now likely to emerge.

Many crops mauled into sodden seedbeds in late November and December could also rot in the field.

One commentator suggested that up to 20% of winter sowings could now fail, leaving the total winter crop area at half the level planned.

More conservative estimates suggest a 5-10% crop loss, taking total plantings to 60-65% of those planned.

John Garstang, ADAS crops co-ordinator, reckoned 10% of all cereal sowings to date were of questionable value.

“We have been monitoring the picture for three months and it is mainly November and December drillings that have rotted,” he said.

North Yorkshire-based Andrew Fisher of the Association of Independent Crop Consultants said there were very few fields without wet holes.

“I estimate that 5-10% of crops up here wont make it and will have to be re-sown,” he added.

The Ministry of Agriculture has relaxed the rules to allow farmers to put more ground into set-aside, but advisors urge growers to focus on spring crops.

“Simply putting more land into set-aside will have a very serious impact on profitability,” said David Ellerton, crop protection company ProCams technical director.

A typical 240ha (600-acre) farm would suffer a 27% drop in gross margin, equivalent to over 30,000, by opting for 50% set-aside, stressed Mr Ellertons colleague Nick Myers.

Growing a range of spring crops would add 25,000, returning profitability to within 5% of normal cropping, he claimed.

But the prospect of a huge increase in spring barley in England has sparked fears north of the border that there will be a glut of malting barley.

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