Yesterday, April 22nd, I heard the Cuckoo for the first time this year. Swallows also returned a few days ago so it is now officially spring. The Cuckoo’s call is also significant in the farming calendar as its said that any crops sown after the Cuckoo’s call, referred to as ‘cuckoo barley’, are at risk of yielding less at harvest time. Unfortunately this year again, the current cold dry weather means that some spring crops before the “cuck-oooo” aren’t looking particularly good at the moment and are at risk of yielding poorly!

My membership of NIAB means that I get regular agronomy updates and in this week’s it commented....."dry spring conditions and large diurnal temperature fluctuations which are producing stress symptoms.....", yes I know how that feels!

The total number of frosts this month must equal those of the last few winters added together. The dry cold weather is also holding up wheat development and so my diary alert for today, St George’s Day, that said “official T1 (fungicide spray timing) day” will be ignored and the sprayer will remain parked in the corner of the shed.

Climate change and weather variability is definitely with us, and so it is important that this year’s planned COP26, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Glasgow this November, goes ahead. Our government and lots of companies are making bold claims about reducing emissions by 2030/50 but, without some consensus from global governments, things may be slow to change. I can do my bit as an individual and as a small business and we can do our bit as Camgrain but while consumption of energy in all its forms stays at the level it is at it’s going to be an uphill battle.

Yesterday was Earth Day, to celebrate I have some Carbon Positive gin*, perhaps every day should be Earth Day! 

*Please drink responsibly. 

Stay safe and well

David White