While many across southern England are enjoying the spring sunshine, farmers are growing increasingly concerned about the impact of an extended dry spell on their crops. With little rain expected in the coming days, fields that were planted earlier this spring are struggling as crops fail to germinate in the increasingly parched soil.
For farmers like Colin Rayner, who operates Stubbings Farm in Maidenhead, the dry weather is already having a serious effect on yield potential. Rayner reported that the spring barley he planted several weeks ago has “hardly germinated,” leaving him hoping for rain before the weekend. “We had a very wet winter,” he told BBC Radio Berkshire, “but then it just stopped.” The soil, he said, has dried out quickly, and despite cold mornings, temperatures rise sharply during the day, adding to the stress on crops.
Rayner, who has been farming for 50 years, said the weather patterns have changed dramatically over time. “We seem to get periods of extreme wet followed by extreme hot and dry spells,” he noted. This shift in climate has left farmers like Rayner increasingly concerned about the unpredictable nature of weather patterns that are crucial to crop development.
The dry conditions are echoed by George Brown, a farmer in Newbury, who is also facing uneven crop development. While some crops planted early have begun to emerge, large sections of land, particularly on higher ground, remain barren as crops sit idle, waiting for rain to trigger germination. “They’re just sitting there, waiting in rows to germinate,” Brown said.
Adding to the challenge, many farmers were unable to plant winter crops last autumn due to persistent rainfall and waterlogged fields. Now, the opposite problem is presenting itself, with rapidly drying ground and limited rainfall putting the spring sowings at risk.
Dr. Paola Tosi, a crop science expert at the University of Reading, explained that the changing weather patterns are making agricultural planning increasingly difficult. “Agriculture really depends on seasonal weather patterns, and those have clearly changed a lot,” she said. “It’s very difficult for farmers to decide what to drill and where to plant their crops.”
Despite advancements in mid-range weather forecasting, which allow farmers to adjust their plans based on weather predictions, Tosi acknowledged that the extreme weather conditions make it challenging for growers to plan effectively. “It doesn’t help when the weather extremes are so unpredictable,” she said.
With tight margins and narrow planting windows, farmers in the region are increasingly reliant on favorable weather conditions, and for many, the key to salvaging their crops now lies in the hope of rain. As the dry spell continues, it remains to be seen how farmers will navigate these challenging conditions and what impact it will have on this season’s harvests.
