EXPERTS fear this year’s wet weather could be disastorous for Fenland’s farmers.
Bad weather has delayed sowings and further spells of cold and overcast weather mean soils are unlikely to dry out. According to recent figures, 2012 saw one of the worst wheat harvests, with yields down by 15%, while on-farm stocks are at their lowest level for 12 years.
The Farming Online autumn sowing survey revealed only a third of the UK winter wheat crop has been established.
Andrew Heskin, from agricultural accountants Moore Thompson, said: “The wet weather experienced throughout the summer and the autumn has caused chaos for our farmers, hitting them hard in the pocket.
“With high energy and fuel prices the cost of production has already sky-rocketed, so the last thing that was needed was wet weather and a poor wheat harvest.”
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