Update - August
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Ever heard of the butterfly effect? Commonly referred to as minor change in circumstances causing a large change in the outcome; a chain reaction of sorts belonging to the chaos theory. Heavy rains in Canada combined with heat waves and forest fires leading to a sudden wheat export ban in Russia have meant grain exports are significantly down could mean the price of your daily loaf increases.
Russia is the world’s third largest grain producer; and last year according to the BBC she exported 20million tonnes of wheat last year, down to 4.5million this year which is a significant reduction considering the UK exports only 1.5 – 3 million tonnes. The country’s decision to ban all exports has added to a speculative increase in UK wheat prices. Since June, prices have increased up to 70% ; with some city analysts suggesting the loaf of bread could rise by as much as 15p.
Surely that is a good thing for farmers? Not necessarily. Many farmers may have not sold their grain at these prices as they sold forward to lock in prices (i.e. ahead of the harvest to guarantee their cashflows) rather than at ‘Spot’ prices (i.e. current on the day price). Secondly an increase in wheat means that the price of animal feed goes up along with the general rising tide of other cost inputs.
Despite all these volatile prices, the harvest continues with the expected combine breakdown as we rush in before it rains.
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Update - July
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The multicoloured bunting of the village fete, marks the height of the summer and although the hay may have been just cut and baled and harvest is a month away; we are already planning for the next season's plantings. Every season there are a series of crop field trials hosted by seed merchants, promoting new varieties of wheat, barley and oil seed rape. These field trials which compares different varieties against one another in 12 metre plots side by side. For wheat, we look for different qualities: varieties which are paid a premium by the millers, namely those within HGCA Group 1 for bread and pasta; and those that are in Group 4 which is used for feed wheat. Other qualities considered are the protein, hadberg, bushel weight, stiffness of the stem, resistance to diseases and yield. For example Cordiale wheat variety is better for a French bagette whilst the Sterling variety produces a better English Loaf! There’s lots to choose from, but you never can guarantee how a crop will perform until it is in the actual field and is harvested a year hence.
Caroline |
Update - June
At last it has started to rain and the crops are able to drink up some vital moisture which is essential for their final growth spurt before harvest comes. In another context I have seen children drink up knowledge and awareness about growing and producing food. I was one of 150 Essex farmers who volunteered to guide 3000 Essex school children through the different aspect of food and farming. They stroked farm animals, climbed £100k tractors and turned wheat into flour. I had 20 children from Benfleet and it was great to see their enthusiasm and wonder in their eyes. Why do we it? Well if this generation can understand where and how food is produced they can make better and healthier food choices as well as knowing what we do as a manufacturing industry. This is the third year that Essex farmers have put on the Essex Schools Food and Farming Day at Writtle Agricultural College, so if you would like your school to take part, do contact the Essex Agricultural Society.
Caroline
Update - Mid May
Walking through the lush green countryside on a sunny day, is hard to beat. However this fleeting bucolic ideal shadows another story. As I zigzag across the fields every few days to watch the crops grow, I see the desperate need for water increase. The recent dry period has created a sudden network of cracks appearing on the ground like veins running across the field’s surface. We grow a small acreage of sugar beet, nothing like that found in Suffolk and Norfolk, but it is useful for the farm’s crop rotation plan. Unfortunately, the sugar beet’s establishment is not looking good. At best patchy with just 2 baby leaves shooting through or maybe four leaves elsewhere, this is certainly not helped by the invasive eating of the increasing rabbit population. Weeds are also appearing in abundance amongst the crop especially redshank, bindweed and thistles. So as I walk across from field to field, head down looking at this young crop, I am reminded of a saying by The Talmud: 'Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow."
Caroline
Update - Early May
Last week we vaccinated all the cattle against blue tongue (type 8) disease. As Mark Twain said 'there are two certainities in life: death and taxes'. Well for a farmer you need to add pests and diseases! When blue tongue first appeared, carried over by midges from Belgium and Holland, the media was worried that it could spread throughout the country. It can kill both sheep and cattle; and for those animals who do survive, it affects their immune system and can cause fertility problems. Due to the seriousness of the disease movement restrictions were put in place and a voluntary vaccination programme introduced. This vaccination programme still continues today, every spring before the cattle are let out of the yards and onto the grass meadows. To be honest, its just in time as we were running out of straw for the cattle bedding. We had to buy extra straw bales from our neighbouring farmer, George. Why did we run out? Two reasons: more cattle and it was a knock on effect from a very dry summer last year which meant the wheat and barley crops did not grow their normal height. The amount of straw bales was down a third in comparison to normal years. Not that these concerns should bother the cattle now they are enjoying the green, green grass of Essex!
Caroline
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