Blankney Farm Update – 7 April 2025

The weather has continued to be on our side!

We recorded 6.7mm of rainfall in March. A small amount, but not the driest March we’ve ever had – in 1961 we recorded 5.1mm and 5.8mm in 1948. Our soils probe readings from the beginning of March showed our fields were at field capacity,

Our hope during this dry period is that crops will have rooted down well into the moisture, but we do need it to start raining soon!

We have completed our spring drilling – other than maize. Sugar beet was drilled in a tight window last week – all going into moisture.

This leaves us with maize, but as soil temperatures remain low (due to cold nights!) we won’t start drilling in earnest for another two weeks.

Agriculture, in our view, is now in recession. Trading will continue to be difficult and with the lack of government support and the recent closure of the SFI scheme, it is difficult to feel confident about ELMS and it is confusing as to what the government & DEFRA are trying to achieve.