Dry weather causing a host of problems for arable farmers

Henry Moreton, Lincolnshire chairman of the National Farmers Union, said the union’s insurance assessor had looked at five combine and two baler fires in the past week.

“We’ve probably lost between 15 and 20 combines and probably six or seven balers in the last six weeks, so that’s a lot of money’s-worth of equipment just burnt out,” he said.

“The machine can be anywhere between £500,000 and £1m. But it’s the actual crop you’re combining as well, and [a fire] could take 50, 60 acres out in less than 25 minutes. It could take out the neighbour’s crop.”

Moreton urged his fellow farmers to make sure there was nothing on their machinery that was smouldering – and to take care of themselves.

“I know it’s your kit and it’s your pride and joy out there, but please make sure you’re safe. A combine can be replaced. A person cannot,” he said.

The weather has also had an impact on the crops themselves.

Beachell said: “The harvest has been very early. We’ve never finished combining in July before, but [this year] we finished on the last day of July.”

His yield was down 10%, “but further south, they’ve had yields of 50% less”.

“There is a problem there… there’s going to be a shortage of grain.”

Moisture levels have fallen sharply and Beachell said his crop was very dry when it reached the grain store.

“Normally we’re combining [with moisture levels] at 17% or 18%… we’re coming in at 13.8%,” he said.

The wider farming community shared their concerns about the impact on harvests generally, according to the NFU’s Moreton.

“In my lifetime, I’ve never been actually harvesting this early. And it’s a growing trend and we’re getting less and less water,” he said.

“We’re looking to change our cropping plans now. We’re going to try to grow different varieties of wheat that are a bit more drought resistant,” he said.

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