The dramatic change in the weather in recent weeks has thrown our Farmers Weekly Barometer farmers' plans into disarray. The South-West region has not been suffering with drought like other parts of the UK, so it could be said that the excessive spring rains through April were not as welcome. "We are currendy trying to drill our grain maize, but we are really struggling. "The ground had sludge spread on it and was then ploughed earlier in the spring. It has rained ever since," says Steve Lee. Despite the spring sowing grinding to a halt Mr Lee is generally pleased with his crops, with winter wheat and the majority of his oilseed rape looking well. Septoria is rampant through his wheat, with some yellow rust also thrown into the disease pressure mix. Mr Lee says the priority is finishing off the Tls, which have been disrupted by the rains.
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