County farmers battle to save crops

Farmers across Shropshire are facing a desperate battle against the elements to harvest millions of pounds worth of crops left stranded in flooded fields.

Although most of the harvest is still salvageable, the bleak forecast could see dozens of acres across the county fall victim to the rain. Despite the crisis, farmers are staying resolute and making the most of any break in the clouds.

However, even those who manage to recover their crop will face massive bills for drying it out.

Shropshire agricultural consultant Bryce Rham said farmers were verging on desperation.

"It is beyond a joke now," he said.

"Farmers are in real trouble and we are already seeing the impact that it is having: one client told me that he was in a meeting with a farmer who got up halfway through and went to bed because he couldn't face it anymore.

"The trouble is now that the grain starts growing in the ears and the quality falls. And as the rains keep going the straw starts to collapse and it's impossible to harvest."

Mr Rham said the impact could be felt for years to come.

"We were hoping for a dry summer this year to rectify the problems of last summer but we are actually now in an even worse situation," he said.

"The soil condition will be dreadful and many farmers are behind on the next crop. It doesn't bode well."

Neale Sadler, who farms at Quina Brook, near Wem, said he needed three dry days on the run to harvest a six-acre field of wheat.

"Most of my crop is already in but there are guys out there with 200 or so acres left to harvest and they need more than a couple of dry days if they are going to be able to get it in," he said.

"I was speaking to a combiner who was out yesterday and he said the wheat had 25 per cent moisture. You can only store it at 16 per cent so it will cost a fortune to dry it out - as much as £10 per tonne."

Oliver Cartwright, for the NFU in Telford, said: "There is a definite recognition that this summer will be hard to recover from as a poor harvest will impact on all sectors, not just grain, with a lack of fodder for animal feed, as well as having a knock-on effect in terms of planting for next year's crop.

"For wheat and barley, in particular, the harvest is both difficult and expensive in terms of gathering and drying wet, sodden crops. The Midlands experienced 102.2mm of rainfall in August which was 157 per cent above the monthly annual average of 65.2mm."