The cloud that hangs over some farmers
Now that 2016 is in full flow, the artificial Christmas trees have been packed away, the fresh trees cut without roots wait to be recycled and the last notes of Auld Lang Syne have ceased echoing down the corridors of hotels and pubs, writes Rob Alderson.
It is generally this time of year that we get a chance to reflect on the past year plan and wonder what lies ahead.
Many years ago I was with my father when a land agent visited the farm. He asked my father if he'd enjoyed Christmas, his reply was "no". "Oh dear" was the agent's reply. "What could have upset your Christmas?" "Rent clouds hanging over the beds," was my father's answer. At the time, as a naive young lad, I couldn't really understand why that might spoil anyone's enjoyment of Christmas, but I have now had two consecutive Christmases with the same feeling as my father had.
Last year's depressed prices do not seem to be enough to convince the current agent and his employer that farming is not as lucrative as it once was and they have rolled over an arbitration notice for a second year in succession.
Moving on, Christmas 2014/2015 witnessed an unexpected lift in the forward price of our cereal markets for a short period. I was curious as to what had caused this upturn in prices at a time of year that normally saw a lack of activity due to the Christmas break.
Traditionally, grain markets liven up post Christmas on a return to work for the traders keen for our business. The burning question was what was driving these better prices and how long would it last?
Well, we now know that it was traders choosing to come out of the oil markets to dabble in corn for a few weeks.
The end of December/January is one of those times of year when we have no idea what spring will hold, so how many people were brave enough or extremely business-like to commit too much corn into this opportunity of a good market price?
It would seem likely that last year was a one-off and the market price of £140-plus, which was achievable 12 months ago, has not been repeated. Once the traders have returned we may be able to assess what life will be for this year's harvests.
On another tack, a rare green winged orchid grows near to the farm. As this is a rare species it's always a delight to find – it acts as a reminder towards spring-like weather and sunnier days to come.
* Rob Alderson is a livestock and arable farmer near Craven Arms
