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The Year Round: Season has been kind to the crops
Midsummer and the longest day are valuable yardsticks for arable farmers. Here at Lowfields Farm near the banks of the Ouse, we like to see potato plants meeting in the rows.
This year they did and the season has been similarly favourable to other crops. Greenfly is the biggest threat to potatoes at this season.
A heavy infestation can result in a mixed maturity and every day that we don't spray adds to the uneven date.
Tubers are around the size of a pigeon's egg.
Peas for vining are another important venture here. The first peas should be ready next week on this level, stone-free warpland.
The crop has a demanding time spell and we try to drill so that they are ready for vining in successive weeks.
This is easier to write than to achieve. Vining equipment is specialised and expensive, so we try to make use of it just at the optimum time.
Standards of appearance and tenderness are rightly demanded by the processors so that the peas may be offered to the public in the best possible condition.
The free range poultry were just starting to lay when I wrote five weeks ago. They are now in full lay, which makes egg collection and packing a regular daily job. Pop holes are now open so that they can go in and out as they please.
A leaking main pipe underground is causing a wet place in the deep litter, but we can't find it.
This is annoying as all the rest of the litter is nice and dry, as it should be.
We have some good coveys of partridges but the mallards are deciding that our dykes are not full enough.
Kingfishers are another bird we like to see but they also need ample water in the dykes.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
