Crops need a drink

The continued dry weather could put crops at risk, say North Yorkshire farmers.

But just a drop of rain in coming weeks could set the region up for a bumper harvest.

"The crops just need a drink at the moment because there is no moisture in the soil," said Mike Blacker, a contract arable farmer from Newton-on-Ouse, near York.

"It's not exactly panic stations yet but if the dry continues it could prove a problem.

"All we need is a downpour and that could put enough water in the ground for a bumper harvest later on in the year."

The dry weather is in stark contrast to that of spring 2001, when farmers were unable to get onto waterlogged land and had to watch many crops rot.

The combination of dry weather and cold nights is not good news for germinating crops like sugar beet and cereal crops.

York NFU spokesman Rob Simpson said many arable farmers were now hoping for a wet spell to put an end to their fears.

"We have had a very early spring and a long dry spell which may lead to a delay in the germination process," he said.

"The crops are not in danger of dying, they will just sit there until they have enough moisture.

"One problem, though, is that while they remain seeds there is a greater chance of them being eaten by mice.

"The mice like cracking open the kernel and eating the seed inside. It can damage the eventual outcome of the crop."

Gazette & Herald meteorologist Paul Hignett, of Pickering, said the dry spell is set to continue - though there may be showers next week.

"It has been very dry at the moment, it's been a month since it last rained in this region," he said.

"We have had a lot of westerly weather recently which means that all the rain is falling on the west of Britain and the Pennines and there is nothing left for us.

"There is a slight danger of showers later this week and the weather may be a little more mixed next week."

Updated: 09:28 Thursday, April 25, 2002